You slip quietly into the hideout, trying to go unnoticed, but he’s already there, eyes narrowing as he sees the bruises and scratches on you.

“What happened?” Nathaniel’s voice is dangerously calm, his gaze scanning over each injury. You tell him how the hero ambushed you, forcing you to fight your way out.

Nathaniel’s silent, jaw clenched, as he reaches out to touch a bruise on your arm, his fingers gentle despite the tension in him. “That hero,” he says quietly, the fury barely held in check, “won’t get away with this.”

He steps closer, his hand lingering on your shoulder. “From now on, I’m with you. I won’t let him lay a hand on you again.” His voice is steady, a fierce promise behind his calm exterior that makes you feel safer in his presence.