The morning light was gentle. It painted the room in soft gold. Caius watched Selene sleep. Her face was peaceful. No lines of worry. No mask of command. Just a young woman, warm in her bed.
He knew he should leave. The risk was huge. But for these few moments, he let himself be still. He listened to her breathing. He felt the weight of her head on his chest. This was a stolen treasure.
Her eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him. A slow, sleepy smile spread across her face. It was a smile he had never seen before. It was private. Just for him.
“Good morning,” she whispered.
“Good morning,” he whispered back.
She propped herself up on one elbow. Her hair fell around her shoulders like a curtain. “I half-expected you to be gone. To have slipped away before dawn.”
“I thought about it
