Aria POV

The morning light slipped through the curtains in pale streaks, warming the side of my face. I stirred under the duvet, slow and heavy, my body not yet ready to move. For once, the house was quiet—no raised voices, no arguments, no tension dragging across the walls.

I thought I might savor the silence a little longer.

Then came the knock.

Soft. Too soft to be Kael. He never bothered with subtlety.

I pushed myself up slowly, smoothing the duvet over my lap. “Come in.”

The door opened, and to my surprise, Elena stepped inside. She carried a small tray in her hands, steady as though she had...