Golden light poured into the room, gentle and warm, wrapping everything in a soft glow.
Aren stirred slowly, his senses rousing to the feeling of delicate warmth pressed against him.
When he opened his golden eyes, he found Selene sleeping peacefully in his arms, her raven hair spilling across his chest like a dark waterfall.
For a long moment, he simply lay there, memorizing the feeling.
Her scent — a faint mixture of flowers and home.
The soft rise and fall of her breath against him.
The way her hand rested lightly over his heart, as if even in sleep she knew exactly where he was.
He ran his fingers through her hair, slow and careful, as though he feared waking her.
Each silken strand slipped through his calloused fingertips, and Aren couldn't stop the smile that tugged at his lips.
This was the treasure he had fought for.
This was the sanctuary he had returned to.
Selene stirred at his touch, her violet eyes blinking open to meet his gaze.
"You're staring again," she murmured, voice husky with sleep.
"I could stare at you for the rest of my life," Aren answered without hesitation.
Selene chuckled softly and leaned closer, brushing a tender kiss against his jawline.
"You're impossibly foolish sometimes," she said against his skin, though her heart shone clear in her eyes.
"And you're impossibly beautiful," he replied, kissing her forehead.
They stayed like that — tangled together beneath the covers, speaking without words — hands tracing familiar paths, sharing lazy kisses, and rediscovering each other slowly, tenderly.
There was no urgency.
No heavy responsibilities.
Just the two of them, and the morning.
It would have been easy to stay there forever, lost in the quiet magic between them.
But eventually, Selene lifted her head from his chest with a sigh.
"They're waiting for us," she said softly, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Aren hummed low in his throat, not quite ready to let her go.
"Let them wait a little longer."
She smiled, tracing a lazy pattern over his bare shoulder with her fingertips.
"They won't eat until we join them. You know that."
Aren groaned dramatically, making her laugh.
It was an unspoken rule in the Vale household — born not out of fear or command, but deep love and respect.
Breakfast was a time to gather.
A time to begin the day together.
The family always waited for Aren and Selene before starting, no matter how long it took.
Selene pressed one last kiss to his lips before slipping out of bed.
"Come, husband," she teased, throwing a robe over her shoulders. "Let's not keep them starving."
Aren sat up, watching her with open adoration before reluctantly pulling on his own clothes.
He moved slowly, savoring each small mundane act, every stolen glance between them, every brush of their fingers.
When they finally stepped out of their room, hand-in-hand, the corridor was empty and peaceful.
Aren squeezed Selene's hand gently.
Today, like yesterday, belonged to them.
And he would never take it for granted again.