I didn’t hear Darius come in. I only knew he was there when strong arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me into his chest. His warmth, his scent—earthy and grounding—quieted the storm in my head.
He pressed a kiss to my neck, and I exhaled softly.
"Don’t think too hard," he murmured, lips brushing my skin. "We’re going to get through this. Together."
I turned in his arms, eyes locking with his. I couldn’t find the words, so I just nodded. That seemed to be enough for him.
After a pause, he said, "The place on the map—we're tracing it tomorrow. Our scouts are preparing already. And as much as I’d rather keep you behind these walls, you need to come with us."
My breath caught. Not from fear. From the realization that he wasn’t trying to shield me anymore.
I nodded again, more fi
