Bonus chapter Part 2

POV Melissa

The cabin feels oddly quiet as I sit by the window, cradling Koti in my arms. Her little tail flicks lazily, the soft sway comforting in its rhythm. She’s fast asleep, her small blue horns peeking through the light blanket I’ve wrapped her in. Her warm, steady breaths are a stark contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind.

It’s been hours since Kaleo took Unob’s body to the forest. Hours since I last saw his face twisted in anger and disbelief as the poison took hold. I should feel relief. Freedom. But all I feel is exhaustion.

I glance at the holographic clock on the wall. Time moves differently here on Selvaria. The days are long, and the nights even longer, but I’ve never felt time stretch like this before. Koti stirs slightly in her sleep, and I adjust her position, brushing a finger over her soft, pale cheek.

“She deserves better than the world I grew up in,” I whisper to myself, the weight of my words pressing down on my chest.

The door creaks open, and Kaleo steps inside, the cold night air following him briefly before he shuts it behind him. His broad shoulders seem even larger in the dim light of the cabin, and his usual confident stride is slower, more deliberate. He catches my gaze, and his red eyes soften as they land on me and Koti.

“It’s done,” he says simply, his deep voice cutting through the silence.

I nod, not trusting my voice to speak just yet. He crosses the room in a few strides, kneeling in front of me and placing a hand on my knee. His skin is warm, a stark contrast to the chill that lingers in the air.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, his thumb brushing gently over my knee.

“I don’t know,” I admit honestly. “Relieved? Guilty? Maybe both?”

Kaleo’s expression doesn’t waver. “You did what needed to be done. He was a threat, not just to you but to so many others. You saved lives today, Melissa.”

His words make sense, but they don’t make the knot in my stomach loosen. I glance down at Koti, her peaceful face reminding me of why we did this.

“I just... I didn’t think it would feel this heavy,” I whisper.

Kaleo leans closer, his forehead resting against mine. “You carry too much on your shoulders, little wife. You’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever met, but you don’t have to carry it all alone.”

His words, paired with the warmth of his presence, bring a tear to my eye. I blink quickly, trying to keep it from falling, but Kaleo notices anyway. He reaches up, gently wiping it away with his thumb.

“You’ve given us a future,” he says, his voice softer now. “A safe future for Koti, for us. That’s all that matters.”

***

Later that night

I sit by the fire, watching the flames dance and flicker. Kaleo is across the room, cleaning up the remnants of our earlier dinner. His movements are precise and methodical, his usual grace evident even in something as mundane as washing dishes.

Koti sleeps soundly in her crib, a small smile on her face that makes my heart ache with love.

“Kaleo,” I call softly, and he turns, drying his hands on a cloth before coming to sit beside me.

“Yes, my love?”

“What happens now?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He tilts his head, studying me for a moment before answering. “Now, we live. We raise our daughter. We build a life together. And we make sure no one ever threatens what we’ve built.”

His words are reassuring, but they don’t erase the uncertainty that lingers in my mind.

“And what about the women he hurt? The ones who are still out there?” I press, my hands wringing nervously in my lap.

Kaleo reaches out, covering my hands with his. “We’ll help them too. Cirion is already working on accessing Unob’s accounts. Once we have control of his funds, we’ll distribute them to those women. They’ll have the resources to start over, to rebuild their lives.”

His plan is solid, but it feels like there’s still more to be done. “And if there are more men like him? What if this doesn’t stop with Unob?”

“Then we’ll stop them too,” Kaleo says firmly, his grip on my hands tightening slightly. “One at a time, if we have to. I promised to protect you, Melissa. That promise extends to anyone you want to protect as well.”

The conviction in his voice steadies me. I take a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs before exhaling slowly.

“Okay,” I say, nodding. “One at a time.”

Kaleo smiles, his sharp teeth glinting in the firelight. “That’s my girl.”

He pulls me into his arms, and for the first time all day, I feel a sense of peace settle over me. The road ahead might be long and uncertain, but with Kaleo by my side, I know we can face anything.

And as I drift off to sleep in his embrace, I allow myself to believe in the future we’re building—a future free from the shadows of the past.