Dawn bled slowly across the horizon, spilling golden light into the secluded glade where Dante and Isabella had found a fragile reprieve. The cove’s cliffs rose like silent sentinels around them, and the constant pulse of the waves below was both calming and a stark reminder of how exposed they remained. Isabella stirred first, her body aching with the aftershocks of the night, yet the lingering warmth of Dante’s presence beside her offered a comfort she had learned to crave.

He was already awake, eyes open and sharp, scanning the surrounding terrain with a practiced vigilance. The intensity in his gaze never waned, not even in moments of vulnerability. She...