“You came,” I choked out, a raw whisper escaping my lips as a tidal wave of relief and agony crashed over me. Draven gently, so incredibly gently, cradled me in his arms. The moment our mate bond flared, sending a searing spark through my very core, all the gnawing pain of the last few days simply… melted away. All I could hear was his voice, laced with pure, desperate concern, urging me to look at him, and feel his warm hand tenderly caressing the parts of me that were miraculously unharmed.
“I’m so sorry I came late,” Draven whispered back, his voice thick with a vulnerability that completely undid me. He sounded so utterly broken, so full of self-blame, that I couldn't stop myself from reaching up, my trembling fingers tracing the curve of his jaw as tears streamed down my face. “Thank
