Morning came softly through the curtains. The golden light of Luminara spilled into the room, warming the sheets. Alex woke first. The nightmare had faded to a distant echo, a bruise that no longer ached. He lay still for a moment, feeling the weight of Saeko's head on his shoulder, her hair spread across his chest like spilled moonlight.
She stirred. Her eyes opened slowly, still heavy with sleep. She looked at him, and something in her gaze said she remembered the night. But she did not speak of it.
"Hungry," she murmured.
He almost smiled. "Breakfast is coming."
He had ordered it the night before, before the dream, before the dance, before the pool. A small kindness to himself, a promise of a good morning. The knock came as he was washing his face. He opened the door, and two servants wheeled in a cart heavy with food.
