The soft glow of candlelight flickered across the stone walls of Malleus’s room, casting shifting shadows as he sat beside you on his plush, purple bedding. His voice had been low and steady as he read aloud from a book, explaining the differences between gargoyles and grotesques. But as he spoke, his words gradually slowed and eventually stopped when he noticed the change in your breathing—the way your head began to rest more heavily against his shoulder.

You had fallen asleep.

Malleus’s lips curved into a small, amused smile. For a fleeting moment, he felt the slightest hint of offense that you’d dozed off during what he considered an exceptionally fascinating subject. But that feeling quickly dissolved, replaced by a warmth that spread through his chest as he gently closed the book and placed it aside on the bedside table.

He paused, taking a moment to simply watch you, his heart swelling with a quiet affection so deep it nearly overwhelmed him. Your peaceful expression and the gentle rise and fall of your chest filled him with a sense of contentment. Carefully, he shifted, making sure not to disturb you as he wrapped his arm around you, pulling you closer against his chest.

His fingers slowly threaded through your hair, the motion deliberate, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment. Each stroke was soft, filled with tenderness. The ever-present weight of duties and responsibilities that normally occupied his mind faded into the background. Here, in the warmth of his bed, with you resting peacefully beside him, everything seemed simpler.

You had become his anchor in the chaos, the one presence that soothed the loneliness he had carried for so long. His gaze lingered on your sleeping form, watching the gentle rhythm of your breathing, the soft serenity on your face. Slowly, he leaned back, letting his eyes close for a moment as he rested his chin lightly atop your head.

“My sleeping beauty…” he whispered, the words so soft they were almost a thought.