As the evening deepened and the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft amber glow over the Nightfall family compound, the warm energy of the gathering pulsed through the air. Myself and Aurora had spent the day immersed in the peace of the farm, laughing and running among the crops, soaking in the tranquility that surrounded our family home. The twilight was upon us, and the rest of the family had already gathered in the courtyard, save for Aunt Nadia.
The absence of Nadia didn't go unnoticed. As we settled into our usual places, Aunt Mira stood, her sharp eyes scanning the path leading toward Nadia's house. There was a palpable sense of curiosity, and perhaps even slight concern, about Nadia's unexplained absence.
"I'll go check on her," Mira announced, her tone calm but laced with a hint of impatience. "She's probably just resting, but I'll make sure."
Without another word, she vanished down the winding path toward Nadia's home. The rest of us waited in the cool breeze, the family members sharing small talk and light conversation. Aurora had nestled beside me, still buzzing from the day's fun, as we watched the sky transition from dusk to early night.
Several minutes later, Mira returned, but her usual composed demeanor was notably absent. There was a look of disbelief—and something else—etched across her face. Her steps were deliberate as she approached us, and as soon as she reached the courtyard, everyone's eyes turned toward her.
"Well?" Rosalia asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mira crossed her arms, a sigh escaping her lips. "Nadia's sleeping," she began, her tone hard to read at first. But then, she added, "With a huge smile on her face. Pure bliss, honestly."
A strange energy rippled through the family. Selene leaned forward, her martial-trained eyes narrowing. "Sleeping? That's odd for Nadia. What's going on?"
Mira, clearly irritated, glanced at me, her expression shifting from mild annoyance to playful accusation. "I know exactly what's going on," she said, her eyes narrowing. "Elantra. And I missed it."
There was a moment of silence as the words hung in the air, and then it hit—everyone burst out laughing. Even our grandmother Hestia, usually calm and composed, couldn't hold back her amusement. The teasing began immediately.
"Oh, you missed out, Mira?" Rosalia said, her eyes gleaming with a knowing look as she turned toward me. "Well, that's unfortunate, isn't it?"
"I can't believe this," Mira grumbled, placing her hands on her hips as she shot me an exasperated look. "Of all the days for you to sneak away with Nadia, I wasn't here!"
Elara, leaning against the stone bench, grinned. "You know," she teased, "it's not fair to leave one of us out, especially Mira. She's always so on top of things."
Liora chimed in, her voice dripping with amusement. "He just likes showing off," she said, casting a glance my way. "You should have seen him earlier—acting all powerful with those tattoos of his."
At the mention of my tattoos, Eldara, our grandmother, joined in, her wisdom cloaked in humor. "Ah, Rosé," she said, her voice lilting with amusement, "you do seem to have a habit of leaving people out, don't you? Or maybe you're just too modest to share your strength with all of us at once."
Hestia, ever the calming presence but not one to miss an opportunity to tease, raised an eyebrow at me. "You're going to make the rest of us feel neglected if you don't spread that energy around more evenly, you know."
Aurora, her voice filled with playful innocence, piped up from beside me. "Are you going to share your power with everyone, Rosé? Or is Aunt Nadia your favorite?"
A ripple of laughter moved through the group as I tried to maintain my composure, though it was becoming increasingly difficult with everyone ganging up on me.
"Come on, now," I said, trying to deflect the teasing, though a smile tugged at my lips. "It wasn't like that."
"Oh, it wasn't?" Rosalia leaned forward, a mischievous grin on her face. "Then how come Nadia's sleeping with a smile on her face? You have a way of... refreshing people, don't you?"
Mira crossed her arms, still not letting go of her mock displeasure. "I expect a rain check, Rosé," she said, her tone serious but her expression giving her away. "Next time, don't you dare leave me out. You owe me."
Hestia, still chuckling softly, added, "And while you're at it, don't forget your grandmother. I could use a little rejuvenation myself."
Liora laughed, shaking her head. "It's a family affair, after all, Rosé. You can't just pick and choose."
Selene, ever direct, simply said, "Make sure everyone gets their turn."
The teasing continued, and although it was all in good fun, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the power I wielded, the responsibility it carried. But in this moment, surrounded by the laughter of my family, the camaraderie, I realized that this—this connection, this teasing and love—was what made it all worth it.
Aurora, still leaning against me, looked up, her eyes wide with curiosity. "So," she whispered, "are you going to make it up to Aunt Mira?"
I grinned, shaking my head. "We'll see," I replied, glancing around at my family, feeling the warmth of their presence. Despite their teasing, their playful accusations, I knew one thing for sure—there was nowhere else I'd rather be.
As the last remnants of twilight faded into night, the Nightfall family gathered around the grand dining table. The scent of roasted herbs and spiced vegetables filled the air, and the soft glow of enchanted lights gave the room an inviting warmth. The low hum of conversation rippled through the group, and despite the teasing earlier, I felt at ease. That was until the front door creaked open.
Aunt Nadia made her entrance with a slow, deliberate stride, a dreamy smile still plastered on her face as if she were walking on clouds. Her presence immediately drew everyone's attention. The girls, all of them, exchanged knowing glances before practically jumping up from their seats to circle around her like moths to a flame. Their excitement was palpable, and it wasn't long before the chatter exploded into a whirlwind of gossip and questions.
I sat back on the couch, now completely forgotten, as the girls swarmed around Nadia. The scene was so ridiculous that I couldn't help but laugh under my breath. There was something almost comical about seeing these strong, independent women acting like teenagers, eager to hear every little detail. I crossed my arms and watched as the whirlwind of questions began.
"Come on, Nadia, don't leave us in suspense," Selene urged, her eyes practically sparkling with curiosity. "You were gone for hours! What happened?"
Nadia, still looking half-dazed, took a seat at the edge of the dining table and waved them off playfully. "It was… amazing," she finally managed to say, her voice a bit raspy, as though she hadn't spoken since waking up.
"More than amazing, I'd say," Mira chimed in, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. "You were out cold for hours after we left. Rosé must have really worked his magic on you."
The girls erupted into laughter, and Nadia blushed a deep crimson. "It's not like that!" she insisted, though her grin said otherwise. "Okay, maybe it is… just a little."
Rosalia was the first to speak up again, leaning in with her usual, elegant confidence. "So… are you going to share the details or what? Don't keep us in suspense."
Elara, who had taken a seat beside Nadia, clasped her hands together in mock prayer. "Yes, please! We need to know everything. How did it feel?"
Nadia bit her lip, clearly enjoying the attention but still trying to maintain some sense of dignity. "Well, it's hard to describe," she began, her voice low but filled with excitement. "Rosé… he's not like anyone else. You all know that. But during Elantra, he's on another level entirely. The way he connects with your energy, the way he draws out every last drop of pleasure—it's overwhelming."
"That's an understatement," Liora added with a mischievous grin. "You were glowing when Mira found you. Glowing."
Nadia chuckled softly. "I wasn't glowing… was I?"
"Oh, you were," Mira confirmed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Honestly, I've never seen anything like it. You were radiating pure bliss."
Selene leaned forward, her curiosity evident. "So how long did it last? Don't tell me you lost track of time."
Nadia smiled sheepishly. "We were… well, it felt like hours. And trust me, every minute was worth it."
At this, the girls exchanged glances, their teasing smiles growing wider.
"And then?" Aurora asked, her eyes wide with innocent curiosity, though the teasing tone in her voice betrayed her. "What happened after?"
Nadia let out a deep breath, her expression turning more serious. "I think I blacked out at some point. It was just… too much. He doesn't stop. It's like he knows exactly how to push you right to the edge, over and over again, until you're completely spent. I don't even remember when I fell asleep."
Rosalia raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Passed out from pleasure, huh? That's a new one."
Mira, who had been watching with amusement, crossed her arms and shook her head. "I still can't believe I missed it. Not fair at all."
"You and me both," Liora agreed, nudging Mira's shoulder. "We should've been there. I mean, seriously, Nadia gets all the fun."
Elara rolled her eyes but grinned. "Well, at least now we know why Rosé has been so quiet since coming back. He must be completely drained too."
As the girls continued to tease Nadia, I couldn't help but chuckle quietly to myself. They were gossiping like a group of schoolgirls, but there was a deeper connection here—a bond that went beyond mere curiosity or teasing. There was an underlying understanding, a shared experience that united them. Elantra, after all, wasn't just about pleasure. It was a profound exchange of energy, of essence, and they all knew that. It brought us all closer, in ways that words couldn't fully describe.
Nadia, finally recovering from the onslaught of questions, looked around at the group. "Honestly," she said with a laugh, "I feel incredible now. Like every ounce of tension, every bit of stress I had—it's all just… gone. I've never felt so refreshed."
Rosalia leaned back, her eyes gleaming. "And that's the beauty of Elantra with Rosé. It's not just pleasure. It's renewal. He pulls out the worst parts of you and leaves you feeling… free."
Hestia, who had been quietly observing from the side, finally spoke up. "I'll admit, it's rare to see someone as completely at peace as Nadia is right now. Whatever you two did, it worked."
"Worked a little too well, if you ask me," Selene joked, crossing her arms. "She was out for hours, after all. That's not normal."
Nadia shot Selene a mock glare. "Don't act like you wouldn't want the same."
"Of course I would," Selene shot back, her tone filled with good-natured sarcasm. "We all would."
Aurora, still sitting beside me, finally spoke up again, her voice full of mischief. "You know, Rosé, you're going to have your hands full with all of them soon. Especially if you keep knocking people out like that."
I grinned, shaking my head. "I'll manage."
The girls continued to laugh and gossip.
As the conversation eventually shifted to other topics, the warmth and laughter continued to fill the room. But every now and then, I'd catch Nadia glancing my way, a small smile on her lips, still clearly savoring the memory of our time together.
For now, I was content to sit back and enjoy the moment. The teasing would undoubtedly continue, and I had no doubt that the rest of the family would find their own ways to get their time with me. But that was just the nature of our lives, our connections.