Aurora stirred awake, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of the moon outside her window. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the darkness. The tray of food Luna had brought earlier sat untouched on the side table, a stark reminder of how lost she had been in her thoughts.
She stretched, her hand instinctively going to her growing belly. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she tried to rise, but before she could swing her legs over the edge of the bed, the door creaked open.
Damian stood in the doorway, his tall frame shadowed against the faint hallway light. His piercing gaze locked on her, and without a word, he walked into the room, shutting the door softly behind him.
“Damian?” Aurora asked, her voice soft with confusion. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he crossed the room, stopping in front of her. His dark eyes roamed over her face, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and thick with emotion. “I couldn’t stay away.”
Aurora tilted her head, unsure of what he meant. “Stay away? Damian, what are you talking about?”
He knelt in front of her, his hands gently reaching for hers. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through her, and she looked at him with wide eyes. “I missed you,” he said simply. “Your voice, your smile, your scent… everything.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced away. “Damian,” she whispered, “I’m pregnant. We need to be careful.”
He chuckled softly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “I know, Aurora. And I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you or our baby. But I can’t pretend that I don’t miss the way it felt to hold you, to kiss you. You’ve been through so much, and all I want is to remind you how much you mean to me.”
Aurora’s heart clenched at his words. She looked back at him, her hand trembling in his. “You’ve changed, Damian,” she said softly. “The man I first met would never say things like this.”
“I’ve changed because of you,” he admitted, his voice earnest. “You showed me what it means to care for someone, to want more than power and control. You’ve given me a reason to be better.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she placed her other hand over his. “I don’t know what to say,” she murmured.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Damian replied, his gaze locking onto hers. “I just want you to know how much I love you.”
Aurora’s breath hitched at his confession. She had seen glimpses of this side of Damian before, but hearing the words aloud felt like a breakthrough. She gave him a small, watery smile. “I love you too,” she whispered.
Damian leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. “You and this baby are everything to me now,” he said quietly. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you both safe.”
Aurora let out a shaky laugh. “That’s a big promise, Damian.”
“One I intend to keep,” he said firmly. He pulled back slightly, his hands moving to cradle her face. “Now, tell me-have you eaten? Luna brought food earlier.”
Aurora shook her head, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. “I forgot.”
Damian raised an eyebrow. “Aurora, you need to take care of yourself.”
“I know, I know,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll eat now. Don’t scold me.”
He chuckled, his fingers brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll make sure of it.” He stood and retrieved the tray, placing it in front of her. “Start eating. I’ll sit with you.”
Aurora smiled as she began to eat, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time. Damian sat beside her, his presence reassuring. For the first time in months, she allowed herself to feel safe.