Page 94 of Fallen Empire

I glanced at Savannah—still asleep, thank God—and then back at him. “Did she wake up at all?”

“Yeah, for a bit,” he said, his voice low. “Not long.”

I nodded and made my way around the bed, settling into the other chair across from him. “She okay?”

“As okay as she can be.”

I didn’t press. I just let myself breathe a little. She was alive. Resting. That was enough for now.

Ben hovered for a second, like he wasn’t sure if he should stay or give us space. I looked over and gave him the smallest nod. He sat down along the wall, arms crossed, scanning the room like a bodyguard on shift. Typical.

I leaned forward, brushing my thumb along the edge of Savannah’s blanket. “She looks… better.”

Jaxson exhaled like he’d been holding his breath since we walked in. “She’s strong.”

Yeah. That was the part I never doubted.

I don’t know how long we sat there—Ben, Jaxson, and me. No one really spoke. Just the steady sound of Savannah’s breathing, the occasional beep from the monitors, and the quiet rhythm of the hospital floor waking up around us.

I let my head fall back against the chair, eyes drifting closed for a moment. Just one minute. Just enough to center myself.

Then I heard her stir.

It was small—just the shift of sheets and the faintest exhale, like she was breaking the surface of sleep for the first time in hours.

I sat up straight, my hand already reaching for hers.

Savannah’s lashes fluttered, brows pinching in that confused little way she always did when waking up somewhere unfamiliar. Her lips parted like she had something to say but hadn’t found the words yet.

“Hey,” I whispered, squeezing her hand gently. “You with us?”

Her gaze met mine, a slow, cloudy recognition settling behind her eyes.

“Millie…”

I smiled. “Yeah, it’s me. Told you I’d be back.”

She blinked a few times, the fog in her eyes clearing, and for the first time in what felt like forever… she smiled. Just a little.

“Where’ve you been?”

The weight of it all pressed behind my ribs, but I forced a smile anyway.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Long story. I’ll tell you everything once you’re up for sarcasm and judgment.” I didn’t miss the look Jaxson shot to Ben. Quick. Subtle. But pointed.

Whatever happened while I was gone, it mattered.

But now wasn’t the time to unpack it. Right now, she was alert. And breathing. And managing a smile, even if it was small.

She let out the weakest laugh I’d ever heard, but it was still hers. “Deal.”

“You want water? Hungry?”

She glanced around the room, eyes landing on Jaxson first, then Ben, then back to me. “I think… just water for now.”

Jaxson was already moving, the cup in his hand before I could even turn. He tilted the straw gently toward her lips, and she sipped with quiet effort, her hand barely steady.

I didn’t move. I just… watched him. Watched the way his eyes never left her face. The way his hand hovered under her wrist like he was afraid she might vanish if he let go.