I woke up at dawn with a familiar weight on my chest—Natalia sprawled across me like an octopus claiming its territory. Her breathing came soft and even, her face relaxed in sleep in a way it never was when she was conscious. She looked almost innocent.
Almost.
The hickeys dotting her neck told a different story.
I carefully extracted myself from her grip, replacing my body with a pillow she immediately latched onto with a small, disgruntled noise. She buried her face in it and continued sleeping. Mission accomplished.
The Gate expedition wasn't scheduled to depart until nine, but I needed time to prep. Six hours on a transport with Team Gamma, then straight into what might be a trap disguised as a routine dungeon run.
Fun times.
I showered quickly, letting the hot water ease the lingering soreness in my muscles from the previous night's... workout.
