…..
Her feet moved before her mind could catch up, floating across the hallway toward the stairs.
The humming grew louder — deeper, closer — and there he was, coming up the staircase at a slow, almost lazy pace. His coat was draped loosely over one arm, his hair tousled from the wind outside.
Aurora's heart squeezed painfully. She hurried down the steps, meeting him halfway.
"You left without telling me this morning," she said, trying to sound teasing, but the soft hurt in her voice slipped through.
For a second, something flickered in his dark eyes — something wild, something broken — but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Before she could say another word, he pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tightly against his chest.
"I didn't want to wake you," he murmured into her hair. His voice was low, rough with exhaustion — and something else she couldn't name. "You were sleeping so soundly… I just couldn't."
