So, what now?
The castle was quiet, the air heavy with a sense of stillness that only deep nights bring. We'd moved from the kitchen to the living room, the warmth of the fire contrasting against the cool, shadowed corners of the room.
Ciara's presence beside me felt like an electric current, a tension humming between us that had been building since we'd left the training grounds earlier.
I shifted, glancing over at her. She was lounging on the couch, looking effortlessly relaxed, but I could see the way her eyes occasionally flicked to me, something unreadable simmering behind that usual playful facade. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry.
"So, what now?" I asked, my voice coming out quieter than I intended. It felt like I was asking more than just what we were going to do to pass the time.