The night had settled over the house.
But this time, the silence was not heavy—it was tense.
Zeythara sat at the edge of the bed. Her feet touched the cold, hard floor. This body was still weak, but her movements were her own. Her hair fell loose around her shoulders. Deliberately.
Kaelric stood by the table. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up. His hands still carried the stiffness of the day. He acted as if he weren't looking.
Zeythara spoke.
"Are you going to stand there all night?"
Kaelric didn't turn his head.
"This is the position that puts me at ease."
Zeythara smiled faintly.
"I don't think it does."
Kaelric looked at her. His gaze was sharp, but it did not flinch.
"You play with this body too much," he said.
"You're wrong," Zeythara replied. "I'm getting to know it."
She rose to her feet. Slowly. Deliberately.
Kaelric's shoulders tensed.
"Don't come closer."
Zeythara didn't stop.
"If you don't want me close," she said in a low voice, "then why are you looking?"
Kaelric took a step. This time, he moved toward her.
"Because," he said, "one does not ignore danger."
Zeythara tilted her head.
"Do you think I'm danger?"
"No," Kaelric said.
"Something that breaks habits."
Suddenly, Zeythara made a move. Fast.
Kaelric responded instantly.
They both stopped.
Zeythara's hand rested on Kaelric's chest.
Kaelric's hand lingered at Zeythara's waist.
The moment stretched.
Zeythara spoke.
"Your reflexes are good," she said.
"Yours as well," Kaelric replied. "But this body leaves you halfway."
Zeythara smiled.
"Not the body," she said. "The world restrains me."
Kaelric's hand stayed at her waist. He did not pull away.
"You are in the wrong place," he said.
"Perhaps," Zeythara replied. "But not the wrong person."
Kaelric leaned slightly. Just a fraction.
"If you say that here," he murmured, "you will pay the price."
Zeythara lifted her eyes.
"I'm used to paying the price."
A brief silence.
Then Kaelric withdrew. But his gaze did not leave her.
"You push me," he said.
"Yes," Zeythara said. "Because you don't like to retreat."
Kaelric chuckled. Short. Sharp.
"You know me better than you think."
"No," Zeythara said. "You unravel faster than you expect."
Voices came from outside. Men. Guard duty. Footsteps.
Kaelric turned his head to the window.
"In this world," he said, "women do not stand like this."
Zeythara stepped beside him. Shoulder to shoulder.
"I am not a woman of this world."
Kaelric glanced at her sideways.
"Not yet."
"Yet," Zeythara whispered.
For a moment… hesitation flickered across Kaelric's face.
And that was exactly what Zeythara wanted.
There was no lightning in this house.
But there was tension.
And tension…
eventually exploded.