Night settled over their home differently now. The familiar spaces felt altered, as if Callum's presence had somehow reshaped the very architecture of their sanctuary. Their usual evening routines felt forced - Marcus reviewing security protocols, Kai organizing his training equipment, Samantha organizing her collection of borrowed powers.
The house wasn't small by any means, but tonight every room felt confining. This wasn't like Marcus's sprawling estate where she'd first learned to control her vampiric nature. Here, there was no escaping the awareness of Callum's presence upstairs.
"I need to run," Samantha announced suddenly, breaking the tense silence. Both her partners looked up immediately. "Just around the house," she assured them. "Within the wards' perimeter."
Marcus nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Take your phone."
"And stay where we can sense you," Kai added, his protective instincts showing through.
