Chapter 86 He Is Jealous

• When I woke, the first thing I noticed was the flickering glow of the fire in the fireplace. The air smelled of burning herbs and wood, a warm, grounding scent that momentarily made me forget where I was. Until my eyes settled on him—Darius, sitting quietly by the bookshelf.
• He was reading, the soft firelight tracing the sharp lines of his face. My heart fluttered slightly, even though he wasn’t looking at me.
• “You’re awake,” he said finally, setting the book aside, his voice low and calm.