Chapter 16 16Th

• XADIEL’s [POV]
• That weight on her shoulders seems to evaporate the moment she finishes, yet her body sags a bit and her hand touches her forehead as if checking for a fever. I react on instinct. My arm is around her waist before she can complain or dodge me, keeping her tight to my chest while she heaves in large breaths.
• “Please.” That’s all she says, but the need is so profound. The heaviness of her exhaustion cloaks her calming jasmine scent, and I nod against her head. Right now, she needs me to be what I’ve failed to do before.