Morning arrived quietly over Whitby.
Sometime before dawn, snow had fallen again.
Not enough to bury the world in white, but enough to soften it.
A thin layer of snow rested over the back garden, clinging delicately to the stone pathway and bare branches beyond the conservatory glass. Near the edges of the windows, faint frost bloomed like pale lace, while the sky above remained washed in muted winter gray.
Inside, however, warmth lingered.
The bedroom glowed faintly beneath soft morning light, warmth from the central heating lingering comfortably against the bitter January cold outside.
Missy stirred beneath the blankets.
Warm.
Too warm.
A familiar warmth surrounded her before she even fully woke.
For a moment, she instinctively curled closer, half-asleep, until something felt… strange.
Still sleepy, she frowned faintly.
Why was Raven awake?
Slowly blinking her eyes open, she found him already sitting beside her against the headboard.
Fully dressed.
