Morning light spilled through the half-drawn curtains, casting a pale gold glow across the room. Chloe woke to the soft rustle of silk sheets and an unsettling chill where Valerius had once lain beside her. The warmth of his presence was gone, leaving her feeling strangely hollow.

Her body ached in places she hadn’t even realized could ache, most of all her back. When she sat up, the movement made her wince.

Slowly, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and padded across the room to ...