The night had been a haze of passion and intimacy between Rosalia and me. Elantra, the Lumeras' deepest expression of closeness, was more than just a physical connection; it was a sharing of souls. Throughout the night, the energy between us had been electric, yet tender. We'd moved together like two currents in the same river, perfectly aligned and in harmony, both of us lost in the moment.
Rosalia's skin had glowed faintly, her bioluminescent tattoos shimmering as our energies intertwined. Every touch had been a spark, every whispered word had deepened the connection between us. Time seemed to disappear as we surrendered completely to each other, sharing not only our bodies but our very essence. The moonlight filtering through the window had long faded, replaced by the soft blush of dawn when we finally succumbed to exhaustion.
The first rays of the sun were beginning to peek over the horizon when we finally drifted into a peaceful slumber, tangled in each other's arms. Rosalia's head rested on my chest, her breathing soft and even, while my arm draped protectively around her waist. The fire in the hearth had long since burned down to glowing embers, casting the room in a gentle warmth.
---
A few hours later, the quiet of the morning was interrupted by the creaking of the door. It opened just slightly, revealing Aurora's curious face peeking through the crack. She glanced around the room, her eyes widening when she saw Rosalia and me still wrapped in each other on the couch.
Aurora quickly turned back, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle. Behind her, Liora and Selene were waiting, their faces filled with mischievous curiosity.
"What are you looking at?" Liora whispered, nudging Aurora with her elbow.
Aurora grinned and whispered back, "Come and see for yourself."
Liora and Selene leaned in, peeking through the door as well. When they saw us lying together, they exchanged knowing looks, barely able to contain their laughter.
"Oh, wow," Liora muttered, a smirk forming on her lips. "I didn't expect them to fall asleep like that."
Selene, ever the more composed one, raised an eyebrow but couldn't hide her amusement. "Well, after the sounds we heard all night, it's no wonder they're exhausted."
Aurora, still giggling, waved her hand. "I told you! I heard them, too. The whole house must've been able to hear it. I think even the trees outside could feel the energy."
Liora's smirk widened. "Rosé really knows how to make a girl feel special, doesn't he?"
Aurora nodded, still trying to suppress her laughter. "I think we should let them rest, though. They've clearly had a long night."
Selene stepped back from the door, shaking her head but smiling. "They'll probably wake up any minute now, anyway."
But Liora, being the cheekiest of the three, couldn't resist leaning in a little closer. "You know, we should leave a little note or something. Just to remind them that we know what they've been up to."
Aurora's eyes sparkled with mischief. "What would you even write? 'Thanks for the entertainment last night?'"
Liora laughed softly, but before she could respond, they all heard a quiet voice behind them.
"What are you three doing?" Elara, who had clearly just woken up herself, had walked up behind them, rubbing her eyes and looking curiously at the scene. Her long hair was slightly tousled, and she still looked half-asleep.
Liora waved her over, whispering excitedly, "Come look, Elara."
Elara, blinking the sleep from her eyes, wandered over to the door and peeked through. When she saw us still entwined on the couch, her cheeks flushed, and she quickly backed away, covering her mouth. "Oh," she whispered, "I didn't realize…"
Selene chuckled softly. "None of us did. But it seems Rosé and Mom had a very eventful night."
Aurora giggled again, clearly enjoying the moment. "We'll have to tease him about this later. You know he won't hear the end of it."
Liora nodded in agreement. "Especially after the way he's been acting lately. All serious and distant, then this…"
Selene shot Liora a look, her smile fading slightly. "Be nice, Liora. You know how much Mom means to him."
Liora shrugged, though the smirk didn't leave her face. "Of course, I know. That's why it's so fun to tease him about it."
Elara, still blushing, shook her head. "I don't think we should tease him too much. He's been through a lot lately… and besides, it's kind of sweet, isn't it?"
Aurora, softening, nodded. "It is sweet. And you're right, Elara. Maybe we'll just tease him a little bit."
The girls all shared a soft laugh, their teasing tone turning affectionate. They stepped away from the door and quietly moved down the hall, leaving us to our peaceful sleep.
---
When I eventually stirred from my sleep, the first thing I felt was Rosalia's warm body still curled against mine. Her breathing was soft, rhythmic, and peaceful, and for a moment, I just lay there, content to enjoy the quiet closeness.
But as I opened my eyes and stretched, I couldn't shake the feeling that we hadn't been alone in the room. I glanced toward the door and noticed it wasn't quite closed. A soft chuckle escaped me.
"I think we had some visitors earlier," I murmured, my voice still heavy with sleep.
Rosalia stirred, her head lifting slightly from my chest as she opened her eyes. "Mmm… visitors?"
I nodded, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Yeah. I think our sisters were spying on us."
Rosalia's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Of course, they were. They never miss a chance to poke their noses where they don't belong."
I chuckled, pulling her a little closer. "Well, I guess we'll have to deal with their teasing later."
Rosalia smiled, her fingers tracing lazy patterns along my chest. "Let them tease. As long as we have moments like this, I don't mind."
I leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Neither do I."
We stayed like that for a while longer, wrapped in each other's arms, enjoying the quiet peace of the morning. But in the back of my mind, I knew that once we stepped out of this room, there would be no escaping the teasing looks and knowing smiles from my sisters. Still, I didn't mind. After all, they were family, and moments like these made all the teasing worth it.