Chap 22
Nayana
The morning feels chilly, but surprisingly, I’m comfortably warm. The kind of warmth that seeps deep into your skin and makes you want to stay wrapped in it forever. I sigh softly, shifting slightly as I melt into it. It feels… safe. Strong. Solid.
I don’t bother to open my eyes yet. For a few seconds, I just lie there, letting the faint morning sounds slip into my awareness. The distant chirp of birds outside, the gentle creak of wood as the wind brushes against the walls, and somewhere far off, the faint croak of a frog hidden in the damp grass.
The air smells of smoke and earth, but there’s something else too—a scent that pulls me closer without my permission. Cedar. Sandalwood. A hint of smoke. It’s warm and intoxicating, and it makes my heart skip in a way that feel
