Rose's lips brushed against Sylus's in the lightest, most fleeting touch, and she quickly pulled back, her face burning. "There," she said, avoiding his gaze. "Happy now?"
Sylus blinked, a hint of surprise flashing in his red eyes before his signature smirk returned. "Not bad, kitten. Though I have to admit, I expected a little more enthusiasm."
She scowled, crossing her arms in front of her. "It's done. That's all that matters. The game should let us move on now."
As if on cue, the glowing prompt dissolved, replaced by a single message: Bonus Challenge Complete: Sylus's affection has increased.
Rose exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Finally," she muttered, shooting Sylus a glare. "Maybe now I can get some peace."
Sylus chuckled, his deep voice making her heart skip a beat. "Peace? With me around? Don't get your hopes up."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. Before she could say anything else, the world around her began to shimmer and blur, the candlelit room fading into a swirl of colors.
Her eyes flew open, and she gasped, her chest heaving as she bolted upright in bed. Moonlight streamed through the curtains of her real-world bedroom, and the faint hum of city traffic reminded her where she was.
Rose pressed a hand to her chest, her heart racing as if she'd actually been there. She glanced around, taking in the familiar sight of her small apartment, the game headset still lying on the nightstand where she'd left it.
"It was… a dream?" she whispered, though the vividness of the experience made her question her own words. Her lips tingled, and her face burned at the memory of the mission's final moments.
Pulling the blanket over her head, she groaned. "Why does he always have to be so… infuriating?"
Even as she tried to push the memory away, Sylus's teasing smirk and piercing red eyes lingered in her mind, refusing to let her go.
Turning onto her side, Rose sighed, a mix of frustration and something far softer curling in her chest. She couldn't deny it anymore. For better or worse, Sylus had a way of getting under her skin—and staying there.
As she drifted back to sleep, she knew one thing for certain: the game was pulling her in deeper than she'd ever expected.