Chapter 56

Simon's POV Watching Aisha sleep so peacefully in my arms was like witnessing the eye of a storm. Too still, calm, and far too brief. Her cheek pressed gently against my chest, lips slightly parted, and even in her exhaustion, she clutched my shirt like it was the only thing tethering her to this world. I smiled, brushing a curl away from her face. We'd made plans for tonight, but those plans had to wait. She'd poured every ounce of herself into saving others. I could hold off my selfish cravings for her touch a little longer. She needed rest. I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. She stirred but didn't wake. Still smiling, I eased out from under her and tucked the blanket up to her shoulders. She'd understand. Slipping on my jacket and boots, I left our quarters and headed toward the northern barracks where my best warriors waited. We needed to scout the Neutral Hospital again. Not just because it was a strategic point—but because it had once been sacred ground. A pla