Raven woke slowly, in a dense fog, layers and layers of it. Somehow she knew she wasn't supposed to wake, but nevertheless it was imperative she do so. She pried her eyes open and turned her head toward the window. Sunlight was streaming in. She pushed herself into a sitting position, the covers sliding away to expose bare skin.Mikhail, she whispered aloud, you take altogether too many liberties.
Raven slowly regains consciousness, enveloped in a thick fog that makes her feel hesitant about waking up. Despite a sense of disobedience about her awakening, something compels her to open her eyes. As she adjusts to her surroundings, she notices sunlight flooding in through the window, prompting her to sit up and feel the cool air against her bare skin.
She instinctively calls out Mikhail's name, expressing her playful frustration over his overly familiar behavior towards her. This moment sets the tone for their relationship, highlighting Raven's awareness of the dynamic between them, and hints at the deeper connection that exists in the story.
