-Elias Grayson:
The darkness in the room felt thick, like a blanket that refused to settle. We still hadn't slept—just lay there on opposite sides of the bed, careful not to touch, careful not to breathe too loudly, careful about everything. The kind of care that only comes when two strangers are suddenly bound by a word as heavy as marriage.
I was on my back, eyes stuck on the ceiling, counting the little bumps in the plaster instead of thinking about the chaos of the day. I heard him shift a little, the mattress dipping quietly. It took him a second, but then—
"…Elias?"
Sebastian's voice broke the quiet. Not shaky. Not afraid. Just… cautious and soft, well, as soft as his deep voice could be.
I hummed, still staring upward. It felt easier to answer without looking at him.
