Heaving breaths.

I dashed through the thorns, but the distance was closing in. Getting caught was just a matter of time.

I stopped in my tracks and suddenly transformed into a person. Then, I picked up a wooden stick lying nearby.

The two men who spotted me came to a halt. Even as I took a step back, I didn’t let my guard down. The men’s eyes sparkled.

“Oh, what’s this? Are you looking for a fight?”

I gripped the stick so tightly that my hand hurt. It was frightening, but I held it in.

I won’t just die obediently! Even if I die, I’ll make sure to leave a mark on each of your heads!

‘I might not have gone far enough.’

Idrish searched the surroundings like a madman.

It was at that moment.

“Ack!”

A distant scream reached my ears. It was undoubtedly Cecilia’s voice. My heart raced.

Idrish transformed into a white tiger and ran toward the source of the sound.

The voices of the man and Cecilia grew louder.

“Let go of this! You brat!”

Cecilia, swinging a stick, was beating the man’s head.

Idrish lunged forward, bit the man’s neck in one go, and, along with the man, tumbled away. Witnessing this, another man, startled, spread his wings and flew into the sky in an instant.

Since checking on Cecilia was a priority, I didn’t try to capture him.

“Idrish!”

Cecilia threw away the stick she held and ran towards Idrish.

Cecilia was a mess. Her hair was wet and disheveled from melted snow, and her clothes were covered in dirt, leaves, and snow. It was evident that she went through some crisis and managed to escape somehow.

Without a word, the two embraced each other. When Idrish wrapped his hands around Cecilia’s waist, her legs dangled. Cecilia clung to Idrish’s neck as if holding onto the only lifeline, and Idrish hugged her with all his might.

Idrish only regained a sense of reality when he held Cecilia in his arms. Coldly frozen face, hands, feet, heart pounding as if it would burst, and muscles that felt incredibly swollen.

It seemed like tears would burst out with a snap. Ironically, he realized how scared he had been of losing Cecilia right now.

If something had happened to Cecilia… Idrish closed his eyes tightly at the dizzying thought. He held her even closer.

“I, I really worried about what might have happened…!”

Tears welled up in Cecilia’s night-colored eyes.

“So, so I tried to go back right away, but Agila passed by, and I couldn’t even take a step.”

With a tone of complaint, she spat out her words, and tears flowed like a stream. In no time, she burst into laughter with a hiccup sound.

Idrish wrapped his arms around her small shoulders, wiping away the tears until they stopped flowing. It was comfort for Cecilia, but it was also for himself.
Because I wanted to constantly confirm that Cecilia was safe in my arms.

Cecilia’s body, now cold, was so small. Idrish couldn’t believe he had left her, a fragile and small being, alone in such danger for so long.

Idrish lifted Cecilia’s face. It was a mess, soaked with tears. Idrish cradled her face in his hands.

The moment he faced her, it was blissful.

“Never again.”

His hoarse voice barely made it out.

“Don’t leave my side.”

Cecilia nodded in response to Idrish’s sincere voice. Another tear rolled down her round cheek.

Idrish lowered his head and swallowed Cecilia’s lips. Their cold lips pressed together, exchanging warmth. The chilled body quickly warmed up.

Idrish held Cecilia even tighter, as if obsessively, and comforted her.

Never again, never again will I lose you.

Thoughts of obsession overwhelmed Idrish.

“Umm.”

My body felt stiff and heavy, as if covered in lead. Perhaps it was because I had been tense all day outside in the cold, but as soon as I arrived at the Skitas territory, my temperature began to rise. And once it started rising, it didn’t seem to go down easily.

I fell into a deep sleep as if I had fainted, and I woke up groggy with a severe headache.

The view in the darkness swayed. I slowly closed my eyes and opened them again, regaining a slow sense of reality.

Although it seemed to be midnight, it was still noisy outside.

‘Didn’t they say they opened the Skitas mansion?’

It seemed like something I heard in a dream. It was for those who lost their homes due to the attack.

“Are you awake?”

A muffled voice was heard. I turned my head slowly like a broken music box. Even so, a headache rushed over me as if a large rock was rolling around in my head.

When I frowned a little, Idrish, the owner of the voice who was standing away, approached briskly. Then he laid me down again. Then, with a careful touch, he swept my hair over. Sweaty locks of hair tickled my forehead.

Yeah.

I wanted to answer, but my throat was tightly locked, and the words wouldn’t come out. However, even with just my thoughts, Idrish seemed to understand what I was trying to say.

“The fever hasn’t gone down yet. You need more rest.”

Idrish’s hand moved from my forehead to my cheek.

Refreshing.