Chapter 25: I’ve got you, Sera.

The world outside the penthouse was shrouded in darkness, the faint hum of the city barely reaching the silence of the dimly lit room. Damon sat in the same chair he’d been in for hours, his sharp gray eyes fixed on Sera’s fragile form lying still in the massive bed. Her face, usually lit with determination or that faint, rare smile of hers, was pale and bruised. A thin layer of sweat clung to her brow, and her breathing was slow but steady.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the cast on her right leg and the faint stitches along her forehead. Every bruise on her skin felt like a bruise on his soul—a reminder of his failure to protect her.

Damon’s hands curled into fists on his knees, his jaw tightening.

She shouldn’t have gone through this. None of this should have happened.

But it had.

Liam had forced him to eat something earlier, though Damon could hardly remember what it was. Zayn had checked in briefly before disappearing back to the basement to keep an eye on the man who had dared to call himself Sera’s father.

Damon leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as exhaustion clawed at him. But sleep wasn’t an option. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her—falling out of the car, her fragile body hitting the gravel, the glint of the gun pointed in her direction.

The sound of that final gunshot still echoed in his ears.

His phone buzzed faintly on the nightstand. Zayn’s name lit up the screen.

**Zayn:** *He’s talking. Slowly. But it’s clear—Sera’s more valuable than we thought. He keeps mentioning her mother. Something about “the final key.”*

Damon exhaled slowly, typing a quick reply.

**Damon:** *Keep pushing. Don’t let him rest.*

He set the phone back down, his eyes flickering back to Sera.

Her hand, limp against the white sheets, still wore the bracelet he had given her—the small silver shield charm now carrying far more weight than he had ever intended. It had saved her life. But it wasn’t enough.

It’s never enough.

Hours passed in a fog. Damon didn’t move from his spot. The city outside shifted from night to the faint glow of early morning. Light crept through the curtains, painting faint lines across the room.

At some point, Liam entered silently, checking Sera’s vitals and adjusting her IV drip. He placed a gentle hand on Damon’s shoulder as he passed, but Damon didn’t react.

The world narrowed to just her.

At some point—he didn’t know when—he reached out and took her hand gently in his. Her fingers were cold, delicate against his larger ones.

He hesitated before speaking, his voice breaking the oppressive silence.

“*Sera*…” he whispered. “I don’t know if you can hear me. But I hope you can.”

His thumb brushed over her knuckles, his voice low and rough.

“You’ve fought your entire life. You’ve been hurt, broken, and left to fend for yourself in ways no one ever should. But despite all of that, you’ve built yourself into someone brilliant… someone resilient… someone good.”

He paused, his breath shaky.

“I’ve built walls around myself for as long as I can remember. I’ve shut people out, convinced myself it’s better to be alone than to let anyone close enough to hurt me.”

His voice lowered further, a raw edge creeping in.

“But then you walked into my world with your sharp mind and those green eyes, and everything I thought I knew started to fall apart.”

He leaned closer, his forehead nearly touching her hand.

“You make me want to be better, Sera. You make me want to protect something other than myself.”

His voice broke slightly.

“Please… wake up. I need you to wake up.”

A single tear slipped down his cheek, though he wiped it away quickly, as if ashamed of it.

But Sera didn’t move. Her breathing remained steady, her face peaceful in unconsciousness.

Damon closed his eyes briefly, gathering himself before settling back into the chair, still holding her hand.

The door creaked open softly, and Zayn stepped in. His usual playful smirk was absent, replaced with a grim set to his jaw.

“Damon,” Zayn said softly, but there was steel in his voice.

Damon looked up, his sharp eyes locking onto Zayn’s.

“He’s cracking,” Zayn continued. “But he’s still holding back something. The more I push, the more I realize… whatever her mother built, it’s not just a program. It’s something bigger.”

Damon’s brow furrowed. “Does he know where it is? How to access it?”

Zayn shook his head. “No. But he believes Sera might. Or… that she’ll remember eventually.”

A chill passed through Damon.

“She doesn’t need this,” he said, his voice dark. “She’s been through enough.”

Zayn exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. “I know, man. But whatever this is—it’s not going to stop coming for her. We need to figure this out before someone else tries.”

Damon’s jaw clenched as he turned back to look at Sera. She looked so small in the massive bed, her face pale, her breathing faint.

“She’s not ready for this,” he said, his voice low.

“Maybe not,” Zayn replied softly. “But she’s stronger than anyone I’ve ever met.”

For a long moment, the two men stood in silence. Zayn eventually stepped back toward the door. “I’ll keep pushing him. You… stay with her.”

Damon nodded once, his eyes fixed on Sera again.

It was late—nearly midnight—when Damon felt it.

A faint twitch of Sera’s fingers in his hand.

His head snapped up, his sharp eyes locking onto her face.

“Sera?” he said softly, leaning closer.

Her eyelids fluttered weakly, her lips parting slightly as if she were trying to speak.

“Damon…” she croaked, her voice dry and fragile.

Relief crashed over him so violently that he had to close his eyes for a moment, his forehead resting lightly against her hand.

“I’m here,” he said, his voice trembling. “You’re safe, Sera. You’re safe.”

Her eyes cracked open just a sliver, the faintest hint of green peeking through.

“Did… you catch him?” she whispered weakly.

Damon’s voice was low but steady. “Yes. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Her lips curved into the faintest ghost of a smile before her eyes fluttered closed again.

But she was still breathing.

Damon exhaled shakily, brushing his thumb over her knuckles.

“I’ve got you, Sera. I’m not letting go.”