Locked in

Seraphina's POV

When I finally woke up, the first thing I noticed was the sunlight streaming through my curtains, brighter than it should have been. Blinking against the light, I groggily turned my head toward the clock on my bedside table.

11:23 AM.

I stared at the time for a second, my brain still catching up. I never slept in this late on a normal day, and even on my worst days, I was up on or before 9. But after the emotional exhaustion of yesterday—my father's funeral, the meeting with the king, and the ridiculous marriage proposal—I suppose it wasn't all that surprising. My body had needed the rest.

Still, I couldn't shake the mild frustration at having wasted half the morning.

Sitting up, I reached for my phone instinctively, my fingers moving on their own as I checked for any notifications. Specifically, I checked to see if Electra had called me.

Nothing.