The morning air was heavy with the scent of charred earth and lingering ash, a cruel reminder that the battle was far from over. Selara stirred beneath the thin blanket of warmth she shared with Draven, his steady breathing vibrating against her shoulder. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to savor the calm, the stolen intimacy, the simple rhythm of his heartbeat against her chest. It was a luxury she knew could vanish at any second, snatched away by the war that lurked beyond the estate walls.
