Sally's POV
Morning light filters through the curtains as I stir between the warm bodies of Karl and Sean. Karl's arm tightens around my waist, and though his breathing suggests he's been awake for a while, his eyes remain closed. When I shift slightly, he draws me closer, his mouth finding my temple in a gentle kiss.
None of us will voice it, but there's an undercurrent of tension that makes this morning feel different from all the others.
Philip has coffee waiting when we eventually make our way to the kitchen. He hands me a steaming mug with a gentle smile, though his eyes immediately seek out Karl's. I watch them exchange one of their wordless conversations, the kind that comes from years of brotherhood and shared danger. Ajax appears last, water droplets still clinging to his hair from his shower.
