Nora's POV
When consciousness returns to me, darkness still blankets the room completely.
I shift carefully, discovering James's arms wrapped securely around my body. He lies motionless beside me, his chest perfectly still. No breath moves through him at all.
His vampire nature shows itself clearly in these moments of deep sleep. I know enough about his kind to understand that when they finally surrender to rest, they fall into something resembling death itself. Disturbing a vampire during this profound slumber carries serious risks.
My throat burns with thirst and hunger gnaws at my stomach relentlessly. With painstaking care, I extract myself from his protective embrace, summoning just enough magical light to navigate safely. I slip into the bathroom first, then pad quietly into his enormous walk-in closet.
