As the first ray of sunlight entered through the window, painting Vlad's face in a warm golden hue, his eyes slowly opened.
He rose to a sitting position, scratching his head through his ruffled hair, the strands sticking up in wild directions. He folded the blanket with practiced precision and placed it on the table along with the pillow, his eyes still half-lidded and his body sore from lying on the hard marble floor throughout the night. The chill had seeped into his bones despite the blanket.
Seraphina was still fast asleep, her untied hair spilled across the pillow like a river of crimson silk, the blanket that should have covered her body tangled between her legs in a tight hug as she lay on her side. Her shirt had ridden up slightly, revealing her rosy, milk-white waist beneath, the smooth skin catching the morning light.
