_Leah’s POV_

The first thing I felt was relief.

It rushed through me so fast that my knees almost gave out. Kayden was alive. He was breathing. His heart was beating strongly under my palm. I clung to him as if he might disappear if I let go.

“Kayden,” I whispered again and again. “You’re here. You’re really here.”

His arms wrapped around me tightly...too tightly. Like he was afraid the world would steal me away the moment he loosened his grip.

“I thought I lost you,” he said hoarsely. “I thought he hurt you.”

I pulled back just enough to look at his face. There was blood on his...