The morning light poured like honey across the meadow, warming Lucian's skin before his eyes had even unsealed. Somewhere close by, birds chirped, flitting between the branches of the trees Kael had disappeared into last night. What had been a fire last night was now only a circle of black ash and a few glowing pieces of coal.
Serakha was still curled next to him, her breath warm and even. He turned his head a little, trying not to wake her. Her face was peaceful now, not just still — healed. No more fire behind her eyes. No more burdening her. Just… her.
Lucian let himself smile. A moment later, her eyelids fluttered open.
"Morning," he said softly.
She blinked and smiled, slow and warm. "Still here."
"Still real," he said, tapping her forehead lightly with his.
She raised her blue and white stripped pajamas covered arms up toward the sky. "I dreamed I was in water," she murmured. "A dark lake with moonlight on it. No fire. No fear. Just stillness."
