I woke to cold sheets and the odd hollowness of an empty bed. My hand stretched out, seeking Theo's warmth before I remembered - he'd spent the night in a guest room across the palace, some ridiculous tradition about not seeing each other the night before the wedding. The bed felt too large without him, our shared space suddenly vacant and still. Dawn light filtered through the curtains, painting the royal suite in hazy gold and reminding me that today wasn't just any day. Today, I would marry my mate, my king, the man who had turned my world upside down in the most magnificent way possible.
The persistent banging at the door yanked me fully from sleep's lingering embrace. I blinked, momentarily disoriented by the aggressive sound that seemed entirely at odds with the peaceful morning.
"
