CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Vows Across Time

The following morning, Lily woke up with warmth shining on her face through the windows early in the morning. Inclined to stay embracing for more than a few minutes, she eventually freed herself, basking in the feeling of Alexander’s arms around her. Recalling the events of the day before, he woke up with renewed vigor to fight for freedom all his life. “Good morning,” Alexander said dreamily as he struggled to shake off the sleep that still lingered in his voice. As the music came to an end, Lily blushed and turned around to find his concerned stare. “Better,” she replied, adding a small smile to soften her words for him. There are now no issues that the country is not ready to face, whatever comes next.”   They both dressed quickly, neither one overlooking the significance the day held in their lives. The prisoners they had apprehended in the course of that reformation and humanism in Italy were instrumental in revealing the full extent of the threat they were facing. When