The two hours had passed both too quickly and not nearly fast enough. After their intimate conversation in the magical bath, they'd returned to the bedroom where exhaustion had finally claimed them both. Curled together on the impossibly comfortable bed, they'd slept deeply and peacefully for the first time in months—the kind of restorative sleep that came from feeling truly safe and connected.
Now Samantha stood before the ornate full-length mirror in their room, adjusting the final details of her outfit with hands that trembled slightly—not from weakness this time, but from anticipation. The magical bath and restorative sleep had done their work well; her hybrid healing had accelerated dramatically, leaving her feeling more energized and vital than she had in months. But it was more than just physical restoration—something fundamental had shifted between her and Marcus during those quiet hours together.
