Mira's fingers twitched first, then her eyes fluttered open slowly, the dim light of early morning filtering through the cracked window. Her hand moved instinctively across the bed, searching for warmth, for the solid presence that should have been there.
Empty space.
Her palm pressed against cool sheets, finding nothing but hollow fabric between her fingers.
"Young lord...?" she muttered, her voice thick with sleep as she slowly sat up, blinking away the fog in her mind.
Viktor wasn't there.
She turned her head, squinting in the low light. Helena was curled up on the far side of the bed, one arm draped protectively over Toby, who was nestled against her like a small kitten. Both were breathing deeply, lost in sleep.
But no Viktor.
