"Sleep, little cub," Draven whispered, his broad, warm palm resting gently on the crown of my head, his calloused fingers slowly stroking through my hair. "No more nightmares tonight. You've earned your rest."
I let out a soft, contented sigh, my eyelids fluttering shut. The crackle of the hearth faded into a gentle, rhythmic hum, and slowly, the warm, cozy comfort of the room dissolved into absolute darkness.
---
The quiet didn't last.
The comforting warmth faded, replaced by a sudden, bone-chilling cold that bit into my skin like icy needles. The air grew thick, damp, and heavy, smelling faintly of sulfur, old stone, and wet earth.
I opened my eyes, but I wasn't in our bedchambers anymore.
