She was still.
Wrapped in medical dressings.
Breathing slow. Even.
Beautiful even now, even broken.
Alive.
The word echoed through our bond like a prayer.
But just barely.
The connection felt stretched thin, fragile, frayed.
Like she was lightyears away, even though I could reach her.
I exhaled through my nose.
Trying to push strength through our connection.
Trying to will her back to me.
I should’ve gotten to her faster. Should’ve stopped this before it ever happened. Should’ve protected what was mine.
But I hadn’t.
So now all I could do was sit here.
Watch.
Wait.
Let her feel through our bond that I was with her.
Because the second she woke up, she needed to know—
She would never be alone again.
Not while I drew breath.
The door slid open behind me.
I didn’t turn.
Didn’t need to.
Boots echoed against the sterile floor. Two sets.
One military precision, one lighter step.
Family, in every way that mattered.
Then a voice. Gruff. Familiar. The voice of someone who’d fought beside me.
Who understood exactly what this meant. Raxor had found his own fated mate. HisKalara.
“I understand your mate will live.”