The first rays of morning light crept through the curtains, soft and golden, painting the room in hues of amber and rose. Iva stirred slowly, her body heavy with exhaustion, her mind still clouded by the remnants of restless dreams.
She blinked her eyes open.
For a moment, she didn't know where she was. The ceiling was unfamiliar. The bed was too large. The silence was too heavy.
Then memory crashed back.
The ceremony. The celebration. The kidnapping. The terror.
Her heart squeezed.
She turned her head, searching for the one person who could ground her, who could make the world feel safe again.
Caleb was beside her.
But he wasn't sleeping.
His eyes were half-open, fixed on her face with an intensity that made her breath catch. His hand rested on her hip, warm and steady. His body
