Amaris shifted restlessly in the king's large bed, her mind tangled in the remnants of sleep. She was disoriented, feeling unusually warm and trapped beneath layers of clothing and blankets. "Ugh... it's hot, damn it... what's with these clothes...?" she mumbled, fumbling with the fabric of her dress, trying to pull it away from her body as if it were suffocating her.
Her movements stirred Alaric, who had unknowingly drifted off to sleep beside her. He was now half-awake, groggily processing her frustrated mumbling. His eyes barely opened, but as he felt her squirming beside him, a sense of possessiveness flickered in his sleepy mind. Without thinking, he wrapped a strong arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
"Shh..." he hushed softly, his deep voice filled with a warmth and t
