Sera POV
The hearth crackled softly, casting a warm, flickering glow over the dining alcove as the last of my ragged sobs finally died down.
Gideon didn't move an inch. He kept me tucked securely against his broad chest, his powerful arms wrapped around me like an unbreakable shield against the world. I pressed my cheek back into the crook of his neck, breathing in the deep, grounding scent of sandalwood and warm amber.
I didn't want him to let me go. For the first time in an eternity, I felt completely anchored.
Deep inside my chest, a soft, vibrant purring hummed through my veins. It wasn't the faint, thready echo I had grown used to; it was clear, warm, and steady.
We are getting better, Vera purred, her spirit stretching lazily against the tether of our bond, full of a quiet, cont
