Amelia PoV
I sighed as Vadim hugged me. Whatever he dreamt really shook him.
I stroked the back of his hair, letting my fingers run through the strands as he held me against him. He was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven hitches that slowly began to settle against mine.
"I'm right here," I murmured softly, resting my chin against his shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere, Vadim."
He didn't speak right away. His arms only tightened around my waist, his grip so fierce it felt like he was trying to anchor me to the physical world, as if I might slip through his fingers if he loosened his hold even a fraction. I could feel the heat radiating off his body, mixed with the distinct, faint pulse of the dark mark on his neck.
For a long moment, the only sound in the grand reception hall of the Cathedral of Origin was the gentle crackle of the barrier lanterns and the quiet hum of the ancient stone walls keeping the outside darkness at bay.
