redith.
The silence between us deepened, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
The soft tick of the cooling engine filled the air, and the faint glow from the dashboard traced the sharp edges of Draven’s face—the set of his jaw, the calm that never seed to break even after everything we had survived tonight.
I studied him quietly. There were traces of exhaustion around his eyes, though he would never admit it if I asked.
Without thinking, I reached for his hand—my fingers brushing over his knuckles before he turned his palm upward to et mine. His grip was warm, solid.
Outside, faint movents broke the stillness. A few shadows erged from the treeline—the scouts returning.
Draven imdiately straightened, his senses sharpening. I turned to look through the window. One of the scouts raised his hand in signal, and the others spread out to secure the periter.
Draven reached for the door handle. "All clear."
The driver and the warrior in the passenger seat exited first, scanning the area one more ti before opening the door.
Instantly, the cool air rushed in, scented with pine and dew. I stepped out, stretching my legs as the ache of sitting too long rolled through my body.
Along the line of cars, doors opened, and figures erged. Warriors, servants, families—all quiet, moving with purpose.
So stretched, others crouched by their vehicles to pull out canisters of food and flasks of water.
The night had grown gentler, the edges of dawn beginning to stain the sky a pale grey-blue.
Draven stood beside , his gaze sweeping over his people. His presence, even in silence, steadied them as if just his calm could hold their world together.
I watched a pair of warriors share a laugh, the sound subdued but real, and for the first ti since Duskmoor, I felt sothing close to peace.
Just then, I rembered a little bubbly human and turned to Draven. "I will go see Xamira."
But just as I had taken a step, I felt his hand wrap around my wrist.
"I will have Dennis bring Xamira," he said. "Stay here for now."
I blinked at him, a little surprised. "You don’t trust to find her?"
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Not when hundreds of people are wandering around. You will get pulled into twenty conversations before you take five steps."
He wasn’t wrong. And the playful glint in his eyes made it impossible to argue. I sighed. "Fine. I will stay."
The sounds of quiet chatter and soft laughter began to ripple through the night air.
A few monts later, two servants approached. They bowed briefly before spreading a clean cloth on the soft grass beside our car.
From the covered baskets in their hands, warm food and flasks of water appeared like small blessings.
"Your al, Alpha. Luna," one of them said respectfully.
Draven gave a curt nod, and the servants stepped back.
I watched as he sat, his movents composed and unhurried. I followed, lowering myself beside him as the faint sll of roasted at and herbs filled the air.
Before I could take a bite, the familiar sound of a small voice broke through the quiet.
"My Lady!"
I looked up just in ti to see Xamira running toward us, her hair bouncing, her little arms flung wide.
Dennis followed a few paces behind, grinning as he gestured for her to slow down, which, of course, she didn’t.
"Careful," I said, laughing softly as she collided into . Her small arms wrapped around my waist, squeezing tightly.
"I missed you," she said breathlessly, her bright eyes full of genuine worry. "Where did you go? One of your maidservants said you went sowhere with Daddy."
I chuckled, smoothing a hand through her hair. "Yes, I did. But I’m here now, aren’t I?"
She squinted up at , then finally smiled—the wide, dimpled smile that could lt anyone’s heart.
"Yes," she said solemnly, before imdiately launching into another question. "But where did you really go?"
I couldn’t help but laugh again. "That’s a long story. But first—" I leaned down and whispered, "Have you greeted your Daddy?"
At once, Xamira twisted and turned her gaze to Draven. She gasped as though she had forgotten he existed entirely, and wasn’t sitting right next to .
"Oh!" she exclaid, scrambling to her feet. "Good evening, Daddy!"
Draven, who had been watching the exchange with quiet amusent, shook his head, pretending to look wounded.
"I’m not even surprised that I’m no longer in the picture," he said dryly.
Dennis snorted from a few steps away, crossing his arms. "Told you, brother. The little one only has eyes for your wife now."
Xamira giggled, but Draven reached out and tugged her gently closer until she stood between us. "Traitor," he murmured, and the small girl laughed harder.
The mont was simple, soft—one of those rare fragnts of peace that existed between storms.
When we finally began eating, I looked around us. Dennis had already left, and the warriors were scattered in small groups, eating quietly. So leaned against the cars, others stretched on the grass.
Beyond them, the scouts stood watch, alert and silent.
I exhaled slowly and glanced at Draven. He caught my gaze for a brief second, his expression unreadable. But there was a calm in his eyes that mirrored my own.
By the ti the moon had started its slow drift toward the horizon, the food was gone, and the quiet hum of conversation had turned to murmurs of preparation.
Dennis strolled back, brushing dust from his trousers as he approached. "Alright, little one," he said, crouching to Xamira’s level. "Ti to get going."
Xamira turned in my lap, her small fingers clutching the edge of my cloak. "I want to stay with you," she said quickly, looking up at with pleading eyes. "Please, my Lady. I will be quiet. I promise."
I smiled faintly, brushing a lock of her hair away from her face. I was about to tell Dennis to let her be when Draven’s calm, steady voice cut in beside .
"No," he said softly, but firmly.
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