Samantha

I had woken alone. Gabriel must have slipped out sometime before dawn, careful not to disturb me.

The pillow beside mine, which he used, still carried the faint pressure mark from the weight of his head, and I'd caught myself running my fingers over it before forcing myself to get up and face the day.

He had left a note on the bedside table. "Good morning. Help yourself to breakfast downstairs. Feel free to explore the garden while I'm in council meetings. I trust you know your way ...