Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 445: When He Came Back

Cassian eased himself down at the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb her, and rested his hand gently against Elowen's cheek.

Her skin was warm beneath his hand, steady with life, unmistakably real.

He had already suspected the truth on his way back. The whole episode with her collapse had likely been a calculated move on her part.

But knowing something and feeling it were two entirely different things.

The fear had been immediate and visceral. The kind that tightened around his chest and refused to let go. The kind that turned every passing thought darker than the last.

And when his mind brushed against the possibility of losing her, something far more dangerous had risen up underneath it. Something sharp and merciless that didn't care what it destroyed as long as it made the feeling stop.

Only now, seeing her here, safe and breathing, did that storm finally settle.

Elowen shifted in her sleep.

She turned her face slightly and leaned into his hand, pressing closer like she recognized him even without waking. Her cheek brushed against his palm, soft and trusting.

Her lips moved faintly, the sound barely there, blurred by sleep.

Cassian leaned closer, lowering his head until he could catch it.

"Cassian..."

Soft. Unclear. But unmistakably his name.

Something in his chest tightened hard, then spread into something warm and aching.

He didn't think. He just moved.

His lips brushed lightly against hers.

"I'm here," he murmured, voice low and steady. "Ella, I'm right here."

Whether she heard him or not, her expression eased. The faint crease between her brows smoothed out, her breathing turning slow and even.

Her hand shifted again, searching without awareness until her fingers found his.

She wrapped them around his thumb, holding on. Only then did she settle fully, drifting deeper into sleep.

Cassian stayed where he was.

The position wasn't comfortable, but he didn't move. Not even a little.

Time passed quietly. Eventually, Elowen stirred and opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was him.

It took a second for her to register it. Then her whole face lit up.

"Cassian!"

She pushed herself upright and threw herself into his arms.

"Easy," he said quickly, catching her and holding her steady. "Careful, alright?"

Elowen wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and leaned into him, breathing in deeply like she needed proof he was actually there.

After a moment, she let out a long breath. "I thought I was dreaming."

Cassian's hand moved slowly along her back, grounding her. "You're not. I'm here."

She didn't let go.

And that was exactly what made his thoughts turn.

She leans on me this much...

At the same time, Theodric had been uneasy about the situation in the Southwestern Marches.

If things escalated, there was no guarantee Cassian wouldn't be sent out.

And if he left Vanelle...

What happened to her then?

Elowen tilted her head, studying him. "You heard what happened and rushed back, didn't you?"

Cassian came back to himself and nodded. "I did. But when Anson made a point of mentioning my leg hadn't healed properly, I figured you had something planned."

Elowen broke into a grin. "That's what I call perfect timing."

Cassian let out a quiet laugh, then looked her over carefully, his expression turning serious. "You're really alright? No pain, no discomfort?"

Elowen shook her head. "I'm fine. I've been taken care of way too well here. Honestly, I feel stronger than ever."

She paused, then added, almost casually, "Even if something had actually happened to you, like if His Majesty had you punished or locked away, I wouldn't just collapse. I'd be figuring out how to get you out."

She froze halfway through, then quickly corrected herself, a little flustered. "Okay, no, that's not happening. You're not getting into trouble."

Cassian looked at her, completely disarmed.

He leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips.

Then again, because he clearly wasn't done.

His voice dropped slightly. "Did you just wake up from a dream?"

That instantly caught her attention.

She pulled back, eyes lighting up. "How did you know? It was such a good one."

"What was it about?" he asked.

Elowen didn't hesitate. "I had a daughter."

Cassian paused, his gaze instinctively dropping to her abdomen.

Elowen went on, fully immersed. "She had my complexion, but your eyes. And when she smiled, she had these little dimples that made it impossible not to stare."

Cassian's lips curved. "She sounds beautiful."

Elowen nodded eagerly. "She really was."

"And then?" he asked.

Her expression shifted immediately. "Then she got married. Out of nowhere, this boy shows up, and I can't stand him. Not even a little."

She looked at him, animated. "So I asked you if we could knock some sense into him. You said that wasn't appropriate. Then I asked what if we did it where no one would find out, and you actually thought about it and said that might be fine."

Cassian let out a low laugh.

Elowen started laughing too, completely unable to hold it in. The laughter built until she leaned forward and collapsed right back into him.

It took a while before she finally calmed down.

Then she looked up at him, suddenly serious again. "Cassian, I'm hungry."

Cassian didn't hesitate. "What do you want? I'll make it."