The morning light was cold as it filtered through the sheer silk curtains of the master suite. It didn't bring the warmth of a new day. Instead, it felt like a spotlight illuminating the sudden, hollow emptiness of the room. Amara woke slowly, her mind foggy from a sleep that had been more like an exhaustion-induced blackout than actual rest. Her hand instinctively reached out to the space beside her, searching for the familiar heat of a body.
Darien hadn't come home.
Amara sat up abruptly, a sharp spike of adrenaline cutting through her lethargy. Her heart gave a dull, heavy thud against her ribs. She looked at the digital clock on the nightstand, 9:15 AM.
