Lucian's POV
The sun had long since disappeared behind the mountains, leaving the forest edge bathed in twilight. Diana walked beside me, her pace unhurried for the first time in weeks. After another exhausting day of healing plague victims, I'd suggested a walk to clear our minds. To my surprise, she'd agreed.
"You've been pushing yourself too hard," I said, watching her from the corner of my eye. The evening breeze played with strands of her copper hair, and despite her obvious fatigue, there was a quiet strength in her posture that had always captivated me.
Diana shrugged. "The plague doesn't take days off. Neither can I."
"Even the most dedicated healer needs rest," I countered gently. We reached the forest line where the manicured grounds of the Blue Moon pack house gave way to wi
