I blink at him. He runs a hand through his hair, and suddenly the performance drops. Not gone, just quieter. More serious.
“We’re not in a reverse-harem romance book,” he says, smiling faintly. “And you’re going to have to choose. Eventually.”
My breath catches.
He meets my gaze. “None of the guys are rushing you. You know that. We’re all just… orbiting. Waiting to see which way you turn.”
I try to speak, but he cuts in gently.
“You don’t owe us anything. But don’t pretend we don’t feel it.”
I look away. But he’s not done.
“I’ve known for a while it’s not going to be me.”
That makes my head snap back toward him. He’s smiling again, soft and sad.
“It’s okay. Don’t give me that look. I’ve seen the way you look at them. At him. I’m not going to say who, I won’t influence your choice. But it’s not me.”
My heart squeezes. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I like who I am around you. Even if it’s just your favorite disaster friend who occasionally sleeps in your bed and flirts too much.”
“You do flirt too much.”
He smirks. “But you’re used to it now.”
I nod. He shifts, lying back beside me, hands folded behind his head. “I meant what I said, though. I like being near you. Even if it’s not in the way I want. So, if you ever need someone to distract you, or annoy you, or sneak in midnight cupcakes…”
“You’ll be there?”
He smiles without looking at me. “Yeah, pretty girl. I’ll be there.”
The knock comes early.I barely have time to sit up before the door opens, and Jace steps in, already dressed in full uniform. His eyes sweep the room, instinctively checking corners before they flick toward my bed and stop.
Luca is sprawled beside me, shirtless, arm draped casually over his chest, one leg tangled in the blankets. His eyes are still closed, but there’s a smug curl to his lips like he knows exactly what this looks like.
Jace freezes. A flicker.
It vanishes almost as fast as it appears, buried under the familiar mask he always wears. Cold. Composed. Untouchable.
But I see it.
The flicker of something hot and sharp and possessive in his eyes. Jealousy. Then it’s gone.
He steps further into the room, followed by Noah and Tex, both already suited up in pressed uniforms, collars straight and boots polished. Noah glances over at Luca, then at me, and raises one eyebrow. Tex doesn’t say anything — just drops his duffle by the wall and starts checking over my gear.
“Emergency Guild meeting,” Jace says, not looking at the bed again.
“Lucian’s called in everyone,” Noah adds, already at my desk, pulling out my blazer and holding it up for inspection. “Senior operatives. Regional leads. You name it.”
“It’s full War Room protocol,” Tex mutters. “Something’s going down.”
Luca finally stretches, cracking one eye open. “Is it weird that I’m flattered they let me sleep?”
“Very,” Jace deadpans.
Luca grins.
