Baylee’s POV
My chest ached from the thunderous pounding of my heart. I knew everything would work out—but the fear still clawed at me. The image of my parents lying dead in my vision haunted me, resurfacing every time I closed my eyes.
And yet, beneath the fear, there was something else—excitement. This nightmare was finally nearing its end. My people needed peace. They needed time to grieve, to heal from the loss of those who gave their lives to protect me and my fated mate. They began fighting for us, but in the end, they died fighting for everyone they loved. Now it was my turn to protect them.
Curled on Caden’s knee, I gazed out at the surrounding forest, sensing his anxiety flickering through our bond. The only thing keeping him grounded was our skin touching. It wasn’t like the m
