Silence filled Iryna's chamber after a long night of fear and uncertainty.
Marielle slowly opened her eyes and a sharp ache radiating straight down her neck. She winced, rubbing the stiffness from her joints as she realized she had accidentally fallen asleep while sitting in the plush armchair right beside the bed. The room was dim, the early morning light just beginning to crack through the heavy curtains.
Marielle let out a quiet, raspy breath, shaking her head to clear the remaining fog of sleep from her brain. But as her vision focused in the dim light, she froze entirely.
Iryna was already awake.
The Solaric Princess was lying perfectly still against the mountain of white pillows, her eyes wide open, staring blankly up at the golden embroidery of the bed canopy. The deathly, ash-gray pallor that had threatened to consume her the night before was completely gone, replaced by a faint, healthy flush along her cheekbones.
