The early morning sun painted the sky in soft shades of gold and pale blue. The wind was quiet, brushing gently against the curtains that hung loosely by the window. Birds chirped faintly outside, their songs floating through the silence of the room.
Elena stirred first.
She opened her eyes slowly, blinking away the sleep. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. But then she felt the warm weight of Damian’s arm draped around her, his chest rising and falling beside her. The night came back in pieces—the fear, the comfort, the safety of his room. The way he’d held her without saying much, just keeping her close.
She lay there for a moment, watching the soft light spill across the room. Damian’s eyes were still closed, but his breathing had changed. He was awake, just resting quietly
