Chapter 196: Understanding Between Brothers
Evaline:
I stood there like I was frozen, still by the door of his quarters as the warm scent of burning wood and hot cocoa wrapped around me like an invisible blanket. I should have moved. I should have said something. But I didn’t need to.
Oscar came to me.
Without a word, he stepped close, slid his arms around my waist, and pulled me into his chest. And just like that, everything else faded.
The moment my body met his, our mate bond lit up like a warm ember in my soul. It pulsed gently, calmly, as if sighing in relief at finally having us close again. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and melted into his arms. With my cheek pressed against the soft fabric of his shirt, I could hear his heartbeat - slow and steady.
I tilted my chin up and looked at him.
His emerald eyes met mine, gentle and full of that quiet affection that always took me by surprise.
"I... I have to be somewhere in a while," I whispered reluctantly.
One of his eyebrows rose. "Where to?"
"I was planning to grab a bite from the dining hall, study a bit... just till seven... and then head to Professor Kieran’s office."
His expression didn’t shift the way I was expecting it to. No flicker of confusion. No questions about why I was meeting his brother. Instead, he just asked-
"Are you hungry?"