The morning light slid weakly through the curtains, soft and pale. Ivy lay curled up against Cassien, her breathing quiet and steady. The air in the room was still, warm from the night before. Cassien watched her sleep for a while, his hand brushing strands of hair away from her face.

Then, the doorbell rang.

The sharp sound cut through the silence. Cassien frowned immediately, his instincts on alert. He sat up, his expression hardening.

“I’ll get it,” he muttered, sliding out of ...