Lyra's POV
The silence that followed his words felt thick and weighty, settling into every inch of the room like fog. His breathing behind me was the only sound breaking through the quiet, steady and even, mixing with the rapid beat of my own heart. I expected his presence to make me more anxious, but instead, something inside me began to settle.
My shoulders gradually released their tension. I shifted slightly, pulling the blanket closer under my chin. The sheets held his warmth, and that clean scent of pine seemed stronger now that we occupied the same space. Sleep tugged at me despite my resistance. This felt too personal, too close.
I kept telling myself to stay alert. This didn't change anything between us. I couldn't let myself become vulnerable, especially not with him. Yet the comfort was winning. The quiet felt more secure than it had any right to, and the tiredness I'd been fighting began to take hold.
