Aria stirred awake, a groan escaped her lips as she turned around in bed. Her eyes felt heavy but her body felt warm. Like she had just had the best sleep of her life. Her body was wrapped in a fur blanket, Lucien lay fast asleep beside her. Aria had not meant to fall asleep besides him. After she had rubbed the paste on his leg and made sure the bleeding had stopped. She had meant to walk out of the cottage and take a walk in order to clear her head. But the quiet moment they shared in the room made her rethink her actions. The silence had stretched as they both met each other’s gaze. That moment was sacred, so she stayed. After she was done, she told Lucien to lay back and rest. He needed it. He had tried to argue, but Aria had shut him down quickly with an intense glare. She knew

