Violet woke to a quiet room softened by the early light slipping through the curtains. The brightness carried a warm tone that settled across the bed sheets, touching her skin with a gentle heat that felt calmer than usual. She blinked several times, allowing her senses to adjust. The night had left a lingering awareness in her chest, steady and deep, as if her emotions had arranged themselves carefully while she slept.

Her breathing remained even, but the space beside her held a noticeable presence. Bryan lay on his back, awake but still, his arms relaxed and his attention anchored on the ceiling. The room stayed mildly warm, not just...