After a pleasant dinner with the family, Edward remained downstairs for a while longer with everyone else.
Eventually, however, the conversations faded, the dishes were cleared away, and everyone began retreating to their rooms.
Usually, Edward might have slept beside Layla, Alvara, or both of them, provided Alvara could tolerate the arrangement that night.
But Belle had been strict.
More importantly, Edward had no intention of doing anything inappropriate while Tihana and Orlin were staying in the mansion.
Especially not when Tihana had asked to sleep in his bed.
Outside, the night was pitch-black. The lights of Clover glimmered faintly beyond the curtains, but the room itself remained quiet and dark.
Edward lay on his back with his arms folded beneath his head.
