~Alora~

(An Hour Earlier)

The first thing I noticed when I woke was the warmth beside me. For a brief, disorienting moment, I thought it was Lucian, and my heart leaped with joy. But then reality settled in, and I remembered—it was Maya, not my mate, who'd shared my bed last night.

I turned my head slightly to look at her. She was still fast asleep, her face peaceful in a way I hadn't seen since she'd arrived. The terror and anxiety that had marked her features yesterday had smoothed away ...