Darius’s POV
Estella lay unconscious in my arms, her breathing finally slow and steady. Her expression was serene—not frowning, not grimacing, not twisted in anger for this and that. I loved her fierce side and her fire, but this… this was what I craved.
To see her peaceful, to see her… happy.
For the first time in days, I could simply admire the delicate curve of her jaw, the softness of her lips, the way she seemed to fit perfectly in the crook of my arm. The sight alone made my chest tighten with an aching tenderness I’d never known I was capable of.
After watching her for a while, I carried her to the bathroom. I knew she’d probably hate waking up covered in traces of everything we’d done, so I filled the tub and stepped into the warm water with her in my arms. I took my time clean
