ld. What had begun as an alliance born from necessity-two broken souls trying to survive

burned hotter than any fire she had known. But beneath his cold exterior, there were moments-small,

nd on Damien's arm. Her fingers trembled slightly as she applied the antiseptic, the room silent except for the sound

her voice barely above a breath. "This isn't

tead, there was a depth of something else-a weariness, a vulner

ined herself in a situation like this-fighting for survival alongside someone like Damien, some

up against were getting closer, and Alina knew the time for pr

o Damien's world, but wa