IX. ANOTHER SLEEPOVER

"How's my little princess doing?"

The moment I heard that voice, my eyes welled up with tears. It was the voice I had longed for, the one I had desperately wished to hear again.

"Grandpa..."

He smiled, his warm gaze holding all the love in the world.

"You better live well, okay? Grandpa is always with you..."

Panic surged through me as his figure began to blur, dissolving into mist before my very eyes.

"Grandpa, no! Do not leave! Please... not now!" I cried out, reaching for him, but my hands grasped nothing but empty air.

"NO!"

I bolted upright in bed, my breathing ragged and uneven. My body trembled as the remnants of the dream clung to me, refusing to let go. My heart ached with a longing that I could not shake.

As my vision adjusted, I noticed Canim resting his head peacefully against my bedside. His usually hardened features were soft in sleep, his breathing steady and calm.

A small, fleeting smile touched my lips as I reached out, my fingers gently brushing through his hair.

I wonder… What was your conversation with Lara about? And why did it concern me so much?

His words from earlier replayed in my mind. They echoed through my thoughts like an unrelenting whisper.

Frustrated, I shook my head and hit my forehead with my palm as if that could shake the thoughts away.

Why am I thinking about him so much? Why does he keep appearing in my mind?

Sighing, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and rested my hands on my lap. The weight of everything—my injuries, the threats, the uncertainty of what was to come—weighed heavily on my shoulders. Before I could stop them, tears streamed down my face.

I hated feeling like this. I hated being weak.

A firm yet gentle hand suddenly grasped my wrist, stopping me before I could hit myself again. Startled, I looked up, my tear-filled eyes meeting Canim's.

The usual coldness in his stare was gone. In its place was something softer, something… kind.

"Stop," he said, his voice low but firm. "You do not need to do this to yourself."

I hesitated, taking in the sincerity in his expression. With a shaky breath, I lowered my trembling hand, my chest rising and falling with the effort to keep myself together.

He sat beside me, allowing the silence to settle between us before he finally spoke.

"I did not expect Nadia to stoop that low," I murmured, barely above a whisper.

He exhaled heavily, his jaw tightening.

"Since I failed to keep my word," he said, "you can break the deal off."

I shook my head, letting out a bitter laugh. "I hate being weak."

He remained silent, listening.

"I hate feeling like this… vulnerable, helpless," I continued. "I do not want my body to be covered in scars, I do not want to be someone who always needs to be saved. And more than anything, I do not want to die before I can get my revenge."

He studied me for a long moment before asking, "Do you need anything from me?"

I met his gaze. "I want to go home."

"If you hate being weak," he said slowly, "then you should decide to stop being weak."

"Kaesu—"

I turned to him sharply, and something in my expression made him stop. He saw the determination in my eyes.

Without another word, he helped me out of the hospital and took me home.

Before I could step inside, he reached for my wrist, stopping me.

"I may not always be there to protect you," he said. "But I can help you protect yourself. You do not have to cry or feel guilty for being weak. You do not need a knight in shining armor to keep you alive. If I cannot protect you the way I want to, then let me at least help you in the way I know best."

I did not dare to meet his eyes. Instead, I stared at where his hand lightly held mine.

Without saying anything, I withdrew my hand and stepped inside.

Moments later, I heard the sound of his car pulling away.

I went straight to my room, hoping sleep would come easily, but it did not.

After tossing and turning for what felt like forever, I finally got up and decided to get a glass of water from the kitchen. Just as I was about to take a sip, a loud knock echoed through the house.

My heart leaped into my throat.

The knocking was relentless, urgent—almost violent. My pulse quickened as my mind raced with terrifying possibilities.

I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stared at the door, my grip tightening. The pounding continued for a few more seconds before suddenly stopping.

Silence.

I swallowed hard, trying to calm my frantic heartbeat. Think, Kaesu. Think.

If I hate being weak… then I should not be weak.

Gathering my courage, I slowly unlocked the door while keeping the knife hidden behind my back.

As I opened it, a small folded piece of paper fluttered to the ground.

I quickly bent down and picked it up.

"I'll see you at the university. I'll be as transparent as I can be, so you can see me. But not how you think it to be, so the enemy can't get me. Don't worry, you'll know me in one glance."

"What is that?"

I nearly swung the knife at the voice beside me.

Alex.

I exhaled sharply, pressing a hand against my chest. "What the hell, Alex?! You scared me!"

He raised an eyebrow at me. "And what exactly are you holding?"

I hastily shoved the note into my pocket and awkwardly raised the knife. "Uh… a hospital receipt. And this knife." I forced a smile.

Alex sighed in relief and guided me inside. We sat on the couch, the tension still lingering in the air.

"I thought it was a death threat," he admitted. "I heard a loud noise and came rushing over."

"There was a loud knock earlier, but when I opened the door, no one was there," I explained. "So, yeah, someone is probably trying to mess with me again."

Alex nodded but said nothing as he stood and walked outside.

That's it? I frowned. What just happened?

Still feeling uneasy, I decided to try sleeping again. But just as I was about to close my bedroom door, someone barged in.

Panic surged through me, but when I peeked out, I saw that it was just Alex—holding a pillow and a blanket.

Relieved but annoyed, I rushed toward him and smacked his arm.

"Are you insane?! You almost gave me a heart attack!" I scolded. "And what is with that pillow and blanket?"

He flashed a wide grin. "I am sleeping here until you get better."

"I do not need—"

"No buts. Period!" he declared, dropping his things beside my bed and motioning for me to join him.

Before I could argue further, another voice rang through the room.

"DID SOMEONE SAY A SLEEPOVER?"

My eyes widened.

Lara stood in the doorway, dressed in pajamas and carrying a pillow.

I groaned. "Oh, for the love of—"

Alex and Lara simply grinned at me, completely ignoring my frustration.

And despite everything—the fear, the uncertainty, the chaos—something inside me softened.

For the first time in a long while, I felt safe.