Distate

Daelan POV

Carrying her feels effortless. Like I could do it forever.

Emmaline fits so perfectly in my arms, her weight warm against my chest, her breaths slow and even, lost in the peaceful haze of sleep. It does something to me, this quiet intimacy. Makes me feel… settled in a way I never have before. Like I belong here.

The feeling is unfamiliar.

As I ascend the grand staircase, the occasional bowing servant steps aside to clear my path, their expressions unreadable. Acknowledging me. Respecting me. I'm still getting used to it. Five months ago, I was just another forgotten body in Sector Z, but now—now I am someone.

And it's all because of her.

The doors to her bedroom open automatically as I step inside, the vastness of the space hitting me like it always does. I've been here so many times, but every time, it feels just as surreal. This isn't just a bedroom—it's an entire sanctuary within the estate, a palace within a palace.