Chapter 64. Shattered Mornings

Sliding my hand over the sheets to look for my angel, I felt my lips pull into a pout upon not feeling her or the warmth her body should have given the bed.

An uneasy emptiness settled beside me, the cold sheets a stark contrast to the lingering heat of the night before. Irritation pricked at me; waking up without Lottie wasn't how I envisioned starting my day. After everything we'd been through, I craved nothing more than to hold her close, to reassure myself that she was truly back where she belonged.

Flipping onto my back, I looked up at the ceiling, my lips shifting from a pout to a smirk as her scent drifted over me. The soft aroma of lavender and honey enveloped my senses, stirring memories of the way her hair had felt between my fingers, the sound of her laughter filling the room. It was intoxicating, a reminder of better times and a promise of what could be.

"Angel," I called out, but when nothing came back, a flicker of annoyance sparked