EIRLYS' POV
I woke to the sound of birdsong, faint and distant through the high window of my room. The sun had only begun its climb, pale light creeping across the stone walls. For a moment, I simply lay there, listening to the quiet rhythm of my own heartbeat.
At last, I rose and made my way to the bathing chamber, washing quickly while savoring the warmth as it dissolved the final traces of sleep. Once dressed, I let Emma braid my hair, her hands gentle like she's done it a thousand times before.
My thoughts drifted back to last night, to the brief moment at Kierygan’s door. His actions made no sense to me: the way he looked irritated when he saw me, how he nearly refused the cake, yet pulled me back when I tried to walk away.
He was so confusing. I couldn’t tell if it was him—his sh
