The sun hadn't yet fully risen when the pale light of dawn began to filter through the bedroom curtains. The air was chilly, and the silence of the mansion was broken only by the rhythmic sound of Damon's breathing.
He slept soundly, his body relaxed on the bed, his face serene—a rare respite after days of exhaustion and relentless training.
But the dreams… those weren't as serene.
A slight smile formed on his lips. The blond murmured incoherent words, his body moving slightly beneath the sheets. In that distant world, the figures of Ester and Aria blended into the haze of his imagination—their smiles, their voices, the subtle touches that seemed more real than they should have been. It was a happy, warm dream, one that left him completely oblivious to the world around him.
Until paradise collapsed.
