(Keifer's POV)
By the time we reached the mansion—
I already knew something was off.
She didn't say anything.
Didn't complain.
Didn't slow down.
But—
I noticed.
The way she walked.
The way she stayed quieter than usual.
Small things.
Things no one else would see.
We stepped inside—
and the noise started immediately.
Cin talking too loud.
Eran laughing.
Kit already arguing about something pointless.
Normal.
Too normal.
I let them be.
Watched her instead.
She sat down quietly.
Didn't join anything.
Didn't react much.
I sat beside her.
Close enough.
"Eat," I said.
She nodded.
Took a bite.
But didn't actually eat.
Her hand moved—
but slowly.
Like she was forcing it.
Across the table—
chaos continued.
No one noticed.
Except me.
"…Jay."
She looked at me.
"Hm?"
"You didn't eat."
"I am."
"No."
I kept my voice calm.
Not pushing.
Just stating.
She looked at her plate.
Then took another bite.
Forced.
"Drink water," I said.
"I'm okay."
"Jay."
She sighed.
But listened.
Good.
At least that.
I looked away after that.
Gave her space.
But not really.
I was still watching.
Always.
After food—
back to studying.
No arguments this time.
Even they knew.
Exams were close.
We settled again.
This time—
I sat beside her on the couch.
Closer than before.
Not obvious.
But enough.
Our books open.
Same subject.
I started reading.
Actually reading.
But my focus—
kept shifting.
To her.
She hadn't turned a page.
Not once.
Just staring.
Eyes moving—
but not reading.
"…this is stupid," she whispered.
"You're not reading," I said.
"I am."
"You're staring."
She frowned.
"I'm trying."
That made me look.
Properly.
Her eyes—
tired.
Not just tired.
Strained.
She was forcing herself.
For what?
I closed my book.
Enough.
"Stop."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Stop."
"I'm fine."
No.
She wasn't.
I didn't argue.
Didn't explain.
Didn't give her space to refuse.
"Jay."
She looked at me.
Finally.
I shifted slightly—
then tapped my lap.
"Come here."
She stared.
Confused.
"…what?"
"Sleep."
"I'm not sleepy."
"You are."
She tried again.
"I'm not—"
"Jay."
That was enough.
She exhaled.
Gave in.
Good.
She looked around once.
Checking.
Then slowly—
laid down.
Her head on my lap.
Light.
Too light.
I adjusted immediately.
One hand moved to her head.
Fingers sliding into her hair.
Slow.
Careful.
The other hand picked up my book again.
I didn't stop everything.
Didn't make it obvious.
Just—
made sure she was comfortable.
"…just five minutes," she muttered.
"Sleep."
My voice softer now.
Different.
She didn't argue again.
Her eyes closed.
And within minutes—
her breathing changed.
Even.
Calm.
Finally.
I looked down at her.
For a second.
Longer than needed.
Then back at the book.
Around us—
they were still studying.
Still talking.
Still making noise.
But lower now.
They noticed.
Good.
No one said anything.
Better.
My hand kept moving through her hair.
Same rhythm.
Again.
And again.
Making sure—
she stayed asleep.
Making sure—
she rested.
Because right now—
that mattered more than anything else.
Midnight.
The mansion had gone quiet.
Not silent—
just… softer.
Lights dim.
Books left open.
Everyone asleep—
wherever they were.
Cin half hanging off the couch.
Kit at the table.
Eran on two chairs like it made sense.
No one cared anymore.
They were exhausted.
She was still on my lap.
Exactly where she fell asleep.
I hadn't moved her.
Didn't want to.
One hand still in her hair.
The other resting lightly on the book—
that I hadn't read in a while.
My eyes were closed.
Not fully asleep.
Just resting.
Then—
"…Keif…"
My eyes opened instantly.
No delay.
I looked down.
Her brows were slightly furrowed.
Breathing uneven.
Hands gripping lightly at my shirt now.
"…don't leave me…"
A whisper.
Broken.
My chest tightened.
"Jay…" I said quietly.
No response.
Still asleep.
"…please…"
Her fingers clenched tighter.
"…don't hurt us…"
That was enough.
I shifted slightly—
adjusting her without waking her.
One hand moved to cup the side of her head.
Keeping her steady.
My thumb brushed lightly against her temple.
Slow.
Careful.
"I'm here," I murmured softly.
Right above her.
Close enough for her to feel it.
"No one's going to hurt you."
My voice stayed low.
Even.
Controlled.
Her breathing stuttered again.
Then steadied a little.
Good.
My fingers moved through her hair—
same rhythm.
Again.
And again.
"Sleep," I whispered.
"You're safe."
Her grip loosened slightly.
Not fully.
But enough.
She shifted—
closer.
Face turning slightly into me.
Like she was holding onto the only thing she trusted.
I didn't move.
Didn't stop.
Just stayed.
Exactly like that.
Until her breathing softened.
Even.
Calm.
Finally.
I looked down at her.
Face relaxed now.
No tension.
Better.
Around us—
nothing changed.
Still quiet.
Still scattered.
Still chaos—
just asleep.
But me—
I stayed awake.
Hand still in her hair.
Not moving.
Not letting go.
Not this time.
Midnight.
The mansion had gone quiet.
Not silent—
just… softer.
Lights dim.
Books left open.
Everyone asleep—
wherever they were.
Cin half hanging off the couch.
Kit at the table.
Eran on two chairs like it made sense.
No one cared anymore.
They were exhausted.
She was still on my lap.
Exactly where she fell asleep.
I hadn't moved her.
Didn't want to.
One hand still in her hair.
The other resting lightly on the book—
that I hadn't read in a while.
My eyes were closed.
Not fully asleep.
Just resting.
Then—
"…Keif…"
My eyes opened instantly.
No delay.
I looked down.
Her brows were slightly furrowed.
Breathing uneven.
Hands gripping lightly at my shirt now.
"…don't leave me…"
A whisper.
Broken.
My chest tightened.
"Jay…" I said quietly.
No response.
Still asleep.
"…please…"
Her fingers clenched tighter.
"…don't hurt us…"
That was enough.
I shifted slightly—
adjusting her without waking her.
One hand moved to cup the side of her head.
Keeping her steady.
My thumb brushed lightly against her temple.
Slow.
Careful.
"I'm here," I murmured softly.
Right above her.
Close enough for her to feel it.
"No one's going to hurt you."
My voice stayed low.
Even.
Controlled.
Her breathing stuttered again.
Then steadied a little.
Good.
My fingers moved through her hair—
same rhythm.
Again.
And again.
"Sleep," I whispered.
"You're safe."
Her grip loosened slightly.
Not fully.
But enough.
She shifted—
closer.
Face turning slightly into me.
Like she was holding onto the only thing she trusted.
I didn't move.
Didn't stop.
Just stayed.
Exactly like that.
Until her breathing softened.
Even.
Calm.
Finally.
I looked down at her.
Face relaxed now.
No tension.
Better.
Around us—
nothing changed.
Still quiet.
Still scattered.
Still chaos—
just asleep.
But me—
I stayed awake.
Hand still in her hair.
Not moving.
Not letting go.
Not this time.