Chapter 107

Liam

The first thing I noticed was her warmth.

Alaria was curled against me, her face half-buried in my chest, her breaths slow and even as she finally allowed herself to finally give into a little peace. The morning light was spilling through the curtains, soft gold across her hair, and for a moment I just lay there, letting myself breathe her in.

The world could have burned down outside, and I wouldn’t have cared. Not when I had her like this. Not when I knew that she was beside me.

Careful not to wake her, I shifted, brushing the strands of hair from her face, and I couldn’t help the small smile that formed on my lips before I leaned in to kiss her forehead. Her lips parted slightly in her sleep, and something sharp twisted in my chest. I didn’t deserve this, not her, not the peace of this moment, but god, I wanted it. I wanted to embrace every second of it, but I knew that now, more than ever, I was going to have to earn every second back.