I woke to sunlight stabbing through my eyelids like tiny, persistent daggers. My body felt heavy, saturated with the aftermath of deep sleep. Every muscle sang with a pleasant ache that told stories of the night before. I stretched with a low groan, my arms reaching over my head until my joints popped.
The bed beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch but still carrying the faint, sweet scent of Natalia's shampoo. I ran my palm over the depression where Natalia had slept, a small smirk tugging at my lips.
"So the princess snuck back to her room," I murmured to the empty air. "Shy, are we?"
I sat up slowly, running a hand through my messy red hair. The condo wasn't silent as I'd expected. The low murmur of a television drifted in from the living room, punctuated by the distant clatter of pans. A rich, savory smell wafted under my door – bacon and eggs.
