Liam woke to sunlight blasting directly across his face.
He groaned, rolled onto his side, and pushed himself upright with his back to the window, his long brown hair spilling over his right shoulder and across the ivory sheets beneath him.
Arik slept on the other side of the bed, hoarding most of the duvet like a dragon with comfort issues.
Liam stared at him.
Arik was unbearably handsome now.
He had been unbearably handsome before, which made the transformation unnecessary and slightly offensive, but the Gate had apparently decided subtlety was beneath it. It had added to his height, broadened his shoulders and chest, sharpened the strong lines of his face, and threaded gold through the ends of his black hair until even asleep he looked like something built to occupy thrones and terrify armies.
Forced rest had only made the situation worse.
