Chapter 79: Help (6)

A light, deliberate touch against his cheek jolted him out of his sleep. The warmth of fingers lingered, in contrast to the cool night air. Gabriel fluttered his lashes, and as his dark eyes opened, they met Damian's piercing stare.

For a moment, he lay still, his body sluggish from sleep but his mind alert. Damian's face hovered above him, his expression unreadable, but the intensity in his eyes said everything. Gabriel's heart skipped, caught between the echoes of a dream and the weight of reality pressing down on him.

"Damian?" The word came out in a breathless whisper, more from surprise than anything else. His voice was still heavy with sleep, and he blinked several times, attempting to adjust to the dim light and proximity of the man in front of him.