The morning sun spilled gently into Layla's room, painting the walls in soft gold. She stirred awake, her lashes fluttering as she blinked into the light. Before she could fully gather herself, Dorian leaned closer, his eyes locked on hers. Without hesitation, he captured her lips in a sudden kiss.
Layla froze, her eyes wide in shock. But as the warmth of his mouth lingered, her resistance melted, Slowly, she returned the kiss, her heart racing with a mixture of surprise and something deeper she could no longer deny.
When they parted, her cheeks were flushed, her breath uneven. She looked at him with a half-smile, whispering, "That was a very fast move to claim me."
Dorian's lips curved into a rare smirk, his voice low and certain. "I've waited long enough."
Later that morning, the dining hall was alive with chatter and the aroma of fresh bread. Layla sat opposite of Dorian, her blush still faint but her smile impossible to hide. She tried to focus on her plate, but her heart betrayed her with its quickened rhythm.
Then she felt it - a gentle nudge against her leg. Her breath caught as Dorian's feet brushed hers beneath the table, deliberate and teasing. Layla's cheeks burned, her eyes snapping up to meet his smirk.
"Dorian..." she whispered softly, her voice trembling with both protest and longing.
But he didn't answer. He only held her gaze, his silence heavy, his smirk deepening as his foot lingered against her leg. The unspoken message was clear: he didn't need words to claim her.
Across the table, Iman caught the exchange immediately. She nudged Lucien, her grin mischievous. "Look at them," she whispered, her eyes sparkling.
Lucien turned his head slightly, his lips curving into a sly grin. Without a word, he slid his hand beneath the table, resting it lightly against Iman's leg. His touch was warm, deliberate, and teasing. He leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered, "Happy?"
Iman's blush matched Layla's, though hers was hidden behind a smirk. She gave Lucien a playful glare, whispering back, "You're impossible."
Lucien chuckled softly, his hand lingering just long enough to make his point before retreating, Then, with a grin, he turned his teasing toward Dorian. "So, Dorian... is this your idea of being hidden?"
Layla's blush grew brighter, and Dorian shot Lucien a glare. But instead of staying silent, his smirk returned as he leaned forward. "It's not like I don't know what you're doing right now," he said pointedly, his eyes flicking toward Lucien's hand still resting near Iman.
Lucien froze for a bit, then laughed, shaking his head. "Touché."
Iman burst into laughter, the sound light and playful. "Seems both of you have been caught," she teased, her grin widening.
The table erupted in laughter, the heaviness of past days dissolving into warmth. Both couples sat with secret smiles, their bonds quietly deepening beneath the teasing.
Just as the laughter began to fade, a guard entered the hall quietly, hi steps measured. He leaned down beside Dorian, whispering something urgent into his ear.
Dorian's expression shifted instantly - the smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, unreadable mask. he straightened, his eyes narrowing as the guard stepped back.
"The Order has moved," the guard murmured, barely audible to anyone else.
The warmth of the morning shattered in an instant.