I scraped the last bit of curry from my bowl. Savored the final bite. The rich, spicy flavor lingered on my tongue.
Around me, the common room of Onyx House had transformed. No longer a battleground of egos. Something almost pleasant. The tension that had dominated our first interactions earlier today had dissipated. Funny how easily humans could be pacified with food and comfort. A weakness worth remembering.
Marco and Hikari sat across from each other at the coffee table. Hands locked in an intense arm-wrestling match. Drew a small crowd of onlookers. The entire wooden table shook with their effort. A half-full water glass inched dangerously toward the edge with each tremor.
Malachi stood silently behind Marco. Those dark eyes watched with that eerie, unblinking intensity that seemed to be his default state.
"Just give up already," Marco grunted. His face reddened with exertion. Veins popped along his forearm. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he strained against Hikari's grip.
