Next morning.
Sunlight poured through the tall windows, warm and golden, not the cold pale light of early morning but the rich honeyed glow of mid-morning that made everything look soft and dreamy. Dust motes danced in the air like tiny fairies, birds sang somewhere outside, and the distant sound of water trickled from the courtyard fountain.
Alina woke up slowly, her body heavy with sleep and her limbs loose, her mind still caught somewhere between dreams and waking. The bed was warm and the sheets were soft, but something warm and small was pressing against her face. She opened her eyes to find a tiny foot pressed against her cheek, toes wiggling lazily like they were waving hello.
