~LAYLA~
"Axel?" I murmured in a sleepy voice.
He was sitting on the edge of the bed, still in his travel clothes, looking tired but clearly relieved. In the dim light filtering through the curtains, I could see the tension in his shoulders and the weariness around his eyes.
"Hey," he said softly, brushing his thumb across my knuckles. "Sorry if I woke you."
"You didn't. I just..." I struggled to sit up, feeling the exhaustion in every bone in my body. "You came."
"Of course I did." His voice was simple, matter-of-fact, as if there had never been any other option.
We'd only been apart for a few days, but it felt longer. So much longer… like weeks had passed instead of days. I reached out instinctively, and he took my hand, his warm fingers wrapping around mine.
"What time is it?" I asked groggily.
