Alina's pov
The morning sun pierced through the curtains, forcing me to squint as I blinked myself awake. Warm golden rays flooded the bedroom, painting the walls in a bright, cheerful glow. A smile tugged at my lips as I sat up, stretching. But as my eyes adjusted to the light, my smile faltered slightly. The nightstand was empty. No steaming mug, no rich aroma of roasted coffee beans, and no Lucian sitting at the edge of the mattress waiting for me to wake up.
Maybe he's just exhausted today, I reasoned, brushing the fleeting disappointment aside. The silver lining was how incredible I felt.
Swiveling my legs out of bed, I walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water onto my face. Patting my skin dry with a towel, I leaned into the mirror. The stubborn, dark shadows that usually hung under my eyes had completely vanished. I had actually slept—truly, deeply rested.
