A R I A
I wake up warm.
Not just from the sunlight pooling across the bed, or the thick sheets tangled around me. It's his body—his arm heavy across my waist, the weight of his chest against my back, the warmth of his breath at the base of my neck. It's the safety in the way he holds me, like I'm not going anywhere. Like he wouldn't let me, even if I tried.
Lucian.
I let my eyes flutter open, and for a moment, I just breathe. There's that strange, dizzying sense of peace that only comes after chaos. After the walls come down.
He's still asleep. I can tell by the rhythm of his breath, the relaxed way his hand rests on my hip. But then his thumb twitches—slow, thoughtful. Like even in sleep, he's still aware of me.
I shift slightly, and that's all it takes.
He pulls me closer.
"You'r
