The hospital wing of Cassian's estate was quiet that evening, but the silence didn't last. It shattered as soon as the twins discovered their lungs again.
Leo wailed first, a sharp little roar that filled the room. Luca followed seconds later with his softer but equally relentless cries. The sound echoed against the walls, bouncing off marble and glass, tugging Alina out of her fragile sleep.
Cassian was already on his feet. He'd been dozing in the armchair beside her bed, but the cries had him moving with soldier-like reflex. He reached the cradle, carefully lifting Leo in one arm and Luca in the other.
"Alright, warriors," he muttered, voice low, almost coaxing. "What's the battle now, hmm? Hungry? Cold? Or just showing your father who's in charge?"
Alina groaned, turning on her side. Her body was sore, weak from hours of labor, but her eyes softened at the sight. Cassian—merciless, ruthless Cassian—looked undone with both babies clutched against his chest, pacing the room like they were made of glass.
"You don't have to," she murmured, voice hoarse.
Cassian glanced back, his eyes narrowing. "Don't start. You're not moving an inch."
"I can feed them."
"And you will," he replied. "But not while you're shaking." He eased onto the bed beside her, one twin in each arm, carefully adjusting them so she could nurse without strain. His large hands guided hers gently, as though she might break.
Alina sighed when the twins latched on. Relief, exhaustion, awe—it all crashed together. "They're greedy," she whispered, half-smiling.
Cassian brushed a damp strand of hair from her temple. "They get that from you."
She swatted at his chest weakly. "I'm too tired to deal with your arrogance."
"Then I win by default." His smirk was soft, teasing, but his eyes never left the twins. He was memorizing every sound, every twitch, like he'd etch it into his soul.
The night stretched on. The twins refused to sleep at the same time. When one closed his eyes, the other stirred. Alina drifted in and out of shallow naps, but Cassian never left her side. He carried the boys, rocked them, hummed under his breath—a dark, gravelly tune that shouldn't have been soothing, yet was.
By dawn, his hair was a mess, shirt wrinkled, eyes rimmed red. But his hands never trembled, not once.
Alina woke to find him pacing the floor with Luca on his shoulder. She smiled despite the ache pulling at her body. "You look like a ghost."
Cassian glanced at her, a shadow of a grin on his lips. "Then I'll haunt you for the rest of your life."
"You already do."
He returned to her side, lowering Luca into her arms. "How do you feel?"
"Like I've been run over by a truck. Twice."
"That's accurate," he said softly, kissing her forehead. "But you were… Alina, you were…" His throat worked, as though words failed him. "I've never seen anything more powerful in my life."
Her heart stumbled at the rawness in his tone. "Stop, Cassian. I'll cry."
"Cry. You've earned it."
She blinked back tears, forcing a crooked smile. "You, though… you're a natural."
He snorted. "Don't let the twins hear that. They'll think they can boss me forever."
"They already do."
The teasing lightened the heaviness of the night. But beneath it, Alina saw the truth—Cassian was unraveling in ways he didn't even realize. Every touch, every glance, every sleepless hour at her side… he was no longer the man who lived only for revenge.
When the twins finally slept, Cassian tucked them in with the precision of a man laying precious jewels in a vault. Then he returned to Alina, helping her ease back into the bed, fluffing her pillows like she was made of porcelain.
"You're hovering," she muttered, though her lips curved.
"I'm observing."
"What?"
"How your body adjusts, how tired you look, how swollen your ankles still are." He stroked her arm with a gentleness that contradicted every dark story whispered about him. "You won't lift a finger until I say so."
"You're bossy."
"I'm your husband." He smirked faintly. "That comes with privileges."
"Contract husband," she teased, eyes glinting.
His gaze sharpened, heat flickering there. "You really want to test me right now, flame?"
Her laugh broke into a wince, her hand resting instinctively over her belly. Cassian's teasing disappeared, replaced by instant worry. "Where does it hurt?"
"It doesn't—it's just… everything's tender." She looked at him, softer now. "But don't think I don't see how you're panicking every second."
He didn't deny it. Instead, he lowered himself, laying his forehead against hers. "I've been shot, stabbed, hunted like an animal. But nothing has ever terrified me like tonight. If I'd lost you…" His breath hitched, and he didn't finish.
Alina's hand cupped his jaw, forcing him to meet her gaze. "You didn't. I'm here. They're here. And you…" Her smile wobbled. "You're not as scary as you think."
Cassian let out a low laugh, but it cracked in the middle. He kissed her then, slow and tender, sealing the words she didn't speak aloud.
The day crept in. Staff brought trays of food, but Cassian tested everything first, refusing to risk a single threat. He spoon-fed her when her hands trembled, ignoring her protests.
Alina rolled her eyes. "You're insufferable."
"Say that again after I change the twins' diapers."
Her brows shot up. "You? Changing diapers?"
"You doubt me?"
"I know you," she teased. "You'll try bribing them to stop crying."
Cassian smirked. "They'll take after me. Bribery works wonders."
Alina laughed then, really laughed, the sound filling the room with warmth that no amount of money or power could buy.
That night, when the twins stirred again, Cassian didn't wake her. He handled it himself, pacing the room with both boys tucked in his arms, humming softly until they calmed. Then, once they were asleep again, he returned to Alina's side.
She slept deeply, exhaustion written all over her face. He brushed her hair back, leaned down, and whispered, "You gave me everything I never knew I needed."
Then he touched her bump, even though it no longer held their sons. "And you two… Leo, Luca… you'll never know how much your mother saved me. But I'll tell you every night until you do."
Alina stirred faintly, curling into his warmth even in sleep.
Cassian lay down beside her, his arm wrapping around her carefully, protectively. For the first time in his life, he felt like he wasn't guarding an empire.
He was guarding his world.