The morning sun poured through the windows in golden streams, its warmth dancing across the room. Alaric lay fast asleep, the only one in bed, his breathing slow and deep. The gentle wind teased the curtains, lifting them in lazy waves before letting them fall again.
A light tap on his leg stirred him slightly, but he wasn’t ready to wake. He rolled over to the other side, curling into the blankets. The tap grew more insistent, turning into vigorous shaking. Still, he clung to the comfort of sleep—until the memories of the night before began to stir. Rowenne’s words, her warnings, the promises she had made… they all came rushing back.
For a fleeting moment, he wished it had all been a dream—but the weight of the necklace resting against his chest told him otherwise. The phoenix pendant f
