The rest of the day passed in a warm blur.
Cassian and Orion dragged everyone into a chaotic card game. Serene pretended she wasn't enjoying herself but kept laughing anyway. Aiden sat back, amused, giving commentary like a sports announcer. Even Lyra joined in, though her eyes drifted toward Adrian and Amara far too often.
Amara laughed more than she expected to.
Adrian didn't sit beside her — he stayed across the room, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, pretending to be uninterested. But every time she laughed, his eyes flicked toward her. Every time she smiled, his expression softened just a little.
He didn't touch her.
He didn't tease her.
Not in front of everyone.
But the awareness between them was constant.
Eventually, the game ended. The cousins stretched, yawned, and began drifting toward their rooms.
Cassian slung an arm around Orion. "I'm done. If I lose one more round, I'm suing someone."
Serene rolled her eyes. "Go to sleep, drama queen."
Aiden ruffled Lyra's hair. "Come on. You look half-asleep."
Lyra didn't look half-asleep. She looked alert. Watching. Thinking.
Amara felt her stomach twist under that stare.
One by one, doors closed. Lights dimmed. The house fell into that deep nighttime quiet — the kind that made every sound echo.
Amara changed into her pajamas, brushed her hair, and sat on her bed. Her heart was beating too fast, her mind replaying the morning kiss, the hallway hug, the way Adrian whispered her name.
She kept glancing at the window.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Then—
A soft tap.
Her breath caught.
She stood quickly, crossed the room, and slid the window open.
Adrian didn't wait.
He stepped inside immediately, his hands already reaching for her waist. Before she could even whisper his name, he pulled her into a tight hug — lifting her off the ground like she weighed nothing.
"Adrian—!" she gasped softly, surprised.
He buried his face in her shoulder, holding her close, his breath warm against her skin. "You took too long," he murmured, voice low and rough.
"I was just brushing my hair," she whispered, her arms wrapping around his neck.
"I don't care," he said, tightening his hold. "I wanted to see you."
He set her down gently, but he didn't let go. His hands stayed on her waist, his forehead brushing hers, his eyes warm in the dim light.
"You're shy again," he murmured.
"I'm not," she whispered, already blushing.
He smirked — that soft, teasing smirk he only ever showed her. "You are."
Before she could argue, he leaned in and kissed her cheek — slow, warm, lingering.
Her breath caught.
He kissed her other cheek.
Her knees weakened.
Then he kissed the corner of her lips — not fully, just enough to make her heart race.
"Adrian…" she whispered, gripping his shirt.
He hummed softly. "What?"
"You're teasing."
"I know."
He kissed her again — this time on her jaw, slow and gentle, making her shiver.
"You like it," he murmured.
She hid her face in his chest. "Stop…"
He wrapped his arms around her again, lifting her slightly as he walked them backward toward the bed. When his legs touched the edge, he lowered her onto it carefully, then lay beside her, pulling her into his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her head rested on his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath her ear.
He held her close — one arm around her waist, the other brushing her hair back gently.
"You're warm," she whispered.
"You're shaking," he whispered back.
"I'm not."
"You are."
She huffed softly. "You're impossible."
He smiled — she felt it against her forehead. "And you're cute when you pretend you're not shy."
She buried her face deeper into him. "Adrian…"
He tilted her chin up gently, forcing her to look at him.
"Amara."
Her breath caught.
He kissed her — soft, slow, warm — the kind of kiss that made the world outside disappear.
When he pulled back, she was breathless.
He brushed his thumb across her cheek. "I'm staying for a little while."
She nodded, curling closer to him.
He held her tighter, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I like holding you."
Her heart fluttered. "I like it too."
He kissed her forehead — slow and protective — then rested his chin on her hair.
And just like that, they lay there together, wrapped in each other, the night quiet around them, their breaths syncing in the dark.
For the first time, it didn't feel like a secret.
It felt like something real.
Something theirs.