Catherine woke with a gasp. Her chest rose sharply as she stared into the darkness, her heart pounding.
For a moment, she didn't know where she was.
Then she looked ahead.
"Maximilian!"
She immediately sat up and threw her arms around him. Maximilian caught her with a quiet laugh as Catherine giggled and rubbed her cheek against his chest.
That was a strange dream.
She could still remember it, even after waking. The flames. Dorian's voice. The door.
She didn't want to think about him.
Not now.
"My love…"
She lifted her face and kissed Maximilian on the lips.
He kissed her back, unable to resist the warmth of her sudden affection.
She had gone to sleep after an intense battle, knowing there was still so much left to deal with. And yet, the moment she woke, none of it seemed to matter.
Her first thought had been him.
Maximilian's heart softened. She was so terribly cute. He kissed her deeply, pulling her a little closer before finally letting her breathe.
