Morning arrived softly, slipping through the tall windows like a quiet promise after the night’s tender interlude. Selene stirred alone in the wide bed, the sheets still carrying the faint trace of Orion’s scent and the memory of his steady heartbeat beneath her cheek. Duty had called him away early, leaving behind the warmth of their shared discovery. It had steadied her, yet the strange awareness from the night before still lingered beneath the peace.
The palace had settled into a fragile rhythm. Something quiet, measured like a breath being held just beneath the surface. Selene felt it. She moved through the inner halls with Camille resting against her chest, the soft weight of her daughter grounding her with every step. The light filtering through the tall windows was gentle, warm, ca
