Silas's POV "Starting tonight… is that okay?" I asked, my voice lower than usual, barely above a whisper. Freya's eyes lifted, questioning. "Tonight?" I nodded. "I haven't had a proper night's sleep in days." I bent slightly forward, letting my head rest lightly on her shoulder. My voice was hoarse, weighted with exhaustion. "Freya… I won't do anything. I just… want to sleep properly for once." She hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded. "Alright. Tonight, then. You can sleep here. But I don't have your sleepwear-so you'll have to prepare your own." I gave a faint smirk and reached for my phone. With a quick call, I summoned Wren. Within fifteen minutes, he arrived with a suitcase in hand. "This is some of Master Whitmor's essentials and clothing," Wren said, placing the bag down neatly. As Freya saw him out, Wren handed her a small bottle. "This is Master Whitmor's medication. If he still cannot sleep here, let him take it-but no more than five pills at a time. Make sure he doesn't exceed the dosage." I caught her gaze lingering on the bottle. "Does he… often take more?" Wren's expression tightened. "On nights when insomnia agitates him, he sometimes overindulges. Hence, this precaution." I remained silent, only letting a small sigh escape. I'd almost forgotten just how restless I'd become these past few weeks-my nights riddled with shadows and unease, my body craving relief but my mind refusing rest. After Wren left, Freya carried the bottle back to the bedroom. I had just finished my shower, the warm water lingering on my skin, the sensation of clean, damp hair brushing against my neck. Slipping into my sleepwear, I felt the old familiar pull of routine-a memory I hadn't realized I'd missed so much. The way Freya would watch, quiet and observant, as I readied for bed. How our shared silence used to fill the room with unspoken comfort. My eyes flicked to the bottle in her hand. She said. "Wren was worried you still couldn't sleep here. Thought you might need it, just in case." She rotated the bottle in her hands, reading the label carefully. I noticed her furrowed brows-the subtle tension of someone who cares. She looked up at me then, concern etched deep in her features. "When did you start taking these?" I hesitated, then answered, "The third day after you left."The weight of that hung between us. Half a month. That was how long I had been surviving nights without her, relying on chemicals instead of presence, while every hour stretched endlessly. Freya set the bottle down gently on the nightstand. "This medicine… it can damage your liver, your kidneys if overused. You can't take it recklessly." I let out a tired, humorless laugh. "If my body fails me, do you… mind?" I whispered, almost ashamed. Her gaze held mine, steady, unflinching. "I do care. Even if we aren't together… I want you to stay safe." Her words cut deeper than a thousand apologies, and yet, they warmed something raw in my chest. She placed the bottle aside and spoke again, softer this time, almost like a confession. "Silas… back when I found out you hid the video of my brother… I was angry. I wondered why you never told me, why you kept it from me, even why you didn't save him. But… you've also helped me so much. These last few days, your assistance hasn't gone unnoticed." Her voice trembled slightly, carrying the weight of both gratitude and unspoken regret. I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes for a moment. She was right. I had helped her-yes-but the truth was, in doing so, I was also protecting my own heart. I wanted her safe. I wanted her brother found. I wanted to keep her in the world, not just for duty, but because a part of me had never truly let her go. "You've done enough for me already," I said quietly. "But if my insomnia is a problem… I'll need you closer than ever." Freya's lips parted slightly, a breathless hesitation in her eyes. "If being near me can really help… then while we're here, you can stay in my room. Sleep here." I blinked, a flicker of disbelief mingling with relief. "You mean it?" She met my gaze evenly. "Yes. If this is what you need… it's what I'll do." I stepped closer, feeling the subtle heat of her presence wrap around me like a shield. The tension of sleepless nights-the nights where the dark clawed at my mind, when the shadows felt alive, pressing against my skull-began to ease. I lifted my hand to the wooden-jasper bracelet she had given me. My thumb brushed the smooth surface, kissing the wood lightly. Every time I struggled to find sleep, this token became my anchor. Imagining it as a surrogate for her hand, imagining her presence beside me… it allowed me a fraction of peace.