|Serena's POV|
The morning stretches into a quiet stillness, sunlight pouring through the wide glass walls and bathing the living room in a soft, golden warmth. I sit on the plush ivory couch, legs curled beneath me, a knitted throw draped loosely over my lap. My eyes still sting a little, swollen and sore from the tears that refused to stop last night—some from grief, some from release, and far too many from the terrifying comfort of being held. Held like I was more than just something broken. Like I was precious.
Gryphon walks in from the kitchen, the sleeves of his black t-shirt rolled up and his hair tousled in that careless way that makes him look both wild and devastatingly human. He's holding two mugs, steam curling into the air from each one, and even before he reaches me, I kno
