"𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥"

XXXIII/Sunlit Hours

Amelia's point of view:

I woke up to the warm weight of my brother's arm across my waist, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing against my back. A faint hint of sunlight peeked through the curtains, filling the room with a soft, golden glow.

Last night, we'd stayed up talking late into the night, our conversation dipping from memories to jokes to the unspoken worries that each of us kept close. It was something we did often, curling up together in the quiet hours. No matter how strange things got, these nights made us feel grounded, safe in each other's presence.

I blinked, trying to shake the fog of sleep from my mind, and as I squinted at the clock, it hit me—9 AM. We'd completely missed breakfast.

Still groggy, I stretched and wriggled, trying to extricate myself from the comfortable tangle of limbs. Ares's arm lay heavy across my waist, his grip instinctively protective, even in sleep.

Meanwhile, Taiga's arm was draped over my face, his hand smooshed against my cheek. I stifled a laugh as I tried to pry myself free without waking them. This was typical—us sharing a bed whenever we needed the safety of being close, of knowing that nothing could reach us as long as we were together.

Sliding out from under their arms, I scrubbed my eyes, still feeling the lingering haze of sleep. The bed was huge, so it took some gentle maneuvering to untangle myself. I was wearing one of Ares's baggy t-shirts and a pair of shorts I'd stolen from him, and I wrapped my arms around myself, savoring the cozy warmth.

My brothers looked peaceful in their sleep, the calmness on their faces an unspoken reassurance, and as I quietly stepped out, I felt a flicker of contentment.

After slipping back into my suite, I quickly freshened up, glancing in the mirror as I pulled on a cute matching skirt and top set that felt light and perfect for the warm day ahead. I twisted my hair up, leaving it half up and half down, and brushed through it, letting the loose curls frame my face.

A soft knock made me turn, and my small dog and cat, sprawled lazily on the bed, blinked up at me with sleepy eyes. I gave each a gentle pat, feeling their warmth and hearing their faint purrs before I slipped out the door and headed downstairs to the lobby.

When I reached the lobby, I spotted Maddie,  Mia, and Lyra already chatting near one of the tall, arching windows. Sunlight streamed in, casting a bright glow across their faces as they laughed and shared some kind of joke. I walked over, feeling a familiar, happy energy buzzing through our small group.

"Finally, Sleeping Beauty joins us!" Mia teased, flashing me a playful grin. "Did that idiot and most ugly brother of yours keep you up all night with his snoring?"

I laughed, rolling my eyes knowing that it was a jab at Ares. "Oh, please. I think I was the one keeping them awake."

Maddie nudged me with her elbow, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, you missed breakfast, so we're planning a 'makeup brunch' of sorts. The girls from last night—Alina, Melina, Ilaria, and Isla—invited us out for a bit. We thought it'd be nice to bond a little."

I nodded, the thought of a relaxed day with friends lifting my spirits. "Sounds perfect."

Lyra looped her arm through mine, leading us all out toward the resort's bar area. We'd been in such intense situations lately, dealing with everything thrown our way, that a day of just... being girls, hanging out, talking about normal things, sounded exactly like what we all needed.

As we walked, the fresh morning air filled my lungs, and I felt lighter, almost giddy, surrounded by my closest friends.

When we reached the bar, Alina, Melina, Ilaria, and Isla were already waiting, each of them striking in her own way. Melina greeted us with a cheerful wave, her smile wide and welcoming.