Chapter 405. Take It Then

Apphia’s POV

I sniffle softly, the sound small and broken in the quiet of the room. My chest feels tight, like there’s a band wrapped around my ribs, constricting every breath I take. I try to steady myself, to inhale deeply the way the healers always tell me to, but the moment I open my eyes, fresh tears spill over and blur my vision. I squeeze them shut again, overwhelmed, exhausted, raw in a way that feels almost physical.

Nicholas is still holding me, his presence a constant, solid thing beneath the storm inside me. His arms are strong and warm around my back, anchoring me. He leans in close, his lips brushing my ear as he whispers softly, his voice low and soothing, threading through the chaos in my mind. He doesn’t rush me. He doesn’t demand words. He simply stays, murmuring reassurances, grounding me with the steady rhythm of his breathing and the gentle cadence of hi