Chapter 174

Aisha POV The chamber had gone quiet again, only the soft breathing of the twins filling the stillness. My body ached with fatigue, but under it simmered something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in weeks, longing. Simon’s vow still rang in my ears, and the way his eyes lingered on me made my pulse stumble. I brushed a strand of hair from my face, suddenly aware of how disheveled I must look. “You say that like you’re sure I can still be that woman,” I whispered. Simon stepped closer, towering over me, the heat of his body brushing mine. “You have never stopped being her.” His hand came up, cupping my cheek, his thumb stroking lightly. “Mother, healer, Luna, mate, every part of you is still mine. And I am still yours.” The bond between us flared, a pulse in my chest that answered his touch. I hadn’t realized how starved I was for it until that moment. I leaned into his palm, exhaling slowly, my body surrendering before my mind could argue. “I feel guilty,” I admitted, voice trembling.