Kimberly
The first thing I noticed was the air. It was warm, soft, and filled with the scent of wild lavender and sunlit pine. It smelled like home.
Like safety.
Like Kendrick.
The moment we passed through the gates of the Blood Clan’s inner court, I felt my shoulders relax, the tension I hadn’t even realized I was still carrying begin to dissolve. Servants bowed in reverence, warriors stepped back in quiet respect, and the entire grounds whispered with relief.
But none of that mattered.
What mattered was his hand in mine.
Kendrick didn’t let go of me—not once. His grip was gentle but constant, like a silent vow: You’re here. You’re safe. And I’ll never let anything hurt you again.
I looked up at him as we walked. The hard lines of his face had softened over the past few days. The
