Aliyah's POV
I nodded again, the knot in my chest easing slightly. “I will.” My eyes flicked to the window, imagining Asher still outside, waiting. I longed to see him, to feel that warmth and reassurance again, but I had to be careful. I couldn’t risk letting anyone know about the baby. Not even him.
Papa’s hand lingered briefly on the bed, a silent promise of protection, before he stepped back. “Try to sleep,” he said. “Let your body recover. You’ll need your strength for what comes next.”
I nodded once more, closing my eyes, feeling a strange mix of relief and lingering tension. My mind drifted to the baby, to the tournament, to Asher, and to everything I had vowed to protect. For the first time, I realized just how much I had to balance. My secret, my power, and now… a life I had t
