Alaric nodded once, a sharp, decisive movement. He leaned down, his forehead resting against Julian's for a fleeting, heated second.
"I will be back. It will not take long."
With that, the Duke vanished through the door, his footsteps silent until his trace disappeared completely. Julian slumped back into the pillows, the adrenaline finally draining away and leaving a hollow, trembling exhaustion in its wake. Beside him, Lucius stood against Julian's side like a small, protective shield, leaning on the bed.
"The bad guy is gone now, Lucius. Your father took care of him," Julian murmured, though his mind was already tracking the clock on the wall.
It was already 11:54
Six minutes until midnight. Six minutes until he met the priest who would heal him from this burden. Julian looked at his new rewards.
