Zylan's eyes widened in surprise at her words. Just moments ago, she had been crying, yet now she had completely caught him off guard. His mind reeled, trying to process the shift, the unexpected softness in her voice. It was as if, for the first time, she had allowed herself to be vulnerable with him—not out of fear, not out of desperation, but something else entirely.
If only she knew how deeply those words had settled within him.
He exhaled slowly, watching her, but before he could even think of how to respond, her breathing had already evened out, her delicate lashes resting against her cheeks. She had fallen asleep.
Zylan sighed, shaking his head slightly, a small smile grazing his lips. He still couldn't believe what had just happened. Carefully, he lay down beside her, shifting just enough to wrap an arm around her waist. He pulled her close, feeling the warmth of her body against his as they cuddled.