The light of the new day came through the heavy curtains of the room, tinging everything with a soft amber hue. Strax woke up slowly, more from the restlessness of his mind than from any external sound or stimulus. The warmth and weight on his chest reminded him of the night before - or rather, the nights before that.
Kryssia and Xenovia were sound asleep, one on each side, their bodies still wrapped around him, as if sleep didn't want to let them go. For a moment, he stood there, just watching them. Both had traces of strength and fragility mixed so intensely that it made him think more than he would have liked.
Carefully, he slid his arms underneath them, separating them slowly so as not to wake them. They mumbled something incomprehensible in their sleep, but soon settled back into the sheets, plunging back into silence.
