Chapter 348: Quiet Fires and Soft Cries
Sophia stood where she was for a moment after Orion left, staring at the door as if he might open it again, cloak swinging back over his shoulder, that familiar half-smile on his face. But the quiet remained, stretching thin and heavy around her.
She exhaled and turned away.
The hearth was still warm, embers glowing softly, the fire crackling low and steady. The warmth kissed her skin as she moved through the room, shrugging out her clothes piece by piece. The day had weighed on her more than she realized—her muscles ached, her head throbbed faintly, and exhaustion wrapped around her like a thick blanket.
She yawned as she slipped beneath the covers, the bed already bearing Orion's scent. That alone made her chest tighten, but she let herself sink into the mattress anyway, turning onto her side.
Sleep took her faster than she expected.
When she woke, the light had shifted.
