Elena
*****Early Morning — Temporary Stronghold in the Valley*****
The sky was still dark when I woke.
Not black, just that soft blue-gray that came before dawn, when the world was quiet and even the wind seemed afraid to move too loudly.
Chase was beside me.
That was the first thing I noticed.
Not the fire burning low.
Not the smell of smoke and damp earth.
Not the heavy walls of the tent around us.
Him.
His arm was draped loosely over my waist, not possessive, not tight…. just there, warm and steady. Like he was afraid to lose me but didn’t want to cage me either.
I lay still for a long moment, afraid that if I moved, this would fade like a dream.
Last night replayed in my head.
The choice.
The kiss.
The way Lucian had walked out like the world had just tilted under his fe
