Instruments of Mercy
Madeline
The morning light crept in slowly, casting its soft, gold-dusted glow across the warm flooring and the edge of the bed. I could feel it before I even opened my eyes—Lucien’s presence beside me, warm and unmoving. He wasn’t asleep, though he lay still enough to pretend like he was.
I opened my eyes as I shifted slightly, my leg brushing against his. His skin was warm beneath the sheet, radiating that unnatural heat that never seemed to fade. He didn’t flinch; he barely moved at all. I wondered how long he’d been lying awake like that. Listening to me breathe and very clearly thinking about something, he probably wished he wasn’t.
It was strange how normal this all felt, as if we had done it a thousand times before. But I could only remember a handful right
