The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. It felt strange, waking up in this quiet moment of peace after everything we had been through.
I lay there for a moment, listening to the steady rhythm of Lise's breathing beside me, feeling the warmth of her body pressed against mine. But the moment was fleeting there was too much to do, too much still hanging over us.
Today, we were going to confront Thalira.
I shifted slightly, careful not to wake Lise as I pulled myself out of bed. The events of yesterday still weighed heavily on my mind, but now, we had something we didn't have before certainty.
Thalira wasn't my perfect match. It was Lise. That knowledge was both a relief and a terrifying truth to carry into battle.