Chapter 25 A walk Among the Blooms

Saturday morning arrived with the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Kerrigan stirred, feeling the gentle tickle of something warm and wet against her cheek. Groggily, she opened her eyes to find Faolan perched beside her on the bed, her large, shaggy head tilted to the side as she licked her face in greeting.

“Faolan,” Kerrigan murmured, half-laughing as she pushed the affectionate dog away. “Alright, alright, I’m awake.”

Faolan’s tail wagged happily as she hopped off the bed, circling the room with eager energy. Kerrigan stretched, feeling the tension of the past few days easing slightly as she sat up. Today was different. Today, they didn’t have to rush into meetings or strategize against enemies. Today, they had a rare moment to breathe.

She reached for her phone and saw a message from Conor, who was likely up and about already. Smiling to herself, she quickly typed out a reply, suggesting they take advantage of the day off. The