I woke up to the gentle, rhythmic motion of Demetrius's hand running slowly up and down my back. The morning light was just beginning to peek through the heavy velvet curtains of our bedroom, casting soft, gray shadows across the floorboards.
I had tossed and turned all night, waking up in a cold sweat every few hours as fragments of the nightmare tried to drag me back under. But every single time my eyes snapped open, Demetrius had been awake too, his dark eyes steady and watchful in the darkness, anchoring me to reality before the panic could take root.
"Did you sleep at all?" I asked, my voice thick and raspy from exhaustion.
Demetrius looked down at me, his expression softening as he offered a small, tender smile. He gently shook his head. "No, sweetheart. I didn't."
I let out a lo
