The next morning, Ayesha woke earlier than usual to prepare for her physical training. When she stepped out of her bedchamber, she found Alaric already pacing outside, waiting.
"How long have you been standing there?" she asked, brows drawn together.
"Not long," he replied with an easy smile before casually taking her hand. "Come on. Let's run in the woods first."
She glanced down at their joined hands, hesitating for a moment, but didn't pull away.
Truthfully, she liked how natural Alaric was with her and how strangely comfortable she felt with him. Perhaps it was because they had been through so much together in such a short time.
Outside, the air was sharp with the bite of approaching winter. Mist still clung low to the ground, and the forest ahead looked shadowed and vast.
