Chapter 333 The hallway

Chapter 333: Chapter 333 The hallway

Talia’s POV

I do not know how long I sat there.

The fire had burned low, and the moonlight had shifted across the floor. My mother’s breathing was deep and even, and her face was peaceful in sleep. She had not stirred once, and that gave me a lot of joy. She was finally resting, finally safe, and finally free.

I watched her for a long time, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. But I knew I could not stay forever. She needed to sleep, and I needed to let myself feel everything I had been holding in.

I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and I whispered, "I will be right next door, Mother. I am not far."

Then I stood, and I walked to the door. I opened it slowly, and I slipped out into the hallway.

I closed the door softly behind me, and I leaned against the cool stone wall.

The hallway was quiet, lit only by the flickering torches that lined the walls. The stronghold was sleeping, and the only sound was the soft crackling of the flames and the distant howl of a wolf in the mountains.

I looked at the door, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. My mother was sleeping, she was safe, and she was home.

I pressed my hand against my mouth, trying to stifle the sobs that were rising in my chest. I had been very strong for my mother, and I had been strong for so long. But now, standing alone in the hallway, I could not hold it in anymore.

The tears came fast and hot, and I let them fall.

I heard footsteps, and I looked up.

Kaelen was walking toward me, and his gray eyes were soft with concern. It seemed like he had been waiting for me. He had been giving me space, but he had not left. He was always there.

"Talia," he said, and his voice was soft. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. "I do not know, Kaelen. I do not know."

He walked to me, and he stopped in front of me. He reached up, and I felt his fingers brushing against my cheeks.

"You are crying," he said.

I nodded. "Happy tears."

He smiled, and I saw the love in his eyes. "Happy tears are still tears, Talia."

Kaelen’s fingers were warm against my skin, and I felt him wiping the tears from my cheeks. His touch was gentle, and I leaned into it.

"I have been holding it in for so long," I said, and my voice was barely a whisper. "I have been strong for her, and I have been strong for everyone. But now..."

"Now you do not have to be strong," he said. "Not with me."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. "She is asleep, Kaelen. She is sleeping in a real bed, and she is safe."

He nodded. "I know, Talia. I saw."

I shook my head. "I never thought I would see this day. I never thought I would bring her home."

He reached up, and he wiped another tear from my cheek. "But you did, Talia. You did."

I looked at him, and I felt the love in my chest. "I could not have done it without you, Kaelen. I could not have done it without any of you."

He shook his head. "You are the one who never gave up, Talia. You are the one who believed, and you are the one who walked into the darkness and refused to let it win."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. "But you were with me. You were always with me."

He smiled, and I saw the love in his eyes. "I will always be with you, Talia. Always."

I reached for his hand, and I felt his fingers wrapping around mine. His grip was warm and steady, anchoring me in the moment.

"We did it," I said, and my voice was soft.

He nodded. "Yes. We did it."

He pulled me into his arms, and I felt his body against mine. His arms were warm and strong, and I pressed my face into his chest.

"You did it, Talia," he said, and his voice was soft. "You brought her home."

I shook my head against his chest. "We did it, Kaelen. We did it together."

He pressed his lips to my forehead, and I felt the warmth of his kiss. "Together," he said. "Always together."

I pulled back, and I looked at him. "Thank you, Kaelen. Thank you for never giving up on me."

He smiled, and I saw the love in his eyes. "I will never give up on you, Talia. That is not who I am."

I leaned into him, and I felt his arms wrapping around me again.

We stood there in the hallway, holding each other, and I felt the tears streaming down my face.

But they were happy tears, and that was enough.

"Kaelen," I said, and my voice was muffled against his chest. "What happens now?"

He was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, and his voice was soft. "Now we rest, now we heal, and then we prepare."

I pulled back, and I looked at him. "Prepare for what?"

He looked at me, and I saw the seriousness in his gray eyes. "For whatever comes next, Talia. Malachai is still out there, and he is still a threat. And he will not stop until he has what he wants."

I nodded, and I felt the weight of his words settling on my shoulders. "I know. I know he is still out there."

"But not tonight," Kaelen said. "Tonight, we rest. Tonight, we let ourselves feel this moment."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. "You are right, Kaelen. Tonight, we rest."

He smiled, and I saw the love in his eyes. "Come on," he said. "Let me take you to bed."

I nodded, and I let him lead me down the hallway.

The torches flickered, and the shadows danced on the walls.

But I was not afraid, because I was not alone.