Rhen nodded once.
“Yeah.”
Dax entered carefully, his heavy boots suddenly quiet.
“Damn,” he murmured. “He’s actually here.”
A shaken smile touched Sule’s mouth.
“He’s here.”
Dax’s ice-blue eyes softened as he studied the newborn.
“The others will want to see him, but I’ll keep them out. The birth medic just reached the wing. She’s scrubbing in now.”
Sule nodded.
“Thank you.”
Dax looked at Leena.
“You did good. Real damn good.”
Leena managed a tired smile.
“Thank you, Dax.”
He left, closing the door quietly behind him.
The silence that followed was not empty.
It was filled with warmth, breath, and the newborn’s small sounds.
Rhen took one step toward the door.
“I’m out.”
“Rhen.”
Leena’s voice stopped him.
He looked back.
She held the child against her chest, her arms trembling with exhaustion, but her gaze remained steady.
“Stay.”
The word landed like a blow.
Rhen looked toward Sule.
Instinct told him this was not his place.
Sule met his gaze and gave one small nod.
Permission.
Gratitude.
