Azura's POV
The sky was not fully awake yet. Just a pale grey light sitting over everything, like the world was still yawning, still trying to decide if it was ready for the day. The trees, the yard, the road beyond the gate, all of it was stuck in that in-between place. Nothing fully clear, nothing fully alive. Just that cool quiet air that came before the sun made its real appearance and committed to being present.
The cold had that sharp bite to it. The kind that crept through every layer and found any gap it could and settled there like it had paid for the space.
I stood near the porch with my arms crossed and looked at the trees.
