The night passed and morning has broken across the land, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and gold. Exhausted from days of vigilance, Damon lay deep in sleep on his bed, his breathing steady and calm as he finally allowed his body to rest.
And Jacob?
He'd woken at dawn, slipping quietly out of bed to stand on the veranda attached to Damon's bedroom. The young man drew slow, deep breaths of the crisp morning air, letting the warmth of sunlight wash over his skin.
His body still felt weak, as if every muscle had been drained of strength, but he'd pushed himself upright without hesitation. A faint warmth lingered beneath his skin – not the searing heat that had consumed him before, but a gentle current that seemed to hum through his veins.
