Zane~
Natalie was awake.
Really awake.
Right here in my arms—warm, alive, breathing. And every second she stayed there, pressed against my chest, fingers clutching my shirt like I might disappear, I felt something deep inside me unwind.
Red, purred with satisfaction—a low, thunderous rumble in my soul. It was like he'd been caged for too long, pacing in the dark, and now finally... finally, peace.
I lowered my head slightly, breathing her in. Vanilla and honey. That familiar scent that always made my pulse stumble. Her presence was a balm—soothing the cracks I didn't even realize I'd been carrying.
A quiet hum echoed in the back of my mind—the residual pulse of our shared bond. Jasmine's energy, wild and bright, weaving between us like threads of light.
"Red," I whispered inwardly, seeking him through the bond.
"She's okay," he answered with a grin in his voice, feral and proud. "And we're never putting her through any form of stress ever again."
For once, I didn't argue.
