The moonlight gleamed onto the balcony, casting pale slivers across the beautiful floors. I leaned against the railing, watching her sleep—her breathing soft, steady, and slow. For the first time in days, she looked peaceful. No lines between her brows, no tension in her jaw. Just calm.
Jana.
She’d fallen asleep in the armchair by the window, half-curled in a blanket that had slipped from her shoulder. Her fingers were still loosely wrapped around the corner of the armrest.
I moved closer, kneeling beside her, and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Her skin was warm, the tiniest bit flushed from the heat of the fire. She looked smaller like this. Fragile, even though I knew she was anything but. And yet… something in me ached to protect her.
I hesitated before slipping an arm unde
