[Location: Morningstar Manor, New York]
I raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly at her confession. "So, you sent your little spy friend to check on me? That sounds… dangerous. Reckless, even." She huffed, leaning her forehead against mine again, claws lightly grazing my chest.
"Dangerous? Maybe. Reckless? Possibly. But I didn't care. Nothing matters more than you, Darling. Not the rules, not threats, not even… the consequences." Her words were low, almost trembling, each one carrying the weight of unshakable devotion.
I let out a slow breath, eyes flicking briefly to the chandelier above before returning to her crimson ones. "Consequences, huh?" I murmured. "You talk about them like they're background noise."
Zeraphira's lips twitched into a ghost of a smile. "Because they are, for me. For us."
Her tone shifted—softer, yet haunted. "You think any of us care about punishment after what happened? After we almost lost you?"
