Flashback
Four years ago
Kael stood before the massive oak door, the cold metal of the key clenched in his pocket. His fingers trembled—not from fear, but from the anger that sat heavy in his throat. After seven years away, the house felt… foreign. The tall windows, the carved cornices, the same scent of polished wood and his mother's perfume—it was all still here. And yet, there was something in it now that pushed him away.
He pushed the door open. The silence inside rang in his ears. A maid appeared briefly on the staircase, but his gaze instantly locked on the figure of his father at the end of the hallway. He stood tall, wearing a tired but warm smile.
"Kael," his voice was soft, almost homely. "Welcome."
They hugged—quickly, formally. For their family, that was practically a rare show of affection.
"Your mother is waiting for us at dinner," his father said, a thread of tension weaving into his tone.
The dining room light caught on crystal and silver, almost blinding. His mother sat at the table—her posture perfect, her outfit flawless, her gaze cold. She glanced over him briefly, like inspecting merchandise, then returned to her glass.
"Welcome back," she said evenly, as if to a stranger. "Sit down."
The conversation began politely enough. His father asked about his travels, his studies. Kael answered with the same politeness, though he felt less like a guest and more like a silent extra at his own table.
"You've always been reliable," his father said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Even from afar, you've been helping me with the company. You have everything it takes to continue our work."
His mother set down her glass, her voice turning to steel.
"He's not ready. Experience comes with years."
"He is ready," his father countered. "You've seen how he handles things."
Kael gripped his fork tighter. Once again, they spoke about him as if he were a project—something to be discussed and decided without his voice.
"I'm not going to work in the company," he said quietly. The words seemed to thicken the air.
"What?" his father's brows rose.
"I'm starting my own. From scratch. Without your help."
His father frowned. His mother froze mid-motion.
"Why?" his father's voice was calm, but confusion was already creeping in.
"Because I want to achieve everything on my own."
His mother slowly set her fork down, her gaze sharpening.
"We invested everything in you so you could be better than everyone else."
"So I could be what you wanted," he replied coldly.
"You've changed," she narrowed her eyes. "And not for the better."
"What does that mean?"
"It means I don't see the boy anymore who knew how to listen. Who filled your head with nonsense abroad? Instead of focusing on your studies, you came back with a list of whims and demands."
He set his fork down with a dull clang against porcelain.
"These aren't demands. This is my choice."
"Choice?" she repeated with a hint of mockery. "You have no right to such decisions while you owe this family."
The word owe burned in his chest.
"Owe?"
"Yes. You're the heir, not some boy off the street. We paid for your education. We built your future. You are obligated to justify our efforts. You have no right to waste your talent on petty things."
"Starting my own business is petty?"
"If it's not part of the family enterprise—yes. If you want to play with projects, do it in your free time. But your main task is to carry on our work."
"My task," Kael said slowly, "is to live my life as I see fit."
"You're too young to know what you need," she cut him off sharply. "Until you mature, we will guide you."
He thought of every year spent under their control, every step dictated, every hour scheduled by someone else's hand.
"I'm not a child."
"But you act like one," she said coldly. "Stubborn. Defiant. Thinking only of yourself."
"Thinking only of myself?!" His voice cracked with anger. "Everything I've done—everything—was to meet your expectations!"
"And? It's still not enough. You are still not what you're supposed to be."
His pulse pounded so hard he could hear it in his temples.
"If you keep trying to control my life…" He leaned forward, meeting her eyes without flinching. "…I won't just leave the company. I'll walk away from the inheritance."
The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut.
"That's enough," his father said firmly, breaking it. "He's an adult. If he wants his own business—let him. It will only do him good."
His mother rose, her heels striking the marble like a metronome of disapproval.
"We will return to this conversation," she said coldly, leaving without looking back.
Kael watched her go, feeling the anger in him slowly give way to something heavy—but sweet. Freedom.
The threat had worked. They let him go, and he built his business from the ground up, turning it into a company that business magazines would later write about. Since then, his mother barely spoke to him; their rare conversations were brief and cold. And if she tried to give advice or interfere, Kael shut it down with calm, unshakable firmness, reminding her that his life was his own.
End Flashback
***
Kael sat with his fingers laced, elbows on the desk. He didn't look at Auren, though he knew she was waiting for an answer. Inside, everything boiled—but he stayed silent. The past still lingered in his mind.
He took a deep breath and lifted his gaze. Auren watched him quietly, understanding in her eyes.
"I'm fine," he said evenly.
Auren tilted her head slightly, studying him. There was no mockery in her eyes, no excessive sympathy—just quiet observation.
"You don't seem fine," she said at last, folding her arms.
Kael looked at her, narrowing his eyes.
"How so?" His voice was even, but there was tension deep in his gaze.
"Like… broken," Auren said simply. "You're usually confident, stubborn, ready to push through anything. But right now…"
She didn't finish, but he understood. He looked away, fingers locking together again. Was it uncomfortable that she noticed? Or was it too easy to let his guard down around her?
He exhaled, pushing the thought away. He had dwelled on the past long enough. Wasn't this what she wanted? To see him vulnerable?
He looked back at her, head tilting slightly, the corner of his lips twitching in a faint smirk.
"Ready to push through anything, huh?" he echoed her words, his voice dropping lower, with a shade of mockery. "Talking about yourself now?"
Auren blinked, then smirked.
"No. About you."
"Funny… sounds like you just described yourself," he leaned back lazily, studying her. "After all, it was you who stayed up late last night working on that project, wasn't it?"
Auren narrowed her eyes, but her lips curved into a smile.
"So you were watching me?"
"I just put the pieces together," his eyes glinted dangerously. "Am I wrong?"
Auren pretended to think, then smiled playfully.
"Maybe you're right. Or maybe you're just trying to distract yourself."
He raised a brow but stayed silent, watching her.
"Although…" She stepped closer, placing her palms on his desk. "If you're so sure I'm the one ready to push through anything… does that mean you see something in me that's like yourself?"
Her eyes shone with mischief.
"You think I'll admit that so easily?"
"I don't know. But I think you've already said more than you meant to."
He leaned back with a quiet chuckle.
"You're too sure of yourself."
"And you're too mysterious," she shot back.
She held his gaze, as if trying to read him. But Kael, as always, wasn't in a hurry to show his cards.
"So, you think we're alike?" he asked slowly.
"I didn't say that." She shrugged. "But maybe we have more in common than it seems."
Half-joking, but with a note of truth. He caught it, though he didn't say so. Instead, he leaned forward, closing the space between them.
"Then tell me—what do we have in common?"
Auren thought for a moment, then her lips curved faintly.
"We both like control."
He huffed a laugh.
"And which one of us is losing it right now?"
She leaned in slightly, not breaking eye contact.
"I don't know… but I'm definitely not afraid of it."
A hint of mischief returned to her smile.
"Speaking of control… when are you, boss, finally going to make me project manager and give me a team?"
One brow rose slightly.
"In a rush to take everything into your own hands already?"
"Isn't that why you kept me?" she tilted her head. "Or have you changed your mind?"
He smirked, folding his arms.
"The project's already yours," he said with quiet certainty—the kind that sometimes gave her goosebumps.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
"You said yourself—you're ready. Or have you changed your mind?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're repeating my words on purpose?"
"Shouldn't I be learning from my best employee?" he asked with a teasing smirk.
Auren's smile turned sly.
"So I've leveled up? From 'valuable' to 'best'? Who knows—maybe next time you'll call me irreplaceable?"
He leaned in, his gaze testing but amused.
"Time will tell if you earn it."
Auren chuckled, straightening up.
"So, boss… coffee?" she asked, a playful edge to her tone.
***
The reception door opened, and several employees walked in. At the front stood the senior new marketing department manager, followed by several others, including analysts and designers. They exchanged glances, clearly anticipating the start of a new project, while maintaining formal posture.
Auren lifted her gaze from the monitor and looked at them with mild surprise. Usually, such meetings were held in the conference room, but if Kael had called them here, it meant there was something important.
"Mr. Dantes, the marketing department is here to see you," Auren said, pressing the intercom button.
A second later, his confident voice filled the room:
"Let them in."
The employees began entering Kael's office one by one at an unhurried pace. The head marketing manager, giving a confident nod, stepped in first. An analyst followed him, holding a tablet with an open file. The rest — designers and strategists — exchanged looks before stepping in, doing their best to maintain composure despite the faint tension in the air.
Auren observed from her desk, arms crossed. She noticed one of them subtly adjusting his shirt cuff, as if preparing for an important conversation, while another briefly glanced at her before walking in.
When the last employee disappeared behind the door, silence briefly settled over the office.
But it was broken again by Kael's voice coming through the office phone:
"Auren, come in."
His voice was even, but carried the confident tone of someone used to giving orders. Auren sighed, casting a quick glance at the closed office door.
She rose from her seat, adjusted her blazer, and headed inside at a steady pace.
Auren entered the office, where several employees were already gathered. They sat around a round table next to Kael. The head of marketing was flipping through some papers, while a couple of others were actively reviewing documents.
"Come in," Kael nodded at her, lifting his gaze from the laptop. "You're already familiar with the main data, but now we'll go over the details and officially hand the project over to you."
Auren nodded and took a seat closer to him. Kael picked up a folder of documents and placed it in front of her.
"As you know, this is an international project. Our partner company is interested in strengthening our brand overseas, and we need to develop a strategy that will deliver results. First, an analysis of the current market, then adapting the marketing strategy for the target countries."
Auren glanced through the documents — yes, all of this was familiar. She had already been working on the analysis and drafting preliminary promotion options.
"Deadlines?" she asked calmly.
"Three months for the preparation phase, then the main launch begins. You'll have a team," Kael gestured lightly toward the employees. "Meet them."
The head marketing manager gave a slight smile and nodded:
"Claud Andrews, I'll be coordinating on our side."
"Kelly Hudson, analytics," introduced the woman next to him.
"Jamison Chambers, creative department," added another.
The others also introduced themselves briefly, and Auren gave them an assessing look. This was now her team.
Kael continued:
"All the official documents are ready; all that's left is for you to sign."
Auren gave the papers a quick glance, then looked up at Kael and, holding back a smirk, said:
"So, this is my project now?"
Kael nodded:
"Now it's officially yours."
She took the pen and signed the contract. Done. Now it was truly her responsibility.
Auren flipped through the first few pages, skimming the main points, then looked at Kael.
"So I bear full responsibility now?" her voice was even, but something flickered in her eyes — something only he noticed.
Kael leaned forward slightly, crossing his arms on the table.
"Of course. But if any difficulties arise, you can always ask for advice," he paused, as if choosing his words carefully, "but the final decision will be yours."
Auren gave a faint smile, slowly turning the page.
"I hope you won't interfere too much. After all, this is my area of responsibility."
Kael didn't take his eyes off her, then replied calmly:
"Only if I see you really need it."
One of the employees, watching the exchange, remarked:
"You're discussing this so seriously, it's like it's not a project but something more personal."
Auren calmly closed the folder, keeping a faint smile on her lips.
"For the boss and me, it's important to keep everything under control. Isn't that right?"
Kael slowly nodded, the corners of his lips slightly lifting.
"Exactly. The key is to set the right priorities."
***
Late Evening in the Office
Auren's eyes scanned the screen once more before moving to the printed documents spread out before her. Time was slipping through her fingers unnoticed, and the silence in the office was growing thicker now that working hours had ended. Most employees had already left, leaving behind only the pale glow of monitors and the faint hum of the air conditioner.
She exhaled tiredly, set her pen aside, and gathered the folder of papers — the day's documents needed to be delivered to the director's office. Rising from her chair, Auren stretched, rolling her shoulders, and made her way to the door.
Stopping in front of Kael's office, she knocked three times.
Silence.
Auren frowned and knocked again. No response.
Her brows twitched slightly — strange, he usually answered right away. After a brief hesitation, she carefully pushed the door open and peeked inside.
The office was dimly lit by a desk lamp. Kael sat at his desk, head leaning back against the chair, eyes tightly shut as his fingers slowly massaged his temples.
Auren froze, watching him. He didn't just look tired — it was as if a pounding headache had him in its grip, keeping him from focusing.
She took a step forward but then stopped, hesitating. Kael hadn't noticed her, his breathing just a little deeper than usual.
Biting her lip, she finally decided to speak softly.
"Kael?"
His eyelids twitched, and after a moment, he slowly opened them, his gaze unfocused and faintly tense as it landed on her.
Auren stepped closer, studying him.
"Do you have a headache?"
Kael stayed silent for several seconds, then lazily tilted his head — a gesture that could have been either "yes" or simply a reaction to her voice.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, reading him. The headache seemed worse than he wanted to admit. His expression was tense, and his fingers kept gripping the armrest of the chair.
"When did it start?" she asked calmly.
Kael let out a weary breath but didn't answer, closing his eyes again as if talking to her would take too much effort.
Auren paused for a moment, then said nothing more. Instead, she placed the documents on his desk and quietly left the room.
In the reception area, she quickly opened the cabinet where the first aid kit was stored. Inside, she found painkillers and a bottle of water. Taking what she needed, she returned, pushing the door open with her shoulder.
Kael had barely moved. He still sat with his head leaned back, though now his fingers drummed lightly on the armrest — the last remnants of his tension showing through.
Without a word, Auren placed the water in front of him and set two tablets on the desk.
"Take them," she said evenly.
Kael cracked one eye open, then glanced at the pills. He stayed silent for a moment before closing his eyes again, as if ignoring her.
Auren frowned.
"Kael, take them," she repeated, but he didn't budge.
Pressing her lips together, she abruptly grabbed the water bottle, twisted the cap off, and set it back in front of him.
"Don't make me repeat myself," she said firmly.
Kael slowly opened his eyes, looking up at her. Something lazy, almost playful, flickered in his gaze — but Auren didn't look away, not giving him room to escape.
Several long seconds passed before he finally took the pills, tossing them into his mouth and washing them down with a few swallows of water.
Auren gave a satisfied nod and, folding her arms, said dryly,
"Good. Now you won't have to suffer as much."
Kael smirked and shook his head, but said nothing. Still, there was something in his eyes — as though he were assessing her, tucking this moment away in memory.
Auren studied him for a second more, then sighed quietly. He still looked tense, and though the pills should help, he clearly had no intention of relaxing.
She stepped forward, moving around the desk until she stood behind him.
"Sit up straight," she said calmly.
Kael turned his head slightly, curiosity in his gaze, but didn't argue. He straightened, removed his hands from the armrests, and tilted his head back just a little.
Auren slowly raised her hands, gently placing her fingers on his temples. Her touch was warm and light, but Kael felt it instantly.
She began to massage — first his temples, then moving toward the back of his head, pressing certain points with more firmness.
Kael said nothing, but after a few minutes, his shoulders loosened, and his breathing deepened.
"You're good at this," he murmured, eyes closed.
"I just know where to press," Auren replied evenly.
Her fingers moved with smooth confidence, and at one point, Kael even tilted his head slightly forward, as if inviting her to continue.
The silence in the office no longer felt tense — it had shifted into something calmer, filled with an unspoken presence neither of them was ready to name.
Auren kept massaging, feeling the tension slowly melt away. Kael didn't resist, didn't try to joke or pull back — he simply sat there, eyes closed, letting her take care of him.
After a while, she asked quietly,
"What's causing your headache?"
Kael cracked his eyes open slightly but didn't answer right away. It was as if he was deciding whether to say anything at all.
"Fatigue," he said at last, his voice quieter than usual. "Too much work, too many people, too much noise."
Auren raised her brows slightly but kept her fingers moving.
"You work in a company where noise and people are unavoidable," she remarked.
Kael smirked faintly, but his voice still carried a trace of weariness.
"Doesn't mean I'm used to it," he said. "Sometimes it just gets… heavy."
Auren didn't respond immediately, instead moving her fingers lower, to the base of his neck, kneading the tense muscles there.
"Maybe you should learn to take breaks," she suggested calmly.
Kael lowered his head a fraction, seeming even more relaxed.
"Maybe," he said simply.
She could tell he was genuinely considering her words.
But she also knew — this wasn't just fatigue.
"It's not only that, is it?" she said quietly but firmly.
Kael didn't answer right away, but the slight tensing of his shoulders told her she was right.
"It's because of Mrs. Dantes, isn't it?" she continued.
He sighed but kept his eyes closed. After a few seconds of silence, he said softly,
"You're too observant."
It wasn't a direct answer, but Auren didn't need one — they both knew she was right.
She slowed her movements slightly, then asked with calm curiosity,
"If it's not a secret… can you tell me why she came? This is your company, not hers. You built it yourself."
Kael cracked his eyes open a fraction but didn't turn to look at her.
"She doesn't like that I'm still not married," he said after a pause.
Auren froze for a split second but quickly recovered.
"So…" She pressed a little harder at the back of his head. "She came to tell you to fix that?"
Kael let out a humorless chuckle.
"She came to tell me she's already choosing a bride for me."
Something inside Auren stirred uncomfortably — a strange, warm yet prickly sensation spread through her chest, leaving behind a faint wave of irritation.
She didn't let it show, her fingers still moving smoothly, though her thoughts tangled.
"Already choosing?" she repeated slowly, as if tasting the words.
Kael nodded, remaining relaxed under her hands. He didn't seem to notice the faint tightening of her lips or the strange flicker in her eyes.
They were finding him a bride.
Auren didn't know why that bothered her so much. She wasn't supposed to feel anything about it. Yet somewhere deep inside, a strange, foolish thought flickered—one she didn't like at all.
Her fingers pressed slightly harder against his temples.
Kael let out a quiet breath.
"Auren…" His voice was lazy, but held a faint note of warning.
She quickly eased the pressure.
"Sorry," she said evenly, though something inside her still itched.
Auren paused for a moment, then softened her touch slightly and asked in a calm tone,
"And what do you want?"
Kael opened his eyes. His gaze was unreadable—perhaps surprised, perhaps simply studying her.
"What?" he asked, as if not immediately understanding the question.
"You said your mother is choosing a bride for you. But I want to know—what is it that you want?"
Kael was silent, staring at a single point in front of him. He clearly hadn't expected the question. No one had ever asked him that before. Everyone had always told him what he should do, what was right for him, what was expected of him.
But Auren… she had simply asked.
Several long seconds passed before he gave a short, almost soundless chuckle.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I've never thought about it."
He closed his eyes again and exhaled deeply. His head no longer throbbed. Whether it was the pill kicking in or Auren's skilled fingers working their magic, the tension was fading, leaving behind a pleasant lightness.
He allowed himself a few moments of silence. Then, stretching lazily, he suddenly caught her hand, easily intertwining their fingers.
"You know…" His voice dropped lower, a familiar smirk appearing on his lips. "If you always took care of me like this, I wouldn't mind having headaches more often."
Auren jerked slightly, trying to pull her hand free, but Kael held it firmly, watching her reaction with open curiosity.
"Don't push your luck," she said calmly, though the corners of her lips twitched.
"Why not?" Kael tugged her a little closer, making her lean toward him. "You like taking care of me, Auren."
She narrowed her eyes, refusing to play along, but she didn't pull her hand away.
"Is that what you decided?"
"It's what I felt," he smirked, squeezing her fingers slightly. "And you're not exactly rushing to prove me wrong."
Auren sighed and rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide the faint shadow of a smile. Kael was flirting again, playing his usual games—which meant he was feeling better.
Tilting her head slightly, Auren regarded him with a small smirk.
"I'm your secretary, Kael," she reminded him calmly. "Taking care of you is part of my job."
Kael chuckled, keeping their fingers intertwined.
"Really?" he drawled, tilting his head as if in thought. "And which part of your job description says a secretary should massage her boss's head?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, though her voice remained even.
"The part where she solves her boss's problems quickly."
He smirked but didn't back down.
"So if my head hurts again tomorrow, you'll solve that problem too?"
She held his gaze, then leaned in a little and said quietly but clearly,
"If your head hurts tomorrow, I'll just send you home."
Pulling her hand free, she stepped back with a victorious smile.
Kael squinted at her, then laughed shortly.
"So you do care about me, Auren."
She only shrugged, not denying it.
Auren intended to take the chance and step away, but Kael clearly wasn't about to let her go so easily.
Just as she took a step back, his leg slid forward smoothly, tripping her. It happened too fast for her to react—she lost her balance and instinctively grabbed onto him.
"You—!" she began, but didn't finish, because the next moment he caught her by the waist and pulled her down onto his lap.
Auren froze, staring at him in startled disbelief.
"Kael…" Her tone held a warning.
But he only smirked, his hands holding her firmly in place.
"You said taking care of me is your duty," he reminded lazily, tilting his head. "Wouldn't it be inappropriate for a secretary to just abandon her boss?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"And is it appropriate for a boss to put his secretary on his lap?"
He pretended to think about it.
"Depends on the secretary," he said with a smirk.
Auren bit the inside of her cheek, resisting the urge to throw something at him.
She stared him down, lips pressed into a thin line. She could have gotten angry, could have pulled away—but instead she simply asked,
"Are you flirting with me, Kael?"
He raised his brows slightly, as if surprised by her bluntness, then his signature smirk returned.
"And if I am?"
Auren tilted her head, eyes still fixed on him.
"Then you should know—it's a bad idea."
He nodded slowly, as though agreeing.
"Maybe."
But his hands were still resting on her waist, and there was no hint of regret in his gaze.
Studying his expression, she said,
"Considering your mother is already picking a bride for you, flirting with me really isn't the best idea."
Kael gave a quiet huff of amusement, but made no move to release her.
"That doesn't matter," he said calmly.
"Why not?"
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower, carrying steady certainty.
"Because I'm not going to marry the one she chooses for me."
Something inside Auren shifted. She couldn't quite place the feeling—it was small, subtle, but warm. Relief.
She wasn't supposed to feel that way. It wasn't her concern. But for some reason, his words eased something inside her, as though lifting an unseen weight off her shoulders.
She wasn't about to show it, though. Raising a brow, she said with a faint smirk,
"Funny, hearing that from someone who greeted me at home like I had no right to be there."
Kael smirked, but something else flickered in his eyes—something beyond mere playfulness.
"You know why I acted like that."
Auren tilted her head slightly.
"Maybe you should remind me."
He looked at her for a few seconds, then gave her waist a light squeeze, pulling her a fraction closer.
"Because I didn't know what to do with what I felt when I saw you again."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, still refusing to be drawn into his game.
"And what about the fact you really did want to test me?" she asked bluntly.
He didn't deny it. His smirk returned, but his tone was calm, free of teasing.
"It was a test. I needed to see what you'd learned while you were abroad."
Auren studied him, trying to tell if he was being fully honest.
"And the result?" she asked, tilting her head.
His brows lifted slightly, as if surprised by the question.
"Isn't it obvious?" He leaned closer, his voice dropping. "You passed."
Auren suddenly realized they'd gone too far. She'd been sitting on his lap for several minutes, and their conversation had pulled her into a dangerous game.
She drew a quiet breath, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"I should go home. My mother's waiting," she said evenly.
But Kael didn't move, didn't loosen his grip. If anything, his fingers tightened slightly on her waist, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"Auren," he drawled, locking eyes with her. "You can't fool me."
She tensed but kept her face calm.
"And why would you think I'm lying?"
"Because we live in the same house," he reminded her. "And I'm pretty sure your mother is busy setting the table for dinner right now."
Auren pressed her lips together. He'd caught her.
Regaining her composure quickly, she replied evenly,
"I need to buy medicine for my mother. If I don't hurry, most pharmacies will be closed."
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly, saying nothing, simply watching her with the same mocking curiosity.
She used the moment to add,
"I was going to get her medicine. It's hard to find, so if I'm late, my chances will be slim."
He nodded slowly, but his hands still didn't release her.
Tension coiled in her shoulders, though her voice stayed steady.
"Painkillers," she said, avoiding unnecessary detail.
But Kael didn't look away, and she knew—he wouldn't stop there.
"What kind of pain?" His voice was softer now, which somehow made it harder to answer.
Auren pressed her lips together, then let out a quiet breath.
"She has heart problems. Sometimes the pain gets so bad she can hardly stand without the medicine."
She tried to speak calmly, but a hint of bitterness slipped through.
Kael was silent for a long moment, as if processing her words. Then he asked quietly,
"Is that why you came back?"
Her fingers tightened slightly on his shoulders before she eased her grip.
"Yes," she answered simply.
He looked away, his brows drawing together slightly.
"I didn't know…" he murmured, then looked back at her. "Or did she just hide it?"
Auren shook her head.
"She always tries to hide it. She doesn't want anyone worrying."
His jaw tightened, his gaze darkening.
"Or maybe I was just too rarely home to notice."
Then, suddenly, something in him shifted. The teasing was gone—replaced with firm resolve.
Before Auren could say anything, he lifted her from his lap, setting her on her feet, and headed for the door without explanation.
"Kael?" she called after him, startled.
"Let's go," he said shortly, without looking back.
"Where?"
He stopped at the door, gave her a quick glance, and replied evenly,
"The pharmacy."