The first thing I did when I woke up was thank every god willing to listen.
D'ath hadn't come.
No giant raven-dragon had crawled through my window.
No ancient monster had dragged me into the abyss.
No dead ravens were waiting outside.
I was alive.
A victory.
A small victory.
But still a victory.
I stretched beneath the blankets, groaning quietly as sunlight spilled through the curtains.
Morning.
Beautiful.
Normal.
Safe.
I smiled.
Then opened my eyes.
And immediately lost that smile.
Draven was already awake.
Of course he was.
He sat near the window, one leg crossed over the other, a stack of documents spread across a small table before him.
Sunlight poured across his dark hair.
Several papers rested in one hand while the other lazily turned a page.
His posture looked relaxed.
The sort of relaxed that only existed because everyone else was nervous.
I watched him for a moment.
Then another.
