DANTE'S POV
I rushed forward, ignoring the sharp, tearing pain that flared through my chest with every step.
My body protested, reminding me of every injury, every burn, and every scrape. But I couldn’t stop. Not when I saw the way Aria’s face had turned pale. She looked so small, so tired, caught in a storm she didn’t deserve.
As soon as I reached her side, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and pulled her close to shield her from the guards and the tense atmosphere.
The pain hit me in waves, and I winced, clenching my teeth to keep myself from bending over. But when I looked down at her, nothing else mattered.
“Aria,” I whispered, my voice barely steady, my hands trembling as I held her close. “Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Do you feel sick?”
Aria’s wide, surprised eyes met mine, and for a second, it was as if time stood still. She blinked, her lips parting slightly as she whispered my name, almost like she was saying it for the first time. “Dante? You’re… you’re awake?”
