~LENORA'S POV
I woke up slowly, like my body was deciding whether returning to the world was worth the effort.
The first thing I noticed was that nothing hurt, and that alone felt strange enough to make me open my eyes.
Then I realized I wasn't alone. An arm was wrapped around my waist, holding me in place.
I frowned faintly and looked down, only to find myself pulled back against Alaric's chest, his hold firm in a way that made it clear he wasn't letting go anytime soon.
I tried to shift forward carefully, just enough to see if I could slip out without waking him, but the moment I moved, his arm tightened slightly and pulled me right back.
I let out a quiet breath. "Alright, fine," I murmured under my breath.
I stayed still for another second, then gave up on the idea of escaping and turned instead, adjusting myself within his hold until I was facing him.
That was when I noticed something else.
My back.
