“The Calm Before

Elyra

The morning sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, painting the room in soft streaks of gold. I stretched my arms over my head, the gentle swell of my belly pressing into the mattress beneath me. Kale stirred beside me, his warmth radiating even through the thin cotton of our sheets. For a fleeting moment, I let myself savor the serenity of it, the peace that had eluded us for so long. The chaos, the threats, the endless schemes, they all felt distant here, confined to the corridors beyond our little sanctuary.

Kale’s hand found mine, the gesture automatic, instinctive, as if our bodies spoke a language...