Pale morning sunlight filtered through the heavy silk canopy of the consultation pavilion, mixing with the warm, lingering fragrance of aged spirit-sandalwood rising from the bronze brazier.
Outside the warded walls, the distant clang of armor and the neighing of warhorses signaled that the camp was waking up to march into the unshielded outer gates of Azure Fall City. Inside the quiet chamber, however, time seemed to stand still upon the wide couch of snow-white furs.
Cui Yulan lay curled on her side across Alaric's muscular lap and chest, her loose crimson silk robe bunched up around her hips after falling asleep in his arms the night before. Her long, glossy dark hair spilled over his shoulder, and her breathing was slow and deep.
Before her silver eyelashes even fluttered open, she felt a pair of large, warm hands moving with shameless familiarity over her bare skin.
