The morning did not rush me awake. It came slowly, like it understood that some days needed care. Light slipped into the room in thin lines, touching the walls, the floor, the edge of the bed. I lay there for a while, awake but still, listening to the soft sounds of the estate waking up outside. Birds moved through the trees, guards changed shifts, and somewhere far off, wolves trained with low voices and steady steps. I felt Damien beside me, warm and solid, his arm resting across my waist like it belonged there. In that moment, I understood that peace was not the absence of trouble, but the presence of trust.
I turned slightly and studied his face. Sleep softened him, eased the weight he carried during the day. His brow was smooth, his breathing even. This was the man who stood firm for
