Dawn came too quickly and too slowly all at once.
Kendrick woke to find Ashina already up, standing at the window in one of his shirts, her hand resting on her barely-there bump as she watched the sun paint the territory in shades of gold and pink.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, moving to stand behind her, his arms coming around her waist.
"Didn't want to waste time sleeping." She leaned back into him. "Wanted to remember this, the manor, the territory, the peace. Before we walk into war."
Through the bond, Kendrick felt her complex tangle of emotions, determination and fear and love all woven together. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder, breathing in her scent.
"We're going to come back to this," he promised. "To peace. To safety. To raising our child here."
"I know." But her voice shook slightly. "I just needed to see it one more time. Needed to remember what we're fighting for."
