Kael woke to the feeling of being watched.
He didn't open his eyes immediately—just lay still, breathing evenly, letting his senses expand.
Aria.
He opened his eyes.
She was lying beside him on the bed—not touching, but close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from her body. Her eyes were open too, fixed on the ceiling, the Gravitational Paradox book clutched to her chest like a treasure.
"You're awake."
Kael's voice was rough with sleep. "How long?"
"Few minutes." She didn't look at him. "I was reading."
He pushed himself up to sit against the headboard, running a hand through his disheveled hair. The exhaustion from the fight had settled into his bones, but sleep had helped. His mana reserves were recovering—slowly, but visibly.
"Give me the book."
Aria handed it over without protest.
Kael opened to the first page and set it between them.
