I wake up warm again.
Warm, safe, and held.
It takes me a moment to realize why. Kael’s arms are around me, one under my pillow, the other wrapped across my waist. His chest is pressed against my back, steady and solid, and his breath brushes the back of my neck in slow, even waves.
For a few blissful seconds, I melt into him.
I snuggle closer, eyes still closed, letting myself pretend everything is normal. That he’s just a man. That I’m just a girl. That we’re not tangled in fate and blood and fear.
Then it hits me.
He’s here.
In the morning.
Again.
My eyes snap open.
Kael shifts behind me, like he can feel the change in my breathing. His voice is low and rough with sleep.
“Morning, sweet girl.”
I turn my head slightly. His eyes are half‑open, soft and warm in a way I’ve never
