The hallway is dimly lit, the faint glow of the moon filtering through the wide glass windows as we roll her luggage toward the entrance. She stops abruptly, turning to face Caspian.
"My parents," she says, her tone sassy and resolute.
He narrows his sharp silver gaze. "Why all so sudden?"
"You don't think I'd stay here with her around, do you?"
"Who? Eden?"
She doesn't answer, looking down at her feet instead. All her attitude and sass suddenly deflates and I see just how much Eden has an effect on her.
He sighs, rubbing between his eyes. "Why this late? Why not tomorrow?"
Her voice is tight, almost trembling. "Because I just… Look, my lord, I can't bear to stay a second more under the same roof as someone who makes me feel like shit."
I blink in surprise. Lord? She never calls him that. I've seen her stand up to him more times than I can count, and now this?
It feels strange, foreign, like someone has stolen the fire from her spirit and left embers behind.
He sighs heavily, his hand resting briefly on her shoulder. "You didn't think to tell me first?"
"I'm sorry," she mumbles, her voice barely above a whisper.
His hand lingers for a moment before dropping. I stand there awkwardly, watching the exchange between them, feeling like an intruder in a private moment.
He genuinely cares for her. It's written in the soft lines of his expression, the slight downturn of his lips. A pang of something sharp and unfamiliar stabs at my chest.
No one has ever cared this much for me, that's for sure. But I'm not about to turn into a wishful pathetic mess, am I?
Then his piercing gaze turns to me. "Are you moving with her?"
I stammer, caught off guard. "N-no. No, I—"
"She's just helping me pack," Cassidy cuts in quickly. "She'll stay the night and be back tomorrow."
He nods, his attention shifting back to her. "Fine. But I expect her back at the break of dawn with my breakfast. I have a lot to do tomorrow and I won't want to be kept waiting."
Screw me...
I bristle slightly at his commanding tone but nod anyway. "Of course."
"Good." He doesn't wait for a response before turning on his heel and walking away, his presence like a gust of wind that leaves silence in its wake.
We head outside, and the driver is already waiting with a sleek black car. Sliding into the backseat, I let out a quiet sigh, trying to process the tension that lingers in the air.
As the car begins to move, I glance at her. "What's the deal with you two?"
She raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"He obviously cares about you more than anyone else. Why?"
She hesitates, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her sweater. "It's… complicated."
"Complicated how?"
She's quiet for a long while, fiddling with her fingers. I don't want to push her as she's already pretty shaken by Eden.
She looks up at me again but before she can answer, the car slows, and I realize we've arrived. I peer out the window, taking in the sight of the house.
It's smaller than the pack house but still grand, with stone-white walls, large windows, and a perfectly manicured garden.
"This is beautiful," I say as we step out, marveling at the clean architecture.
"Yeah, it's home," she replies, her tone softer now.
Inside, the house is even more stunning, with white and blue decor, marble statues, and art that looks like it belongs in a museum.
"Your house is prettier than the pack house," I admit, glancing around. "Why did you even move there?"
She shrugs. "I had a streak of rebellion, plus Eden was gone. Besides, it's not prettier. It's just more personal, more homely."
I nod, following her up the stairs to her room. It's cozy, with soft lighting and shelves filled with books and trinkets.
We decide to leave unpacking for tomorrow and settle on her bed, the silence that settles between us is relaxing, leaving my mind to wander.
Out of nowhere, she says, "He's like a big brother to me."
I blink out of my day dreams, confused. "What?"
"Caspian," she clarifies. "He's like an older brother."
I lean back against the headboard, curious now. "How so?"
She fiddles with the edge of a pillow, her voice distant. "My parents used to take me to council meetings when I was younger. They doted on me a lot because my mom has fertility issues, so I'm their only child. At the pack house, Eden and her little entourage used to tease me, and he was always there to make me feel better."
I raise an eyebrow. "He stood up for you?"
"All the time," she says with a small smile. "When I was ten, I got really sick. It was bad—so bad everyone thought I was going to die. Turns out, it was the same disease he had when he was my age and he developed a rare immunity to it. He donated his blood to save me."
My mouth falls open. "He what?"
I mean, I always saw that he had a soft side when it came to her, but this soft a side?
She nods. "Yeah. That's why he's so protective. He feels responsible for me."
I let that sink in, the image of him in my mind shifting slightly. "No wonder he lets you scold him from time to time."
She smirks. "Eh, he has anger issues. Sometimes he flips, and I have to hide from him."
I laugh, the sound surprising even to me. She joins in, and for a moment, the heat of the night melts away.
When our laughter fades, her expression turns serious. "I know you've been rejected once," she says softly. "And I know it's going to be hard for you to trust someone to accept you for you, but… I think you guys would make the perfect pair."
Her words catch me off guard, and I fall silent, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. "As long as I'm in an equation, I can never equal to a perfect pair."
She chuckles, her tone light again. "Bet?"