14. (DANE POV)

(DANE POV)

As she slept in my arms throughout the night, I was deeply attuned to her every breath and subtle movement. It was a rare moment of tranquility in the otherwise turbulent life within the academy's walls and otherwise. I could sense the peacefulness of her rest, a precious respite so few of our kind and the humans among us were afforded.

Whenever the shadows of a nightmare began to creep into her subconscious, I gently nudged them away, replacing them with lighter, more serene thoughts.

While I could have influenced the direction of her dreams, I refrained, choosing instead to let her mind wander to whatever brought her comfort and joy.

It was surprising yet profoundly touching to find my own face frequently appearing among the various scenes that seemed to comfort her: fishing in her younger years, reading in a hammock, and a cute, tattered teddy bear on a bed.

As dawn approached and the blinds snapped closed, signaling the start of another day shielded from the sun's ray