I took a deep breath, squeezing Taylor's hand gently as we strolled down the sidewalk.

"So, I was thinking," I began, swinging our joined hands playfully, "we should definitely check out the Blacksmith first. I'm dying to see what this bottle of milk can do! Then we can take a peek at your costume. What do you say?"

I flashed Taylor a bright smile, but it faded as I noticed her expression suddenly turn serious. Her eyes narrowed, and she came to an abrupt halt.

"Lara," she whispered, "there are two people in our house. It should just be my dad right now."

My own demeanor shifted instantly, matching her gravity. I focused intently, reaching out with my Space Time Distortion Sense. The distortion around Taylor's brain was clear as day, but I couldn't detect any other parahuman signatures within my range of about 3000 feet.

"I'm not picking up any other capes," I whispered back, leaning in close. "Can you check who they are?"

Taylor gave a slight nod. "I'm already working on gathering bugs inside to improve the signal," she murmured. After a moment, she continued, "I can kind of see two men, and hear bits of conversation. One sounds like my dad, so it doesn't seem to be anything wrong."

I chewed my lower lip thoughtfully. "Maybe a friend of your dad is inside?"

"Perhaps," Taylor agreed, though she didn't sound entirely convinced.

I sighed deeply. "Well, there's only one way to find out."

We approached the front door cautiously. Taylor fished her key from her pocket, the metal scraping softly against the lock. With a gentle push, the door swung open.

The scene that greeted us was unexpected, to say the least. Danny Hebert sat in his chair with his fingers steepled below his chin. Beside him, perched on the edge of the sofa, was a man in a blue suit. His friendly smile seemed at odds with the tension in the room.

Both men looked up as we entered, their conversation dying away. I felt Taylor stiffen beside me, her hand tightening around mine.

"Girls," Danny said in a strained voice, "I'm glad you're home. We... have a visitor."

The man in the suit stood, smoothing down his jacket as he did so. "Hello there," he greeted warmly. "I'm Agent Walker from the PRT. I was hoping we could have a chat."

My heart skipped a beat. The PRT? Here? I forced my expression to remain neutral to the best of my ability.

I tilted my head slightly to one side. "Of course, Agent Walker. What would you like to chat about?"

He gestured towards the couch. "Why don't we all have a seat? This might take a while."

I glanced at Taylor, who looked like she'd rather be anywhere else, before we both settled onto the couch.

"Now, Miss Moore," Walker began casually, "I'm sure you're aware of the recent... phenomenon in Brockton Bay. The floating stones?"

I felt my stomach drop, but forced myself to maintain an air of casual confusion. "The stones?" I echoed innocently, tilting my head. "You mean those massive boulders that appeared out of nowhere a while back? What about them?"

Walker's smile didn't waver, but something flickered in his gaze - the look of a predator catching the scent of its prey. "Let's start from the beginning, shall we? Multiple eyewitness accounts, as well as video footage, place you at the initial appearance of the stones."

He leaned forward slightly, steepling his fingers. "They first manifested around the vehicle you were traveling in with your social worker several weeks ago. Wouldn't you agree that's quite the coincidence?"

Shit. I fought to keep my expression neutral, but inwardly I was kicking myself. Of course they would investigate and trace it back to me. Stupid, stupid!

Menhir? I thought urgently. Be ready in case things go south here. But no matter what, do NOT make any aggressive moves unless I'm in immediate danger, understand?

We hear and obey, child, came Menhir's deep telepathic rumble. Though we hope force will not be required.

Outwardly, I let out a tinkling laugh that sounded far more casual than I felt. "Oh, you mean when those things nearly gave my social worker a heart attack?" I waved a hand dismissively. "Yes, I remember that well. They just sort of...appeared around our car out of nowhere! It was terrifying."

Walker's smile stretched a fraction wider, though his eyes remained cold and assessing. "Indeed. And after that initial appearance, the stones remained in a consistent vertical alignment with your location at all times...until very recently, that is."

Fuck, he had me dead to rights. I cursed myself for not considering this eventuality from the start. The PRT was bound to investigate such a massive, public parahuman event.

"Then, four days ago," Walker continued smoothly, "the stones began to spread out horizontally, separating from your location. Two of them, in fact, took up positions near Winslow High School during certain hours of the day."

He leaned back, hands spread in an open gesture. "Now, call me crazy, but that seems like an awful lot of very specific coincidences regarding the stones' movements and your own whereabouts, don't you think?"

I opened my mouth, but for once found myself at a loss for words. Walker had thoroughly laid out the facts, leaving no room for me to feign ignorance. My gaze flickered briefly to Taylor, who had gone pale and wide-eyed beside me.

I let out a soft sigh, leaning back against the couch cushions as I regarded Agent Walker warily. His expression remained neutral, giving nothing away. With a sidelong glance at Danny, who looked more confused than anything, I decided to lay my cards on the table.

"You're right," I admitted quietly. "Those stones...they're mine. They're a part of my powers."

Taylor made a small noise beside me, but I squeezed her hand gently, silently asking her to let me handle this. Danny, meanwhile, just looked utterly bewildered.

"Powers?" he repeated. "You mean...you’re a parahuman?"

I nodded solemnly. "Yes, Uncle Danny. I think...I think it happened during the accident. Watching my parents..." I trailed off, blinking rapidly as my eyes burned.

Walker allowed me a moment to collect myself before speaking again. "I understand this must be very difficult for you, Miss Moore. Triggers are never easy, especially for someone so young."

His tone softened, becoming almost paternal. "But you should know that you're not alone. The PRT and the Protectorate, we're here to help young parahumans like yourself learn to control and safely utilize your abilities."

Oh, I could see where this was going. Walker was setting up his pitch to recruit me, likely for the Wards program. I had to give the man credit - he was skilled at this schmoozing routine.

"I can control the stones with my mind," I explained, keeping things vague for now. "Make them move, use them as...projections, I suppose you could say. I didn't mean for the stones to appear like that when I was on the highway, I was still very unfamiliar with my powers."

Walker nodded in understanding. "Of course, of course. Accidental usage and manifestations are quite common for a new parahuman."

His gaze sharpened slightly. "But you've displayed an increasing level of control and coordination with the stones in recent days, have you not? Making them patrol, move with purpose?"

How much should I reveal? Clearly the PRT suspected something was off with the Menhirs, otherwise he wouldn’t press in this direction.

Before I could formulate a response, Taylor spoke up in a quiet but firm voice. "If you're trying to recruit Lara, you should know I'm also a parahuman."

I shot Taylor a startled look, unable to hide my surprise. Was she really doing this - offering herself up to the PRT just to deflect attention away from me? My chest swelled with affection for the beautiful, brave girl beside me. She was far braver than she gave herself credit for.

Walker's eyebrows rose in apparent surprise at Taylor's declaration. "Is that so, Miss Hebert? I must admit, we weren't aware of your parahuman status." He leaned forward intently, eyes glinting with interest. "And what power do you possess?"

Taylor didn’t look at her father at all as a single housefly landed on her index finger. The insect buzzed its wings lazily as it settled onto her pale skin.

"I can control insects and other arthropods," she said in a carefully measured tone. "Flies, spiders, ants - anything along those lines falls under my power."

Danny made a small choking sound from his armchair. I could practically see the pieces clicking together in his mind as he realized when Taylor must have triggered - the locker, the bullying she'd endured. His eyes widened, the green irises seeming to darken with anguish. His shoulders slumped forward as if bearing an immense weight, and his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides.

Walker, meanwhile, simply nodded as if her power was exactly what he'd expected. "A Master ability, then. Quite versatile in its own right." He allowed himself a thin smile. "Well, this certainly changes the conversation we were about to have, doesn't it?"

Walker settled back into the sofa cushions, adopting a more relaxed posture as he regarded the two of us. "As I was about to explain to your cousin, Miss Hebert, the Protectorate and Wards programs exist to help young parahumans like yourselves learn to control your abilities in a safe, structured environment."

His smile widened fractionally. "We can provide you with training, guidance, all the resources you need to truly thrive as heroes and make the most of your powers. Not to mention a secure salary and trust fund to ensure you're taken care of financially."

I fought back a sneer at his slick recruitment pitch. The Wards program sounded like a cage dressed up with shiny incentives - a means to control and leash parahumans from a young age under the guise of altruism.

"That all sounds wonderful, Agent Walker," I said in a sugary-sweet tone, giving Taylor's hand a gentle squeeze. "But I have to wonder, what's the catch? Surely the PRT doesn't simply hand out such generous benefits from the kindness of their hearts."

Walker's smile tightened ever so slightly at my barbed response. "No 'catch', Miss Moore. We simply aim to cultivate the next generation of heroes, and ensure they have everything necessary to achieve their full potential." His gaze sharpened. "Of course, in exchange, Wards are expected to follow the same rules and code of conduct as their adult Protectorate counterparts. No vigilantism, no excessive force, no unduly revealing secret identities, and so on."

I raised one eyebrow, aiming for an expression of polite skepticism. "I see. So in other words, we'd essentially be government employees beholden to bureaucratic oversight and regulations. All while risking our lives on the streets, I assume?"

Walker opened his mouth to respond, but Taylor beat him to it. "You mentioned a trust fund of sorts?" she asked. "Could you elaborate on that?"

The PRT agent latched onto the new topic eagerly. "Certainly. All Wards are provided with a yearly salary, as well as a personal trust fund that receives deposits over time. The exact amount varies, but most Wards accumulate upwards of fifty-thousand dollars by the time they age out of the program and transition to the Protectorate."

He leaned forward. "Not to mention all the other benefits - health insurance, educational assistance, preferential treatment for college admissions or career opportunities after leaving the Wards. We aim to set our heroes up for success in every aspect of life."

I had to hand it to him - Walker was good at this recruitment song and dance. Dangling the promise of financial stability and future prospects in front of a couple of teenagers, one of whom had recently lost everything? It was a calculated move, preying on our vulnerabilities.

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Before either of us could respond to Walker, Danny cleared his throat roughly. All eyes turned towards the bespectacled man hunched in his armchair, his knuckles white from gripping the worn fabric.

"I...I need a moment to process this," he said gruffly. "My daughter...a parahuman. All this time..." He shook his head slowly, looking utterly shell-shocked.

Walker's expression softened with what I assumed was meant to be sympathy. "Of course, Mr. Hebert. This is undoubtedly a lot to take in all at once. Perhaps we could return to this discussion another time, give you all a chance to-"

"No," Danny interrupted, raising his head to meet Walker's gaze steadily. "No more delays. If my daughter has...powers, then I want to know everything. What she can do, how to keep her safe, all of it."

He swallowed hard, his eyes glistening with unshed moisture as he looked at Taylor. "You've been dealing with this alone for...how long now? Why didn't you tell me?"

Taylor's calm facade cracked ever so slightly at the raw emotion in Danny's voice. "I...I'm sorry, Dad," she said in a small voice. "I wanted to, I really did. But after everything with the...the bullying, I was afraid you'd try to take me out of school."

She took a trembling breath, blinking rapidly behind her glasses. "I didn't want to risk exposing myself as a parahuman on top of everything else. It was just...too much, you know?"

Danny's face crumpled further at her words. In a halting voice, he asked, "So that's when it happened? When those...those girls shoved you into your own locker filled with..."

He trailed off, unable to give voice to the horrors Taylor had endured. My heart ached for the poor man, finally being confronted with the full truth of his daughter's trauma.

Taylor simply nodded erratically. A heavy silence descended over the living room, broken only by the occasional sniffle from the father and daughter as they struggled with their emotions.

Eventually, Walker cleared his throat delicately. "If I may?" he interjected in a gentle tone. "While I can't even begin to imagine what you've both been through, I can assure you that joining the Wards program would be the safest path forward from here."

His gaze shifted between Taylor and me in turn. "You would both receive full legal protection, as well as comprehensive support to deal with any...past issues you may have faced. No more worrying about exposure or retaliation - the PRT has your backs."

I couldn't quite suppress the derisive snort that escaped me at Walker's words. His attention snapped towards me, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Something you'd like to add, Miss Moore?" he asked in a carefully neutral tone.

I squeezed Taylor's hand in a silent show of support and met the PRT agent's steady gaze. "It just seems a bit naive to promise 'no more worrying' about exposure or retaliation," I said with a slight shrug of my shoulders, my long black hair swaying with the motion. "After all, the Wards don't operate in a vacuum. We'd still be out in public, attending the same school as everyone else."

My full lips curved into a small, humorless smile as I glanced at Taylor. "Somehow, I doubt the PRT has the authority or resources to simply make Taylor's tormentors disappear. At the end of the day, she'd still have to face them every single day in the halls." I paused for emphasis, holding Walker's gaze intently. "Especially when we suspect that the person responsible for causing Taylor to trigger was one of your Wards."

Taylor's slender fingers tightened around mine in a vise-like grip as she gasped softly. Her wide eyes found mine, silently pleading for me not to reveal too much. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, projecting calm towards her. Relax, I know what I'm doing.

Walker, for his part, looked momentarily taken aback by my blunt accusation. He blinked slowly, his brow furrowing as he processed my words. "I...that's quite the claim, Miss Moore," he said after a moment, regaining his composure. "Do you have any evidence to support such a serious allegation?"

I took a deep breath, tossing my long black hair over one shoulder in a casual motion. "Sophia Hess was the main person who physically tormented Taylor, to the point of shoving her into a disgusting, biohazardous locker filled with filth," I stated.

Walker's eyes narrowed fractionally, but he remained silent, allowing me to continue uninterrupted.

A pulse rippled through my mind, and I tensed instinctively. The Celestial Grimoire was activating once more, but the sensation cut off just as abruptly as it had begun.

[Giant Hand - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate] - 600cp

You are a Giant Hand, in the same vein as Master Hand and Crazy Hand.

You have the form of a massive white glove, easily dwarfing even the largest of Fighters. It is not clear how you are able to see and hear, but you are able to. You are incapable of speech, but are capable of emitting an odd sound, similar to an echoey laugh.

You are able to perform weird, species-exclusive magic by contorting your 'hand' in various signs. For example, by making the shape of a finger gun, you can fire an explosive projectile at your enemies. You know two or three of these tricks to begin, and may learn more over time as you practice and experiment. With time, you may even learn tricks not demonstrated by either Master Hand or Crazy Hand.

I fought back a shudder at the thought of transforming into a literal giant hand. While the magic tricks sounded intriguing, I definitely didn't want that as my base form. I was very lucky that I only had 50cp, and now 150cp. Hopefully if I did get such a perk again in the future, it functioned as an alt-form that I could transform into at will instead of permanently becoming another species.

Refocusing on Walker, I continued in a calm tone, "There's plenty of evidence documenting the bullying, but regarding her identity as..." I paused for dramatic effect, letting the tension build, "...Shadow Stalker? Well, I've personally glimpsed her power, and I know I couldn't mistake it."

"Her power is exactly the same as Shadow Stalker's - the ability to shift into a shadowy, incorporeal state." I let my words sink in for a moment before adding, "I've witnessed the fact that she’s a parahuman firsthand."

Of course, that was a careful statement - my space-time distortion sense merely detected the subtle warping around Sophia's brain, not the specifics of her actual power. But Walker didn't need to know that, and I needed to do my best to trick Armsmaster’s lie-detecting software in case Walker was somehow recording this.

I leaned back into the couch cushions, crossing one slender leg over the other as I regarded the PRT agent calmly. "I also know that Shadow Stalker and Sophia Hess are both the same height and build. And that Shadow Stalker's costume covers every inch of her skin, concealing her race."

I gave Taylor's hand a reassuring squeeze. She met my gaze with a look of gratitude shining in her warm brown eyes.

"I don't know for certain if Shadow Stalker is black," I admitted with a slight shrug of my shoulders. "But if she's not, then we have to consider the possibility of a very weird set of coincidences that I simply don't believe can be real."

Walker's features might as well have been carved from stone for all the reaction he allowed to show as I paused, letting my words hang in the air. Danny looked utterly shell-shocked, his mouth hanging slightly open.

Finally, I tilted my head, aiming my question directly at the PRT agent. "So considering all of this, how can we possibly trust that the Wards program is a safe environment for Taylor and I? Especially if one of her tormentors who directly caused her trigger event is potentially on the same team?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Walker was the first to break the tension, letting out a slow exhale as he leaned forward. "Those are...very serious allegations you're making, Miss Moore," he said carefully, steepling his fingers beneath his chin. "I certainly hope you understand the gravity of accusing one of our Wards of such reprehensible actions."

I gave him a serene smile. "Of course, Agent Walker. I assure you, I wouldn't make such claims lightly or without being absolutely certain of what I've witnessed."

Taylor shifted beside me, straightening her posture. She spoke up, "I have journals documenting the bullying. With dates and details of what occurred."

I glanced at her, giving an approving nod before reaching over to rub slow circles on the small of her back. "Those would certainly support the allegations, if needed," I chimed in smoothly. "Though we're well aware written accounts alone won't be sufficient as definitive proof."

Taylor opened her mouth, likely to ask what I meant, but I subtly pinched her side. She closed it again, lips pressing into a thin line as she remained silent.

Walker sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is...a very serious matter," he stated. "I'll need to contact my superiors and discuss how to proceed." His gaze settled on me with an appraising look. "You're an exceptionally well-spoken young woman, Miss Moore."

I offered him a modest smile. "Why, thank you, Agent Walker. I do try my best."

Walker nodded and rose from the couch, straightening his suit jacket with a few crisp tugs. "I'll be in touch soon regarding next steps on this matter. You have my word it won't be ignored or brushed aside." His gaze flickered towards Danny, who had remained silent throughout the tense exchange. "Mr. Hebert, a moment before I depart?"

Danny seemed to jolt back to awareness, his eyes slightly unfocused behind his glasses. Wordlessly, he pushed himself up from the armchair and followed Walker towards the front door. I could hear their muted voices as Danny presumably saw the agent out.

The second the door closed behind them, Taylor released a shuddering breath and threw her arms around me, burying her face against the crook of my neck. I felt hot tears prickle against my skin as she clung to me with a desperate intensity.

"Oh Lara," she whispered. "What have you done?"

I rubbed soothing circles across her trembling back, making gentle hushing sounds. "It's alright, Taylor. Everything's going to be okay now, I promise." Leaning back, I cupped her face tenderly, brushing away the dampness on her cheeks with the pads of my thumbs. "You're safe. Sophia won't be able to hurt you anymore."

Taylor's lower lip quivered. "But...accusing her like that, to the PRT?" She shook her head slowly. "What if they don't believe us? Or if she tries to retaliate somehow?"

Pulling her close once more, I pressed a lingering kiss to her temple. "They'll believe us," I murmured against her soft skin. "I made sure of that. And if Sophia tries anything, she'll have me to deal with."

The sound of footsteps approached, and we broke apart just as Danny re-entered the living room. He looked utterly drained, shoulders slumped and face haggard as he removed his glasses to rub tiredly at his eyes.

"Girls..." he began in a weary tone, replacing the spectacles on the bridge of his nose. "I think we all need to have a long talk about what just happened here."

Taylor and I exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between us. This was far from over.

After what felt like hours of explaining, rehashing Taylor’s painful memories, and fielding Danny's myriad questions, we finally retired upstairs to get some rest before school in the morning. I could tell Taylor was emotionally spent, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy from the occasional bout of tears that slipped free despite her best efforts.

I led her straight to the bedroom and closed the door behind us. Turning to face Taylor, I cupped her cheek tenderly.

"Let's get some sleep, okay?" I said, searching her gaze intently. "We're going to need our energy for tomorrow."

I could see that Taylor was completely exhausted, barely keeping her eyes open as she swayed slightly on her feet. Gently, I reached out and began undoing the zipper of her baggy hoodie.

"Here, let me help you get ready for bed," I murmured, sliding the worn fabric from her slender shoulders. Taylor didn't protest, simply lifting her arms compliantly as I tugged the garment free.

Next came her jeans, the faded denim pooling around her ankles once I'd unbuttoned them. Taylor stepped out, standing in just her plain cotton bra and panties.

I began undressing myself next. My skirt fell in a whisper of fabric, soon joined by my blouse as I shrugged it off my shoulders. Now we were equals, standing in just our undergarments as the moonlight shone through the bedroom window.

I grabbed Taylor's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as I led her towards the bed. We crawled under the covers together, our bare legs brushing against each other. I pulled Taylor into a hug, enjoying the warmth of her body pressed against mine. Her face was mere inches away, those warm brown eyes holding my gaze with an intensity that made my breath catch.

"You were so brave today, Taylor," I whispered, reaching up to tenderly brush a stray curl from her forehead.

Taylor ducked her head shyly, but I cupped her chin and coaxed her eyes back to mine. "I'm serious," I said softly. "What you did, confessing your powers like that? It took an incredible amount of courage."

"You were the impressive one," she whispered back. "The way you calmly handled Walker, making those accusations about Sophia... I could never have done something like that."

I smiled warmly, stroking my thumb over the apple of her cheek. "You didn't have to. I wanted to shield you from that burden."

Taylor's brow furrowed slightly. "But why take that risk? Revealing you knew about Sophia's identity, confronting the PRT head-on like that?"

Leaning in, I allowed our foreheads to rest together as I gazed deep into her eyes. "Because I'll do anything to protect you, Taylor," I breathed. "Anything at all. You deserve to be loved."

Taylor's lips parted on a soft exhale, her pupils blown wide in the darkness. I could feel the rapid flutter of her pulse beneath my fingertips where they rested against the slender column of her throat.

"Lara..." she whispered, voice thick with emotion.

I didn't give her a chance to say anything more. Closing the little distance between us, I captured Taylor's soft lips with my own in a searing, passionate kiss. For a heartbeat, she went utterly still against me, eyes wide with surprise. Then, as if a dam had burst within her, Taylor melted into the embrace, her lips moving hesitantly against mine.

A low, needy sound escaped the back of her throat as I cupped her jaw, angling her head for better access. My tongue flicked out, tracing the seam of her lips in a silent request for entrance. Taylor readily obliged, parting for me with a soft whimper. Our tongues danced together in a heady, sensual tango, stoking the flames of desire burning low in my belly.

We kissed for what felt like an hour, our bodies pressed flush together beneath the thin sheets. Taylor's hands roamed across my back, her fingertips raising goosebumps in their wake as she mapped every inch of my skin.

Finally, when the need for oxygen became too great to ignore, I reluctantly broke the kiss. We parted with a wet pop, both of us panting harshly as we stared at each other with half-lidded eyes. Taylor looked utterly debauched - her cheeks flushed, lips swollen and glistening, hair tousled from where my fingers had threaded through the dark curls.

"Lara..." she whispered again, sounding dazed. "What...what are we doing?"

I offered her a slow, heated smile as I traced her cheek with one fingertip. "Isn't it obvious?" I purred, leaning in to press kisses along her throat. Taylor tilted her head back with a shuddering sigh, giving me better access. "I want you, Taylor. All of you."

She shivered delicately beneath my lips. "But...you're my cousin," she protested weakly, even as her fingers curled into the sheets. "This isn't...right..."

"Does it really matter?" I breathed against the hollow of her throat, feeling her swallow thickly. "I've never thought of you as a cousin, Taylor. You're so much more than that to me."

"Lara, I...we can't..." Even as she protested, her fingers held tightly onto my waist. "What if...what if my dad..."

"Shh," I soothed, catching her lips in another wet kiss to silence her doubts. Taylor melted against me with a muffled moan, all hesitance forgotten as she returned the kiss.

After a few heated moments, I broke away with a gentle nip to her plush lower lip. "It doesn’t matter," I assured her, stroking back the sweat-damp curls clinging to her forehead. "This is something special between us, Taylor. Something real and true that we both need."

I cupped Taylor's flushed cheek and guided her gaze to meet mine.

"No more doubts, okay?" I whispered, holding her stare intently. "Just this. Just us."

Taylor searched my eyes for a long moment before giving a small nod, some of the tension bleeding from her shoulders. "Okay," she breathed, leaning into my touch. "Can…can we go slowly?"

"Absolutely," I murmured, caressing her rosy cheek with the back of my fingers. "We'll take this at your pace, one step at a time. Your comfort means everything to me."

Taylor's eyes shone with a vulnerability that made my heart clench. She nodded shakily, leaning into my touch with a soft sigh. "Thank you, Lara. For everything."

"Of course, my darling," I replied softly. "Now, we should try to get some rest. We have school in the morning, after all."

Taylor nodded, already looking drowsy from the emotional upheaval of the day's events. We shifted until we were cuddled together beneath the covers, my arms wrapped securely around her slender frame as she pillowed her head against my neck. Despite the lingering worries about Sophia and the PRT, I felt an overwhelming contentment simply holding Taylor close.

"Sleep well, beautiful," I whispered, pressing a tender kiss to her head. Taylor hummed softly in response, already drifting off into peaceful slumber.