Chapter 161

161 Three Days Apart

Lucian

I woke at four, the sky still wrapped in shadows and silence. The room was dim, the faintest outline of Mara’s sleeping form curled beside me, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm I knew by heart. I hated to disturb her, but I knew she’d never forgive me if I left without a word

Leaning in, I pressed a kiss to her lips, gentle, lingering

She stirred, groaned softly, and blinked herself into awareness. “Are you ready?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep.

I nodded. “I just wanted to say goodbye. You can go back to sleep, darling.”

But Mara was already swinging her legs over the bed, shaking her head. Determined as always