Sorin cracked his eyes open, and the soft light from the slot under the closet door filled the small room. He felt a warm body curled next to him, and the tickle of her wild ringlets under his chin. Nadaria was here with him. It amazed him how much he’d missed her these last two lonely nights. Studying her, he thought she looked better today. The bags under her eyes had receded, and the bite mark on her cheek was all but gone.
He smiled, pleased that it wasn’t all a dream. The garden had happened. Sorin had a chance at new forever, and he knew in his heart the only person who could ruin it for him was himself.
His dead arm demanded he shift to his back, so he did, trying to make tiny adjustments so she didn’t wake. He lifted his other arm and studied the tattoo. The toad and the lily.
