Chapter 23

Alvara's Point of View

Nothing smelt the same. Or felt the same. The sheets were too soft and jasmine lingered in the air. Far off, there was bustling. People yelling at each other and vacuums being switched on and off. The difference were blaring. I was no longer in half-moon.

Cracking open an eye, I took in my surroundings. Black stared back at me. Black curtains. Black bedding. A man with black hair dozing in a chair not far from my bed. I sat up in bed, my heartbeat hammering. Soft snores came from Ciaran's mouth. His arm was propped beneath his head, facing towards me.

There were floor to ceiling windows to my left and a balcony past it. All black. From the tiles to the frames of the windows. Modern in style but darker than I had imagined. Ciaran stirred from his spot, the snores stopping. He tugged his lips into a smile, feeling my eyes on him.

"It is rude to stare at someone who is sleeping but I will make an exception for