Elyse pov
I woke to sunlight and an empty bed.
For a moment, panic flared. Where was Ronan? Had last night been a dream? Had he…
No. The pillow beside me still held his scent. The sheets were warm where he’d been. And there was a note on the nightstand.
*Had to handle pack business. Didn’t want to wake you. You needed the sleep. - R*
I smiled, pressing the note to my chest like a fool in love.
Which I was. Completely. Hopelessly.
And I’d never been happier.
I stretched, feeling muscles I’d forgotten I had. The past few days had been intense. Terrifying.
But I’d survived. We’d survived.
And now I had a future to look forward to.
I showered, scrubbing away the last traces of ash and soot. Watching the water run clear felt symbolic somehow. Washing away the past. Starting fresh.
