Nyx was the first to break the silence.
Then Luna followed, snorting with barely suppressed laughter before it spilled over.
"You've got one hell of a little sister," Nyx managed to mouth the words, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
Luna followed with a similar tone of voice. "Obsessed, clingy, loud, and terrifyingly committed. I can respect it. But also... damn. Just damn."
Kaiden rubbed the side of his head, sighing.
Across from them, Aria and Bastet didn't laugh, but they weren't exactly stone-faced either. Aria looked… unsure. She tilted her head, brows drawn in concern. Bastet, meanwhile, rested her chin on her fist, golden eyes narrowed in thoughtful amusement.
Then, Aria spoke.
"…Kai, you do know we're not in the state of Alabama, right?"
Kaiden turned toward her, eyebrows lifting.
Aria didn't back down. She didn't look away. She met his gaze head-on, steady and unflinching, despite the clear nervousness flickering in her eyes.
