Aiden slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the bright light in the room. His head felt heavy, but the warmth around him made him feel safe.

The first thing he saw was Alina, her face close to his, her arms wrapped around him protectively, like she was shielding him from the world.

Without saying anything, he leaned in and kissed her deeply.

Alina’s eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she kissed him back, her hands shaking slightly as she held onto him. ...