Silver woke to stillness, wrapped in warmth and breath and the slow rhythm of another heartbeat close enough to feel.
She didn’t move at first.
Her mind surfaced gradually, like rising through deep water, the faint warmth against her back. The solid weight of an arm resting loosely across her waist. The quiet rise and fall of the chest behind her.
Arthur.
Memory settled gently into place.
His room, the moonlight, and the quiet conversation. The kiss that had not felt like surrender but something steadier. Her breathing slowed.
Carefully, slowly, Silver turned her head.
Arthur slept beside her, his face was softened by sleep, tension gone from his brow, the rigid control he wore like armor loosened completely. Dark lashes rested against his skin. His breathing was deep and even. One
