Damien followed Ravena's gaze, but where the queen saw tragedy, Damien saw beauty.
"I think she's beautiful," he said, softly but with conviction. He almost chuckled at how ridiculous it sounded.
Ravena gave him a scandalized look through her tears. "Damien…"
"No, really. Look at her." He stepped closer to the bed. "I've never wanted to protect anything more in my life." His voice dropped as he traced a line of damp hair from Luna's temple. "Even like this… especially like this… she's everything."
Ravena's lips trembled. "Please. Ease her pain," she whispered. "I can't… I can't watch her like this."
"I can get Kyllian," he said, eyes flickering with hesitation. "He's her mate. He can ease her heat, at least until we know exactly what Morvakar did to trigger this. It's the only thing that might work fast enough."
"No." She gripped his wrist, her nails biting into his skin. "Kyllian cannot see her like this. Please, Damien."
