"Ren..." Hana breathed when he finally pulled back, her eyes glassy as she looked up at his flushed cheeks.
For once, the sharp, calculating retort she usually kept locked behind her teeth failed her. Her heart gave a heavy, distinct thud, warming her chest in a way that had absolutely nothing to do with the system or her pregnancy.
Ren smiled—a rare, breathtaking expression that made his sharp, feral features look incredibly soft. He rested his forehead gently against hers, his thumbs wiping away a bead of sweat near her temple.
"You do not have to say anything," he murmured, his ears twitching as he caught the distant, heavy vibrations of Caspian's returning footsteps down the corridor. "I know you are carrying a heavy burden. Just let me hold you for a little longer before the others return."
Hana let out a soft breath, relaxing her posture completely and letting her weight melt back into his steady embrace.
