THE REALM WITHOUT A NAME

Part 26 🕯️: Closer Than Breath

He walked slowly, past the corridors, past the darkness.
And when the doors creaked open-it wasn't my room.
It was his. Dark, Silent, Sacred.

He placed me on his bed like I was something delicate but he didn't leave.
He just stood there.

Watching.
"You're not leaving?" I asked, barely audible.

"Not unless you ask me to."

I didn't answer.
I only reached for him again.
A silent request. And he came-slowly.
Carefully.
Lying beside me like it was the most dangerous thing he'd ever done.

We didn't speak after that.
There was only the warmth of his chest,
and the way his fingers brushed my hair
until sleep pulled me under.

No returning to my world.
Not this time.

---

I woke slowly.
Not like in my world-to alarms or noise or light I didn't ask for.
Here,I woke to warmth. To the steady rise and fall of something solid beneath me. To the sound of him not breathing
but being.

He was still.
So still it would've scared me once.
But now I knew-this was him pretending.

Eyes closed, Lashes still, Breath drawn in slow, careful intervals like someone trying not to wake me.

I didn't move at first.
Just stayed there, half-draped over his chest, one of his hands still cradling my back like he'd held me through every hour of sleep.

But eventually-I shifted.
Nuzzled closer. Felt his body stiffen slightly-like he was caught.

"You're not very good at pretending," I whispered. No answer. Just silence.
"You're awake, aren't you?"

Still nothing.
"Fine..."

I leaned in closer, my lips near his ear.
His jaw tensed.

"Then let me tell you something you're not ready to hear."

A pause...Long, Long enough for him to think I wouldn't say it.

But I did, softly, too softly.
"I don't want to leave again."

He opened his eyes. But only halfway.
As if unsure whether it was safe to look at me yet. "Then don't."

My throat tightened. I buried my face into the space between his neck and shoulder again,
arms slipping around his torso.
"You'll let me stay?"

"I'll let the world burn if it tries to take you again."

And for the first time-the realm without a name felt like a place I could belong.
Not just because he was holding me.
But because he wanted to.
---
Knock.
A sound that didn't belong in this softness.
Sharp, Cold, Distant.
But not far enough.

I flinched, not from fear from resentment.
Because I was still wrapped in him.
Still in that fragile warmth
that hadn't shattered yet.

"No," I whispered, arms tightening around his waist.

He didn't move.
Didn't answer the knock.
Didn't even blink.
His hand simply slid from my back
to the curve of my shoulder, holding me in place as if saying he agreed.

Knock. Again. Harder.
This time, he sighed-and I felt it under my cheek.

"What if you ignore it?" I mumbled.

"I can."

"And?"

"They'll stop breathing eventually."

I smiled against him. Maybe I shouldn't have.
But I liked the thought of being worth more than whatever waited on the other side.
Then-a voice Low, Measured. Still a little afraid to be raised at all.
"My Lord...the matter is urgent."

My eyes rolled before I could stop them.
"Of course it is," I muttered.

He shifted slightly.
Only to turn toward the door with his eyes, but he didn't speak.
Didn't say come in, didn't say wait.
He only raised a single finger-And the entire hallway fell silent.

I lifted my head finally, still not ready to be done.
Still not ready to hand him back to the world. "Do you have to go?"

His gaze flicked to mine.
Something smouldering there...Possession.

"They came to me," he said.

"Then...?"

"They can wait."

I blinked.
"But if it's urgent-"

"You're here. That's more urgent."

He leaned in just close enough for his words to brush against my skin.

"Stay in this bed. I'll return.
And next time-they'll knock on their knees."

He was gone Only for a moment.
But it already felt like too long.

I stayed in the bed-his bed-wrapped in the last pieces of warmth he left behind.
The sheets still smelled like him.
The silence still felt like him.

I didn't want to move.
Didn't want to disturb a single fold or shadow.
So I waited.
Curled in the quiet. Heart still full.

Until I heard it.
That...sound.
Soft pads. Whispers. Tiny giggles muffled by paws.
"Is she still here?"

"Did she melt into the bed?"

"I told you he'd finally let her in."

"Ssshhh! This is his room!"

I turned my head slowly-and there they were.
Four of them maybe five.
Hard to count with how they moved,
tails flicking, wings fluttering, faces lit with curiosity and mischief.

One of them tiptoed forward, as if I wouldn't notice, hopped onto a velvet armrest near the bed, pointing at me with the tiniest claw.

"She's not blinking."
"She's in love."
"Ooooh, she's gonna marry the Lord!"
"Do you think she kissed him? Did she touch his hair?"
"What's under all that black silk-"

"OUT," I snapped, sitting up halfway, face flushed.

They scattered-but not far.
Not fast enough.
They skittered and crawled to the edges of the room, but one brave little creature (the pink one with the twitchy ears)
snuck under the blanket by my feet.

"We just wanted to see where he sleeps. We didn't know you'd still be here."
"We thought he didn't sleep at all!"

"He doesn't," I muttered. "Not really."

They gasped like I'd said a forbidden truth.
"So what were you doing in here, huh?"

I blinked.
And then-"Nothing you need to know about."

Gasps again.
Two flopped over dramatically.
Another one tried to smother itself with a pillow.

"That means it was romantic!"
"Or forbidden!"

I buried my face in the blanket.
"Out, just leave me alone." I groaned.

"You like him," they sing-songed.

And in that moment, surrounded by teasing and laughter and the warmth of where he had been-I didn't mind waiting.

Not really.