Namara's POV:

I woke up with a jolt, my heart already hammering against my ribs before my eyes even fully opened only to see that the bed beside me was cold and empty. “Where is he?” I asked aloud, sitting up too quickly that the sheets tangled around my legs as I scanned the room frantically.

Sunlight filtered weakly through the heavy curtains, casting pale gold stripes across the wooden floor, but the space felt hollow without him.

“Alexander?” I called out, my voice cracking ...