The Eastern continent had entered late winter.
Early morning frost settled white on the vegetable beds Kaelen planted behind the house; the wind blew past carrying a bone-dry cold very different from the damp chill of the Southern continent.
Kaelen woke up when the sky was not yet fully bright. He lay still for a moment, habitually reaching out to his side to feel around, touching an empty and freezing patch of blanket.
Right, the children had been gone for more than a month already.
Previously, every morning he was awakened by Finnick howling for food, Chloe smacking her master's cheek, Ryder rummaging through his space looking for watermelon. Now the entire wooden house only had the crackling sound of the fire in the fireplace.
Sane wrapped his arms around him from behind, resting his chin on his mate's head, his voice still hoarse with sleep: "You woke up early again."
