Her feet are in my lap, my thumb traces slow circles over her ankle, enjoying her soft gasps when I hit the right spot, committing them to memory.
Kaiden keeps pulling her back against his chest whenever she drifts too far forward, like there’s some invisible line he won’t let her cross. She melts back into him every time.
And Syl—
I glance over.
He’s focused on a single strand of her hair, carefully detangling it, smoothing it between his fingers before letting it fall, only to repeat the process again. Completely absorbed.
“On a scale of one to ten,” he says suddenly, not looking up, “how would you rate your overall heat experience?”
Luciano snorts under his breath. “Hermano—”
“What?” Syl frowns slightly. “It’s useful data. If I’m going to improve the process, I need accurate feedback.”
Revea shifts, just enough that her toes press more firmly into my thigh.
“It wasn’t a process,” she says softly with a sweet smile. Sylvan pauses. “It was… perfect.”
Something in his expression changes, almost unnoticeable, but I see it.
“So a ten?” he clarifies, to which Revea laughs but nods.
She focuses back on the film, but we all look to one another, a small, satisfied smile lining Sylvan’s face. And that’s the moment I realise this is it.
She’sit.
I lean back to admire her again. Luciano continues to whisper the next line in Spanish, her lips curving, breathing steady, body loose. No trace of tension.
She trusts us.
All of us.
“She’s the one,” Luc murmurs through the bond.
I don’t answer. I don’t need to. Because we all know it. Feel it.
The bond hums so strong Revea casts a glance around the room.
Syl tilts his head slightly, studying her. “Would you consider a microchip for a courting gift?”
Luc freezes mid-whisper, turning to Kaiden who exhales against her shoulder.
“Too soon, Sylvan,”he says over the bond.
But rather than being appalled by the suggestion, Revea smiles, shrugging a shoulder. “I’m not saying no…” Sylvan sits up straight. “But maybe not right now, okay?”
Sylvan nods once, no doubt filing that away for future reference.
“Well, I guess now’s the perfect time for this…” Luciano reaches for something on the tray food beside him. Then presses a leather pouch into Revea’s hand.
“What’s this?” She frowns, a small, curious smile tugging at her lips, deft fingers already opening the pouch.
“Since you took away our chance to ask,” Kaiden murmurs, watching from over her shoulder, “we thought it was only fair we also give a courting gift.”
“Just in case the chip idea didn’t go down well.” Luc smirks, causing her to laugh.
But it’s cut short when she sees what’s inside. She lifts it out. The metal catches the light, polished, precise, perfectly balanced in her delicate hand. Her thumb brushes over the blade… then stills.
