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“I’m here.” I brushed the back of my fingers along her arm. “Right here.”

A soft, wounded sound came from her. Trembling arms wrapped around me. I pulled her close, cradling her body against me.

“You’re safe now.” I breathed those words against her neck. “You’re safe.”

She moaned. Shook. Then, slowly… she cried.

I held her when the tremors came. When the tears slipped down her cheeks.

I kissed them away, one by one.

But inside I wasn’t me anymore.

I was him…

The Revenant.

I’d turned my back on that part of me.

But now… now that part of me was back.

And I wanted him.

All of him.

For her.

Minutes had turned into hours since she’d come to my room. Thunder had long since eased. Even the rain was softer now. The destruction all that was left behind.

I held her as the tears slowed, and her breaths deepened.

I held her as sleep came for her once more.

Only this time I stood guard.

“You’re safe here.” My lips brushed her hair. “In my home. In my bed. Stay.”

I closed my eyes.

Please stay.

I didn’t know if my presence was helping her. If my words sank into nothing but darkness.

All I knew was she didn’t whimper, or thrash.

Right now that was enough.

I lifted one hand, tucked it under my head and stared at the ceiling. Shadows flickered. A hint of amber from the fire. Still, it wasn’t enough. Darkness waited. But there wasn’t just emptiness anymore. There was her. Her cries. Her fears. Her wounds.

“I’m… I’m…”

Sorry.

The word never made it out.

Grief hit me like a train. The kind of grief I never expected to feel again.

In my head it hit me.