ALEXIS
Kneeling on the plush rug in Kai's woodsy cottage, the warmth of the crackling fireplace barely registered as I gazed up at him. His rugged features, usually so full of life and command, now seemed distant, his eyes clouded with a pain that clenched my heart. I reached out, my fingers tentatively tracing the line of his jaw, feeling the faint stubble beneath my touch.
"Kai," I whispered, my voice laced with the love words I hoped would reach him. "I'm here for you, now and always." My lips found the strong column of his neck, bestowing soft kisses that spoke of devotion and the promise to stand by him through the darkness that threatened to swallow his spirit.
The room was silent save for the occasional pop of burning logs and our mingled breaths. I took his large, calloused hand
