Lyra Point Of View. “Kael?” I called out softly.

The morning light slanted through the heavy velvet curtains, streaking the room in pale gold and shadow.

It was too quiet.

I turned to the other side of the bed and saw Kael awake which surprised me.

Kael never woke before me.

But when I rolled over, he was already sitting on the edge of the bed, the sheet tangled around his waist, his back a sculpted line of tension. His shoulders rose and fell in slow, deliberate breaths, each one too ...