The Threads That Bind Us

Chapter 27

Noah had felt helpless without Fidelity. He'd been drawn to her since the moment he'd ran into her, but over the past couple of months, he realized that what he felt was love.

He was completely captivated by her. He loved how the light would catch her eyes, making them appear lighter, more vibrant—though he found them beautiful either way. He noticed the subtle variations in her hair: brown, blonde, hints of red. He liked how she always folded her napkins and parchment the same way before throwing them away. He noticed the way she picked at her nails or bounced her leg when she was anxious, and how she bit her lip whenever she was lost in thought or concentrated. He admired her sense of humor and loved the sound of her laughter. He had taken note of all the little things that made her, well, her—and he'd fallen in love with every single detail.

Noah knew he was young, and that there was still so much ahead of him. But he also knew, with absolute certainty, that he wanted Fidelity by his side. He could already see their future: he wanted to marry her, wanted her to be the mother of his children. He wanted to grow old with her. He wanted every part of her, forever.

How could I have been so stupid, trying to push her away?

Noah had been dreaming of her—of her holding him, cradling him. He dreamt that she kissed his cheek, and then his jaw. Slowly, he began to wake, realizing it wasn't just a dream. Fidelity was there, right beside him, doing exactly that.

He smiled up at her groggily, and she blushed, looking shy but beautiful as ever.

My Fidelity.

*****

Fidelity woke up slowly, her eyes falling on Noah. Noah. My sweet, Noah.

It took her only a moment to remember where she was—the Room of Requirement. She hadn't returned to her dormitory last night. Panic began to rise in her chest. She was at risk of getting into serious trouble.

But then she glanced back down at Noah, still sleeping so peacefully, and the sight of him calmed her mind and heart. She used a charm to check the time. It was very early in the morning.

What's done is done, she thought. There was no point in worrying about what she couldn't control now. Instead, she chose to savor the moment. She had Noah back, and that was all that mattered.

As she gazed at him, she couldn't resist the urge to kiss him. She gently kissed his birthmark, then his jaw, until he stirred awake. He let out a soft groan and smiled up at her, still groggy.

"Good morning, handsome," Fidelity said, her voice warm.

"Hello, beautiful," he replied, his smile widening.

"How did you sleep?" she asked.

"Wonderfully—wait a minute," he started, realization dawning.

Fidelity grinned. "I know, we fell asleep."

Noah, too content to worry, simply pulled her down beside him and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Thank you, for everything," he whispered.

Fidelity responded only with a kiss.

Fidelity lay beside Noah, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions she could barely contain. She had been through so much in the last few days, but right now, in this quiet space with him, all of that melted away. The warmth of his body, the softness in his eyes, the way his fingers gently brushed her arm—it all made her feel like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

She tilted her head slightly to look at him, studying the familiar curve of his jaw and the way his hair fell messily over his forehead. He was still half-asleep, his lids heavy, but when he looked at her, his expression softened even more.