Ahicia jolted awake, her breathing ragged and her skin damp with sweat. The remnants of her nightmare clung to her mind like dark tendrils, the vision of Damian walking away from her replaying on a loop. She clutched at her chest, her heart pounding as though it would break free.
Her crimson eyes darted around the dimly lit room, seeking the familiar comfort of Damian's presence. But the other side of the bed was cold and empty. Panic set in as she sat up, her tail drooping low behind her.
"Damian?" she whispered, her voice trembling. When no answer came, she swung her legs off the bed and stood, her bare feet making no sound against the wooden floor as she hurried out of the room. The halls of the estate were quiet, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the walls. Ahicia sniffled, her sensitive ears twitching as she tried to pick up any trace of him.
Her search brought her to the veranda, where a soft murmur of voices reached her ears. As she stepped closer, the sight before her made her freeze in place. Damian stood with his back to her, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. Anara was beside him, her slender arms wrapped around his torso in an all-too-familiar embrace.
Ahicia's breath caught in her throat, and a pang of something sharp and bitter surged through her chest. She stepped back instinctively, her tail tucked tightly against her body. Her ears flattened, and she turned abruptly, running back toward her room. Her footsteps, though light, echoed faintly in the stillness of the estate.
Damian's ears twitched at the sound, his head snapping in the direction of the retreating figure. He gently disentangled himself from Anara's grasp, his golden eyes narrowing. "Ahicia?" he called, his voice tinged with concern.
Anara tilted her head, a sly smile curving her lips. "Trouble in paradise?" she teased.
Damian ignored her, his focus entirely on Ahicia's disappearing form. He strode after her, his long legs quickly closing the distance. "Ahicia!" he called again, his tone firmer this time.
Ahicia reached her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she struggled to catch her breath. Her hands trembled as she covered her face, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. The vivid image of Anara clinging to Damian burned in her mind, fueling her insecurity and the ache in her heart.