Nora's POV
James's warm hand settles on my shoulder, drawing me from the darkness of sleep. His gentle shake pulls me back to reality, away from the terror that had gripped my dreams.
"Nora, you're having a nightmare."
My eyes flutter open, and the familiar comfort of our bedroom wraps around me like a protective blanket. The soft morning light filters through the curtains, chasing away the lingering shadows of my dream.
"I know," I breathe out, sitting up as my heart still races. "I dreamed we rushed to the hospital because I was in labor. But when they wheeled me into the delivery room, it transformed into that horrible research lab."
James pulls me against his chest without hesitation. The solid warmth of his body immediately soothes my frayed nerves.
"That will never happen. I'd burn the world down before I let anyone hurt you."
His fierce protectiveness wraps around me like armor, but the fear still lingers in my chest like ice.
