(Aria’s POV)
The storm had passed, but the air still carried the scent of rain, sharp, metallic, alive.
Aria stirred slowly, her body pressed against Kael’s. His warmth radiated through her, steady and grounding, even as faint light crept through the gaps in the broken roof. The longhouse was quiet now, no distant howls, no tremors beneath the floor. Just breath and heartbeat.
For a few fragile moments, she let herself exist in that peace.
Kael’s arm lay heavy over her waist, his skin hot against her own, though the black veins that had marked him now glowed only faintly, thin threads of gold weaving through shadow. When she traced one with her fingertips, his body tensed slightly, but he didn’t wake.
She smiled softly. He was always on the edge, half man, half storm.
Her gaze wander
