|| Lilac's POV ||

The first thing I registered was the warmth. It enveloped me like a cocoon, soft and steady, a stark contrast to the chaos that had become my life. My body felt heavy, my limbs tangled in something—no, someone. Alaric. His arms were wrapped around me, his chest rising and falling in a slow, rhythmic pattern. His scent, a mix of pine and something uniquely him, filled my senses, grounding me in the moment.

I groaned softly as my phone vibrated on the ...