Chapter 182

• Rion's POV
• The soft dawn light filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Jaselyn is nestled against me, her breathing slow and even. I’m drifting in that comfortable space between sleep and wakefulness when a harsh, persistent knocking shatters the peace. I groan, blinking away the remnants of sleep.
• “Who the hell is knocking at this hour?” I mutter, reluctantly slipping out of bed. Jaselyn stirs, but she’s too sore from last night to get up.