|| Alaric’s POV ||

Something felt off about Lilac. The moment she woke up, I could sense it, a shift in her energy, a distance in her eyes that hadn’t been there last night. She had been so open, so vulnerable with me just a few hours ago, but now she seemed guarded, almost hesitant. Was she unhappy with me? Had I done something wrong? The questions gnawed at me, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Not yet.

I watched her as she moved around the house, her movements stiff ...