I woke up to the familiar warmth of Ryder’s arms wrapped tightly around me, his breath slow and steady against the back of my neck. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the comfort of his embrace. After everything we’d been through, his presence next to me was a lifeline I wasn’t ready to let go of. But the weight of the trials, the Moon Goddess’s warnings, and the exhaustion of the last few days were all catching up to me.
I sighed softly, carefully slipping out from under his arm so I wouldn’t wake him. He stirred but didn’t wake, his hand dropping to the empty space where I’d been. Quietly, I padded to the bathroom, splashing some water on my face. The coolness helped clear my head a little, but the knot of anxiety in my chest didn’t ease.
After a few moments, I headed downstairs
