Elena's POV
I woke up to golden light streaming through the curtains, slanting across the bed in soft stripes.
For a moment, I didn't know where I was.
Then I remembered.
Julian's house.
My head sank deeper into the pillow.
This was the first time in a long time I'd slept like this—without jerking awake, without nightmares clawing at the edges of my sanity. No cold sweat. No twisted sheets. Just... peace.
Real, terrifying peace.
The clock beside me blinked: 7:04 PM.
I had slept the whole afternoon away.
I sat up slowly, stretching. My body felt lighter, like some small weight had lifted—not gone, but eased.
Padding into the bathroom, I turned on the shower. The warmth kissed my skin, washing off the remnants of exhaustion I hadn't realized I carried.
Afterward, I slipped into something soft—a cream wrap top and satin shorts that clung gently to my skin. My hair was damp and loose. No makeup. No armor.
Just me.
