Ahicia stirred slowly, the first rays of dawn filtering through the curtains. Her body was warm, cocooned in something firm yet comfortable. As her senses awakened, she realized she wasn't in her bed. Opening her eyes cautiously, her gaze landed on Damian.
He was seated in his armchair, his head resting back, golden eyes closed in peaceful slumber. His arms were wrapped around her, holding her securely against his chest. The realization made her cheeks flush a deep red.
She swallowed hard, her embarrassment growing as she noticed how close they were. Her first instinct was to move away, but her eyes lingered on his face. He looked different in sleep—relaxed, almost gentle. The sharp edges of his usual demeanor softened, revealing a side of him she rarely saw.
Unable to help herself, Ahicia reached up hesitantly, her fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw. Her touch was featherlight as she followed the curve to his cheekbone, then down to his lips. They were slightly parted, and the faintest sound of his breath reached her ears.
Damian's eyelids fluttered open, catching her in the act. His golden eyes locked onto hers, a lazy smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Enjoying yourself, Ahicia?" he teased, his voice husky with sleep.
She gasped, pulling her hand back as though burned. "I—I wasn't…" she stammered, her face a vivid shade of crimson.
He chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "Oh? So it wasn't you tracing my face just now? Must've been a ghost."
"I didn't mean to wake you," she mumbled, looking away. But her traitorous eyes couldn't help flickering back to his, which sparkled with amusement.
"Ahicia," he said, his tone playful as he leaned closer, his nose nearly brushing hers. "You're not very good at lying, you know."
Her ears flattened, and her tail swished nervously behind her. "I…"
He laughed softly, pulling her tighter against him. "Relax. I'm just teasing you."
"Well, stop it," she muttered, though the corners of her lips twitched, betraying the hint of a smile.
Damian's smirk widened. "You're cute when you're flustered."
"I am not flustered," she shot back, though her burning cheeks said otherwise.
"Oh, of course not," he said, his tone dripping with mock sincerity. He leaned back in the chair, still holding her, as though savoring the moment.
Ahicia sighed, knowing she wouldn't win this battle. She nestled against him, her earlier embarrassment slowly giving way to a strange sense of comfort. Despite his teasing, there was something grounding about being in his arms.
"Thank you," she murmured softly.
Damian arched a brow. "For what?"
"For staying with me last night," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
His expression softened, and he rested his chin lightly atop her head. "Always, Ahicia."
They stayed like that for a while longer, the morning light casting a gentle glow over them as the rest of the world began to stir.
Just as the peaceful moment seemed it might stretch on indefinitely, the door to Damian's room swung open. Lysandra stood in the doorway, her sour expression a stark contrast to the soft atmosphere inside. Her sharp eyes flicked between Ahicia and Damian, lingering on their close proximity.
"I hate to interrupt your little cuddle session," she said, her voice clipped, "but you have unwanted guests downstairs."
Damian sighed, reluctantly loosening his hold on Ahicia as he turned to Lysandra. "Who is it?" he asked, his tone more irritated than curious.
Lysandra crossed her arms. "Your sister, Selene, and her friend. They're waiting in the drawing room. And before you ask, yes, the fox is with her."
Damian pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. "Wonderful. Just what I needed this morning."
Ahicia glanced between the two of them, her embarrassment returning in waves as she realized Lysandra had seen everything. She quickly straightened herself, brushing down her hair and trying to regain her composure.
Lysandra didn't miss the gesture, her lips twitching in what might have been a smirk. "Don't keep them waiting too long, Damian. Selene has a way of making herself... known when ignored."
With that, she turned on her heel and left, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hall. Ahicia frowned slightly, tilting her head as she looked up at him. "Who is your sister and her friend?" she asked, curiosity evident in her tone.
Damian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "My sister, Selene, is… complicated. She's sharp-tongued, a little too ambitious for her own good, and she has a knack for stirring up trouble wherever she goes. As for her friend, that's Anara. She's a fox-shifter with an unpredictable personality, and she's just as much of a handful as Selene."
Ahicia's ears perked slightly. "A fox-shifter?"
Damian nodded. "Yeah. Anara's sly, cunning, and loves to push boundaries. Together, they're… let's just say they're not the easiest company to keep."
Ahicia chuckled softly. "Sounds like you've had your hands full with them."
"You have no idea," Damian muttered, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Damian stood, stretching slightly before glancing down at Ahicia.
"Well," he said with a lopsided grin, "looks like our morning just got more interesting."