Chapter 47

Arya. The next day, I woke up to Tyler's sleeping face. His usually fierce facial expression lay quietly, softened by the peaceful embrace of sleep. I couldn't help but admire the vulnerability that sleep brought out in him, a stark contrast to the determined warrior he portrayed during waking hours. As I sat up in bed, my mind was already swirling with thoughts about the impending verdict. The weight of uncertainty hung in the air like a thick fog, and I could feel the tension building within me. Glancing at Tyler, I wondered if he shared the same sense of foreboding or if his warrior's instincts shielded him from such apprehensions. Tyler stirred at that moment, his eyes slowly opening to meet mine. "Hello, beautiful," he said as he kissed my forehead. The warmth of his lips lingered, momentarily dispelling the chilly tendrils of worry that wrapped around my mind. I sighed, unable to hide my anguish. "Tyler, what if the elders didn't rule in our favor? What if they decided that w