Chapter 202. Beyond the Stars

Xerina’s POV

The quiet after our passion-filled night lingered between us like a fragile thread. Rasmus’s arms held me securely against his chest, his breath soft and even as his fingers absentmindedly traced patterns along my spine. My body was still humming from the aftermath of our lovemaking, every inch of me sensitive to his touch, to the heat radiating from his skin. I couldn’t help but smile at the contentment I felt.

For a moment, I allowed myself to believe that nothing could disturb this peace. That maybe, just for tonight, the world would leave us alone. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent—a mix of woods, pine, and the faintest trace of leather. It was intoxicating, grounding me in the reality that I was now irrevocably his.

But even as I relished the comfort of his embrace, I could feel a shift in the air around us. It was subtle, but undeniable, like the quiet before a storm. Rasmus must have felt it too because his hol