Nikolai's POVI don’t let go of her hand. Not when the doors shut, not when the engine turns over, and not even when the vehicle begins to pull away from that place. My grip stays firm around her fingers, like if I loosen it even slightly, she might disappear again. The world outside the window blurs into nothing, buildings and shadows passing by unnoticed, because all of my focus is locked onto the woman beside me.She’s here. Breathing. Warm. Alive. That should be enough to steady the storm inside my chest—but it isn’t. Because every time I close my eyes, I still see her chained to that chair, wrists torn raw, body trembling under something she refused to show me fully. I still smell the wolfsbane. I still hear the quiet way her breath hitched when the restraints came off.My jaw tightens as I shift slightly in my seat, careful not to jostle her. Her head rests against my shoulder now, her body finally giving in to exhaustion, but even in sleep, her fingers curl faintly into mine li
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