Alina woke with Austin's arm still wrapped around her waist. It hadn't moved once in the night. It was probably the first time since coming to Ravenmoor, she had slept straight through until morning, and he had held her the whole time. Even in sleep, he hadn't let her go.
She lay still for a moment, feeling his warmth against her skin.
Outside, the castle was buzzing with footsteps in the corridors, and distant voices, but here, everything felt quiet as if time had paused.
Suddenly, she felt his arm tighten around her.
"You're awake," she whispered.
"How do you know?" he asked, his voice rough with sleep.
"Your breathing changed."
She smiled and turned slowly in his arms. For the first time, she saw his face so closely in the daylight. His hair was slightly messy, a faint crease pressed into his cheek from the pillow. He looked softer like this and incredibly gorgeous.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi."
"This feels…a little awkward."
"What does?"
