Morning crept in with a new chill. Even when the hour came to rise, the sun remained hidden behind dark grey clouds, shy, like a maiden after her first night.
The North stayed cloaked in darkness as if coaxing its people to remain curled beneath their warm, cozy furs a little longer.
But Darius was already awake. Not from restlessness, rather, he'd slept so soundly, so deeply, that his body stirred before the morning call.
Despite the dimness, the slight light from the crystal lamp was enough to make out the figure beside him.
Xion.
Soft breaths ghosted against Darius's chest as Xion's face tilted slightly toward him, the younger man still lying comfortably on his back, deep in sleep.
The Archduke didn't know how it happened, but half the blanket had slipped to the floor, and the rest barely covered their feet.
