Ella
The morning air was chilly, because of the rain that fell last night. I blinked awake, feeling oddly warm despite the thin blanket I’d fallen asleep with. A thicker, familiar-smelling one now covered me.
I froze. The scent was faint but unmistakable—Nikolai.
Pushing the blanket aside, I sat up, my heart racing. My hands caught my attention next—small blisters dotted my palms, a painful reminder of scrubbing Aidan’s clothes the night before. I winced, glancing across the room.
Aidan and Nikolai were still fast asleep. Aidan’s steady breathing filled the room, and Nikolai was sprawled in his bed, his usual calm demeanor softened in sleep.
Great! Now I could clean up without any fear of them barging in on me. Grabbing my things, I tiptoed to the bathroom.
Once inside, I
