Zyren continued to watch her.
Carefully.
His gaze remained fixed on her face, trying to make sure that at no point did her breathing become labored as he stared at her quietly in the dead of the night. The room was silent, the darkness thick and unmoving, broken only by the soft rise and fall of her chest.
He was waiting.
Waiting for morning.
Waiting for her to be better.
After a long while, he leaned closer and pressed a gentle kiss against the tip of her nose, his touch light enough not to disturb her sleep.
"I care greatly about you, Aria Duskbane," he whispered, his voice so low it was barely more than breath.
"…way more than I should."
The words were quiet, almost reluctant, spoken as though he did not intend for anyone to hear them.
You should already know that, he thought, his eyes lingering on her face as he continued to watch her through the silence of the night, waiting for morning to come.
Morning came.
And then the days after that.
