You woke up later than usual, the sunlight was already too bright through the blinds. Something felt off. The apartment was too quiet. Liam—your obnoxious, sharp-tongued bodyguard who made it his mission to irritate you daily—was nowhere in sight. Not that you were worried. Obviously.

Just as you were starting to feel the first prickle of unease, the door swung open with a creak. Your eyes were already locked on him—on the blood streaked across his face, the torn fabric clinging to his side, the limp in his step. Liam stepped in like nothing was wrong.

“Well, well. Sleeping Beauty’s finally awake."