Chapter 63

• ZARA POV
• The morning sun streamed through the window, waking me with a jolt. Hero was gone. Disappointment, sharp and unexpected, pricked at me. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the memory of the night still warm – not just the heat of his body, but the comforting weight of him beside me, the steady rhythm of his breath. It felt… safe. Secure. Like I was finally home.
• A knock on the door startled me. I padded over, heart pounding a little faster than it should. Jeremy stood there with a smile. “Are you my guard?” I asked, trying to keep my voice light, though my thoughts were still tangled in the lingering warmth of Hero's arms.