Page 108 of Bound By Song

He stands, holding out a hand. “Come with me.”

I hesitate, but when he gently takes my wrist, a pulse of something warm and sure moves through me. I let him pull me up. Xar and Blaise exchange a look but don’t stop him.

I actually feel a little better after that nap. I’m steadier on my feet and much calmer now.

Dane leads me down the hallway, stopping in front of a door I haven’t opened in years. My breath catches.

“My grandmother’s room.”

He nods but doesn’t let me go. “It’s not hers anymore, wildflower. This space is all yours, beautiful.”

I stare at the door, my heart pounding. My entire life, that room has been cold and untouched, filled with stiff old furniture and the ghosts of things unspoken. The idea of stepping inside makes my chest go tight. But I trust Dane.

He must sense my hesitation because he squeezes my hand. “It’s yours now, Evie.” Then he pushes the door open.

I step inside, and my breath leaves me in a rush.

The room isn’t cold anymore.

It’s warm. Soft. Safe.

Mine.

The walls are painted the most delicate shade of blush pink, not overwhelming, just a whisper of colour that makes the whole space glow. The lighting is low and golden, casting everything in a soft, welcoming haze.

Gauzy curtains hang from the ceiling, draping over a recessed mattress so big it looks like it could hold me and my sisters…or an entire pack, I realise with a blush.

The mattress is covered in the plushest blankets I’ve ever seen, layered in soft, fluffy textures – velvet, faux fur, cloudlike cotton. A ridiculous amount of pillows, all different shapes and sizes, are scattered across it. Not a single one is from the makeshift nest in the lounge. They’re all new. Everything isdone in the most delicate shades of pink and rose gold. It’s so luxurious. So soft. So warm and welcoming.

I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. I swallow hard but the lump of emotion in my throat makes my eyes well up. I don’t know what to say.

This can’t be mine. I don’t deserve something this…this…amazing.

There’s a thick, heated fur rug under my feet, big enough to stretch out on, and a reading nook by the window with an oversized chair and a knitted throw draped over the armrest. I want to curl up in that seat and read fordays.

There’s even a small table next to it, set up with snacks and drinks, with a mini fridge underneath it. It’s so…unnecessary. It’s metres to the kitchen, but the gesture is oddly touching.

A shelf lines one wall, already stocked with books and trinkets that I recognise from my bedroom and the attic; little things that make it feel like a home. A diffuser sits on the bedside table, misting out a gentle scent of peony and jasmine.

But it’s the ceiling that steals my breath.

A star projector casts soft constellations across the roof, shifting in a slow, hypnotic dance. Tiny fairy lights are woven between them, like fireflies trapped in a frozen moment.

I step forward on shaky legs, sinking to my knees, fingers brushing over the blankets, the pillows, the soft drapes. It’s so much. Too much.

Why would they do all this for me?

I turn to Dane, my vision blurring with tears. “You really did all of this?”

He nods, watching me carefully. “You deserve a real nest, Evie. One that’s yours. This is from all of us. Consider it your first courting gift.”

My throat locks up. No one has ever done anything like this for me.

“I—” My voice cracks. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” Dane steps closer, his warmth wrapping around me. “Just tell me…do you like it? It’s okay if you don’t. We can change anything you want.”

A broken sound escapes my lips. I don’t just like it. I love it. I don’t want to changeanything.

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