Mikhailis blinked his eyes open, the first rays of the morning sunlight filtering into his bedroom. As he adjusted to the light, he realized that he was being held tightly from both sides, soft bodies pressed against him. He turned his head slightly to the right, and there was Lira, her usually neat and elegant black hair now tousled and disheveled, spilling out of the ponytail she always wore. Her lips were slightly parted, and her expression was calm, serene, just like she always was when awake. Even in sleep, she maintained that composed beauty that defined her—a perfect image of elegance and grace, her skin glowing in the morning light.