Soft gray dawn filtered through half-closed blinds across Cassian Vale's bedroom, cutting pale lines through the dim apartment while the city outside slowly climbed toward morning traffic. Rainwater still clung to the windows in uneven streaks from last night's storm. Somewhere deeper inside the apartment, an old refrigerator hummed softly beneath the distant sound of early broadcasts from the television left running in the living room overnight.
Galathea Brooks woke slowly beneath warm blankets.
For several quiet seconds, her mind remained suspended somewhere between sleep and awareness. The mattress beneath her felt unfamiliar. The air smelled faintly of detergent, coffee grounds, and Cassian's cologne lingering weakly against fabric.
Then she felt the arm around her waist.
Her body reacted instantly.
Galathea jerked sharply beneath the blankets, pulse spiking hard enough to hurt.
Cassian woke immediately behind her.
