Chapter 56

Athena's POV

My eyes fluttered open to find myself still wrapped in Tristan's arms. He was fast asleep, his face relaxed in a way I hadn't seen since I came back. The tension lines around his eyes had smoothed out, and his breathing was deep and even.

I studied his features in the morning light filtering through my bedroom curtains. He looked like someone who hadn't slept this peacefully in forever.

There was something younger about his face when he wasn't carrying the weight of everyone else's problems on his shoulders.

Memories of our night together flooded back, making my cheeks burn hot with embarrassment and something else...