…..
The first rays of sunlight make its way through the heavy curtains in Aidan's chamber. It paints a soft, golden stripe across the polished floor.
The air is still and quiet occasionally disrupted by the rhythmic breaths of Aidan. Griselda lies beside him, wide awake. It's been a few months since her coronation, and she has slowly but definitely settled into her new position as Queen of Balcroft.
She's learned the court's ways and the etiquettes but is still trying to understand more about her duties.
She sighs as she makes a move to slowly leave the bed, to slip away without waking Aidan. First, she slides her legs off the side of the bed, her bare feet meeting the cold floor. But before she can manage to go further, a strong arm wraps around her waist, pulling her back against a warm, muscular body.
"Where are you sneaking off to?" Aidan asks, his voice thick and groggy with sleep.
