SOREN
I woke to empty arms and immediate panic.
The kind that bypassed logic entirely and went straight to worst-case scenarios. Sat up so fast the world tilted sideways for a moment, blankets falling away, cold air hitting skin that had gotten used to having Eris pressed against it.
The alcove was empty.
No Eris. No sign of where she'd gone. Just disturbed furs and the lingering warmth where her body had been that was already fading in the cave's chill.
My mind went places it shouldn't go.
Something happened. Someone found us. She left. She woke up and decided this was a mistake and walked out while I was sleeping and I'd never see her again because I'd let my guard down, had trusted that being in a sacred space meant being safe, had believed for one fucking moment that I could rest without consequences.
Then logic caught up with panic.
