Timothy’s POV
"No, please... co here..." The words scraped my throat raw, each syllable like swallowing glass. My chest burned as I struggled for air. "Please, don’t go..." Pain shot through , but I pushed through it, desperate to make Jude stay.
Panic flashed across her face. She scooped up Harlow, who was still asleep, cradling her daughter as she rushed toward the door. Then a crash echoed behind her.
When she spun around, I was already sprawled on the floor. I’d tried dragging myself out of bed, but my body betrayed —too damn weak to support my own weight.
Her eyes went wide. She quickly placed Harlow back on the sofa and hurried to my side.
"Are you hurt? What happened?" Her voice shook with worry. Guilt flickered in her expression, and when I reached out, she grasped my hand, ready to help back to bed. Instead, I pulled her into my arms.
"Don’t go. Don’t leave ..." My voice ca out like gravel, throat parched as desert sand. The mory hit —one of those rebel bastards had slashed my neck. I’d torn him apart for it, but the damage was done.
The wound had healed, sure, but the agony lingered, made worse by all the blood I’d lost.
"Don’t go. Stay with ," I whispered, ignoring the fire in my throat as I held her tight. She tensed in my embrace.
"O... okay," she stamred, voice barely steady. She tried supporting my weight. "Co on, you need to get back in bed. Lean on ."
But I was too heavy for her small fra. After several failed attempts, she gave up.
"Let get help," she said, but I tightened my hold, refusing to let her slip away.
"Royal gamma Timothy," she murmured, flustered by our closeness. If anything, I wanted us closer still.
"Timothy," I managed through the pain.
"What?"
"Just call Timothy. I need you to say my na..."
She froze, uncertainty flickering across her face. She bit her lip while I waited, desperate to hear her voice wrap around my na.
But it wasn’t Jude who spoke first.
"Timothy," ca a small voice.
Harlow had been watching everything.
"Timothy," Harlow repeated, hopping off the sofa and padding over to us.
Hearing her sweet voice, Jude and I instinctively pulled apart, suddenly aware of our little audience.
"Timothy? You’re awake?" Harlow asked, throwing her tiny arms around . "I’m so happy you’re okay!"
Jude reached for her daughter, worried she might be bothering .
"No, it’s gamma Timothy," she corrected gently. "You need to call him royal gamma Timothy."
Still hugging , Harlow turned to her mother. "But he wants to call him Timothy," the little girl argued.
Dread crossed Jude’s face as she looked at , probably expecting anger as she tried pulling Harlow away. Instead, I smiled.
"She’s right. Call by my na," I said softly, keeping Harlow close and preventing Jude from taking her. "Are you hurt?" I focused on the little girl now perched on my lap, all three of us still on the floor.
"No." She shook her head.
"Were you scared?" I ran gentle fingers through her hair, scanning her small body for any signs of harm.
"A little, but I knew you’d keep safe." She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck, nearly choking with her enthusiastic hug.
Fear flashed in Jude’s eyes, a haunted look that spoke of old trauma and past dangers. She imdiately moved to retrieve her daughter.
Her maternal instincts scread danger, urging her to pull Harlow from my arms before harm could co.
But I shook my head, stopping her. Instead, I hugged Harlow back and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Of course I’ll protect you." My gaze found Jude’s. "I want to protect both of you, if you’ll let ."
Those last words were ant for her.
Right then, I made my choice. It didn’t matter who Harlow’s father was or how she ca to be. We were building a future, not dwelling on the past. This little girl would be mine in every way that counted.
All my doubts evaporated the mont I’d stepped between her and death without a second’s hesitation.
I loved this child as fiercely as I loved her mother.
"Will you let protect you?" I asked.
"Yes!" Harlow bounced excitedly and planted kisses all over my cheek.
Those sweet kisses lted what was left of my walls. I never knew I could love this deeply, but these two girls owned my heart completely.
"Thank you." I extended my hand toward Jude. "Co here," I said quietly, my damaged throat screaming with every word. But I didn’t let the pain show.
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