Kai stood over Clara, watching as she settled into the bed, dwarfed by Dante's oversized t-shirt. The sight of her, so small and fragile, stirred something fierce and protective within him. He reached out, his hand gently ruffling her damp hair, and then leaned down to press a soft kiss to her forehead, right above the angry bruise on her cheek. "You need to rest now, Clara," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "Just rest."
She offered no response, her eyes already fluttering shut, the exhaustion finally claiming her after the emotional and physical ordeal. Satisfied she was drifting off, Kai quietly backed out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.
The moment the door clicked shut, the silence in the room seemed to amplify, broken only by Clara's slow, even breaths. She lay t
