Isaac yawned as pale morning rays slipped through the curtains and settled across the bed.
The light felt warm, but his body still carried the weight of yesterday's exhaustion. He shifted slightly and pulled Emily closer without opening his eyes.
She made a quiet sound in her sleep and pressed against him, her breathing slow and steady.
For a moment, Isaac considered ignoring the world entirely and going back to sleep. After everything that had happened the previous day—the chaos, the battles, the endless administrative work—rest felt like the most valuable thing in existence.
'I'll sleep just five more minutes,' he thought to himself.
Unfortunately, the world had other plans.
A series of loud knocks hit the door.
Isaac frowned but didn't move.
The knocking came again, louder this time.
He opened one eye.
The third round of knocking sounded less like knocking and more like an attempt to break the door down.
