Elena’s POV
I woke up choking on smoke.
My eyes snapped open, and the first thing I saw was Dax standing in the doorway with a frying pan in one hand and a sheepish look on his ridiculously perfect face.
“Good morning,” he said, smiling sheepishly.
I sat up, rubbing my eyes. “What on earth is that smell? Did you set something on fire?”
“Toast,” he replied, grim as ever. “Well, it was toast.”
I groaned, dragging a pillow over my face. “I can’t believe I almost died because you don’t know how to use a toaster.”
He chuckled, coming closer, and yanked the pillow away. “I was trying to cook for you.”
“That’s… terrifying.” I couldn’t help the laugh that broke free. It felt foreign, dangerous, but it slipped out anyway.
I slid off the bed, padding barefoot into the ki
