Chapter 22: Quiet Intimacy

Later that evening, after Kian had finished explaining his plan, we returned to the home in relative silence. The air between us was thick with unspoken tension, the weight of his earlier possessiveness still lingering.

As we stepped through the ornate double doors, I couldn’t help but look around, searching for any sign of the others. “Where’s Luca?” I asked, unable to keep the curiosity out of my voice.

Kian’s lips curved into a small smile. “Resting, with Sabine.” He paused, his gaze burning into me. “I thought it best to leave them alone for now.”

I swallowed hard, the mention of Sabine’s name stirring an unexpected feeling of… something within me. Jealousy, perhaps? I pushed the feeling aside, unwilling to think about it.

“I see,” I murmured, my gaze drifting to the staircase that led up to the private rooms. “And what about us?”

Kian’s eyes narrowed, a slight tilt of his head showing his curiosity. “What do you mean, principessa?”

I felt a flush creep up my neck, suddenly self-c