But the air in the house felt heavier than it had the night before.
Sunlight crept through the windows in broken pieces. Liana stood at the sink, making coffee like nothing had happened. Like she hadn’t said something real in the dark.
Kael leaned against the doorway, watching her in silence.
She didn’t look at him.
He didn’t expect her to.
“You talk in your sleep,” she said casually, back still turned.
Kael raised an eyebrow. “Do I?”
“Something about fire. Or maybe it was water.” She shrugged. “Didn’t care enough to listen.”
He smiled, barely. “Liar.”
She finally looked at him. Just for a second. Sharp eyes, guarded again. Back to the girl who didn’t care.
But something in her gaze had softened. A flicker of vulnerability she hadn’t erased yet.
He stepped forward, slow.
“You said you don’t chase people,” he said. “But last night—you didn’t push me out.”
She scoffed. “I was being decent.”
“No,” Kael said gently. “You were being real.”
Her breath hitched, just barely. But she covered it with a sip of coffee.
“Don’t mistake one night for trust,” she muttered.
“I won’t,” he said. “But don’t pretend it meant nothing either.”
Another silence. Longer this time. Thicker.
She didn’t answer.
But when she set down the coffee mug, her fingers trembled just enough to prove him right.
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