The night he was passed like any other night, quiet and uneventful. Luke found himself slipping into a more comfortable routine when sharing the room with Ilyrana. He had long since learned to quell inappropriate thoughts, understanding that his respect for her far outweighed the fleeting temptations of his mind. Something was reassuring about the way he had grown in this regard, a small but significant personal victory that allowed him to sleep more peacefully.
With morning came the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains, and life resumed its usual pace. Luke stretched, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he pushed off the covers. Ilyrana had already risen and was quietly preparing for the day, her movements graceful and composed as always. They exchanged a few casual words about their plans for the day as they got ready. Things seemed ordinary—until a knock at the door broke the calm.
Victor stood at the entrance, his expression warm as he greeted them.
