Rose's body jolted awake, drenched in sweat. Her breath came in fast, shallow gasps as she clutched her chest. She sat up, strands of hair clinging to her skin from the heat. Her lips quivered, and tears streamed down her cheeks without pause.
The only name that came to mind was.
Z..Zethan
Beside her, Zethan gently rubbed her back in silence, worry slightly etched on his features—he was likely the one who had pulled her out of the nightmare.
She turned to him, eyes filled with fear, her voice trembling.
"I… It looked so real," she whispered, the tears still falling.
Without a word, Zethan wrapped his arms around her. Her eyes widened at the sudden embrace, and she began to tremble in his arms, still lost in the aftershocks of the dream. Then his voice came, soft and steady:
"I'm with you. I'm here. Don't be scared. I'm here."
The only thing echoing in Rose's mind was how real it all felt. Every detail. Every sensation.
