The group hug lingered, a tangle of warmth and laughter, the sapphire and ruby necklaces catching the Haven's dim light like twin flames.
Rhea's crimson hair brushed Kael's shoulder, blending with Freya's platinum-cyan strands, their shared joy a vibrant pulse in the room.
But as their laughter faded, the air shifted, heavy with unspoken desire, the closeness igniting a spark that had simmered since the night before, their bodies pressed too close, their breaths too warm.
Freya's sapphire pendant hung cool against her collarbone, Rhea's ruby glowed fiery against her scarred skin, and Kael's hazel eyes darkened, sensing the change, the heat building like a storm ready to break.
Freya took the initiative, her blue eyes met Kael's, her breath catching, her lips parting as she leaned in, her mouth brushing his in a tentative, electric kiss.
It was soft at first, a whisper of contact, her lips plush and warm, tasting faintly of mint and desire.
