Many days later, Lyra woke up in the palace. Julian was lying next to her, sleeping peacefully. She smiled as she looked at him, a warm feeling blooming in her chest. She fought the urge to touch his face, afraid to wake him.
However, when she turned to leave the bed, his arm shot out and hooked around her waist. “Don’t go,” he murmured sleepily.
Lyra’s smile widened in amusement as she looked back at him. “You are awake?”
He shook his head, his eyes still closed. “No.”
She laughed and tapped his hand. “Get up, Your Majesty,” she teased. “We have a kingdom to run.”
He tightened his hold around her, pulling her to him. “They can survive a few hours without us. It’s not like an evil witch is going to fly in and blast us all to hell.”
“Haha,” Lyra laughed dryly. “I’m glad you can joke a
