Aeron POV
The hospital room was quiet, the soft beeping of machines a constant reminder of the fragile line between life and death.
I sat by Elaine’s bedside, my thoughts a tangled mess of worry, anger, and a fierce, unyielding need to protect her. Her chest rose and fell steadily, but the sight of her so still and vulnerable made my heart clench.
I hadn’t slept since the battle.
Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw the blood, heard the screams, and felt the crushing weight of my failure.
Blade had escaped, slipping through our fingers like sand, and the thought of him still out there, plotting, made my blood boil. But right now, my focus is on Elaine. Nothing else mattered until I knew she was okay.
I traced my fingers along the bandage on her head, careful not to disturb her rest.
