Lyra's POV
The gentle sweep of fingertips across my shoulder blade drew me from sleep. Each caress was whisper-soft yet deliberate, pulling me slowly toward consciousness like rising through layers of silk.
My lashes fluttered as I surfaced, finding Kaelen positioned on his side next to me, his attention focused entirely on the path his fingers traced along my bare skin. The bedside lamp bathed us both in golden light, creating an intimate cocoon around the rumpled sheets.
"There she is," he said, voice rough with lingering drowsiness.
Every muscle in my body felt deliciously heavy, as though I'd been thoroughly wrung out and left boneless. I shifted to bury my face deeper into the pillow, seeking the refuge of sleep once more, but his palm settled warm and firm against my hip.
"It's four in the morning," he informed me quietly.
I blinked up at him through tangled hair. "So?"
"The staff will be here by six to prepare us."
