Chapter 97: Stroking each other *
Alex lingered at the top of the staircase, his red eyes peering down the dimly lit hallway of the Elaris hold, the evening’s soft glow filtering through stained-glass windows, casting amber and violet hues across the polished wood floor.
The faint creak of the front door echoed, followed by Jusin’s low voice and Grielsa’s reluctant murmur, their footsteps fading toward the exit.
He waited a few moments, his breath steady, ears straining for any hint of their return, his fingers brushing the smooth banister, the lavender-scented air cool against his skin.
Tiptoeing down the stairs, he crept to the foyer, peering through a narrow window, the twilight revealing Jusin and Grielsa’s figures retreating down the stone path, their silhouettes blending into the hold’s shimmering gardens, the door’s latch firmly closed.
Grinning, Alex bounded back up the stairs, his steps light, the wooden steps creaking faintly, the hold’s warmth a promise of what awaited.
He burst into his room, where Sylra sat on the edge of his bed, her golden hair catching the glow of a single crystal lamp, her soft features brightening as she set aside a book, her smile shy but warm, her tunic shifting slightly, her presence a spark in the cozy space.
"They’re gone!" Alex announced, his voice ringing with playful triumph, arms spreading wide as if unveiling a grand stage, the room’s intimacy heightening the moment.
Sylra laughed softly, her lips curving, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders, her hands smoothing her tunic.
"You’re such a dork," she said, her voice warm, teasing, her earlier exhaustion from lunch faded, her gaze locking onto his with a flicker of anticipation, the lamp’s light casting gentle shadows across her flushed cheeks.