The first light of dawn spilled through the curtains, streaks of red and white casting across the bed.
Roland was the first to stir, realizing he wasn't alone.
His hand instinctively searched until it found the familiar curves of Stella beside him. She was still asleep, hair spread across her pillow, the faint mark of their bonded jewels glowing softly on her palm as it rested against his chest.
He could feel their connection, something unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
One could even say it was better than what they'd shared all night.
Suppressing a yawn, he let himself sink into the serenity of the moment.
For once, there was no urgent knocking at the door, no messenger calling his name, no Renar waiting with piles of documents and maps for him to review.
He simply lay there, listening to the steady rhythm of his wife's breathing and savoring the warmth of the shared blanket.
