Jude's POV
Hours passed, yet Timothy remained unconscious. My nerves frayed with each passing minute as I found myself constantly hovering over him, checking for any sign of awakening.
Ysabel had arrived earlier with her healing brew, offering words of comfort that Timothy would recover and that my worries were needless.
But her reassurance couldn't quiet the anxiety gnawing at me. Once more, I leaned over to verify he was still breathing. He lay there motionless, completely unaware of the world around him.
With him so vulnerable, I grew bold enough to take his hand in mine, bringing it to my mouth. His skin felt coarse against my lips as I pressed a gentle kiss to his palm.
These were the same hands that had ended countless lives. He was the man who had commanded thousands of soldiers to crush the Valerium kingdom and tear apart our pack.
