"Celeste—wait, stop! You're supposed to fold the batter, not beat it to death!"
Jase lunged forward, barely grabbing the bowl in time before it tipped over. His hands caught the edges just in time, steadying the mess before disaster could strike. Celeste froze, a wooden spoon clutched in her flour-covered hands, blinking up at him with far too much innocence to be genuine.
"I was folding it," she said, her voice so sweet it was almost convincing, almost.
Jase raised a skeptical eyebrow, glancing down at what could only be described as a war zone of batter. The poor mixture had suffered enough. "Sweetheart, you were about to start a battle with that spoon."
She huffed, crossing her arms, looking thoroughly offended. "You said I needed to be firm!"
"Firm," he corrected, biting back a grin as he stepped closer, "not violent."
Before she could argue, he moved behind her, his arms slipping around her with effortless ease. His chest pressed warmly against her back, his hands covering hers like it was the most natural thing in the world. Celeste's breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering in protest or maybe in something else entirely.
"Like this," Jase murmured, his breath brushing against the shell of her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. His hands guided hers, slow and deliberate, easing the spoon through the thick batter in smooth, even strokes.
Celeste tried to focus but it was impossible with him this close, his warmth surrounding her and his scent wrapping around her like a second skin. Her fingers tingled under his touch, every slow movement a maddening reminder that she was supposed to be learning how to bake, not completely losing her mind.
"See?" he murmured, his voice a velvet whisper against her ear. "Smooth, even motions."
She swallowed hard, pulse skittering wildly, the steady beat of his heart against her back entirely too distracting. "You're distracting me."
Jase smirked, and before she could prepare herself, he leaned in just enough for his lips to graze her temple.
"Am I?" he asked, his voice drenched in amusement.
Celeste turned her head to glare at him but it was a mistake.
Their faces were close. Too close. Inches apart.
The air thickened, something unspoken crackling between them. Jase's golden eyes darkened just slightly, his fingers tightening around hers in a way that made her heart stumble. For a moment, It felt like he might close the distance, like they were teetering on the edge of something undeniable, inevitable, breath-stealing.
And then—
BEEP!
The oven timer blared, shattering the moment.
Celeste jerked away, her face burning, heart hammering against her ribs as if it could somehow escape the overwhelming intensity of the moment. Jase only chuckled, stepping back agonizingly slowly, as if reluctant to let go, his golden eyes gleaming with something dangerously unreadable.
"Saved by the timer," he mused, his smirk lazy, teasing, but there was something else beneath that made her pulse skitter.
Flustered and grasping for anything to distract herself, Celeste grabbed a dish towel and hurled it at him with all the force she could muster. Jase, of course, caught it midair without so much as flinching, still grinning, his confidence infuriatingly effortless.
Once the cookies cooled on the rack and the kitchen smelled of vanilla and chocolate, Celeste sat on the counter and swung her legs as she watched Jase lean across from her, arms crossed and relaxed. The silence between them was not awkward, just heavy with something neither of them named.
After a pause, she broke the quiet, her voice softer now, more curious than teasing. "So… how do Luminaries find their soulmate?"
Jase's smirk faded, replaced by something more thoughtful, his expression shifting as if the question had unlocked something deeper. He was quiet for a beat, as though weighing his words, before finally speaking.
"It's a knowing," he said softly. "Not a voice or a prophecy, just something that clicks. Something undeniable."
"Clicks?" she echoed, tilting her head, her fingers gripping the edge of the counter.
Jase nodded, his gaze distant, as if remembering it himself. "It's like the world suddenly makes sense. Your body knows before your mind does." He exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck, his confidence softening. "That's why our eyes change when we meet our soulmate. It's instinct. Recognition."
Celeste stared at him, her chest tightening, something shifting inside her.
"So when you first saw me…" she began hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jase's lips twitched, his smirk returning, but this time softer, tinged with something unmistakably real. "My eyes turned gold."
Her stomach flipped violently, her breath catching in her throat.
"But you ignored it," she said, confusion dawning.
Jase hesitated, his fingers tightening on the counter before he stepped closer, closing the space between them.
"I tried to," he admitted, his voice quieter now, more intimate, like a confession meant only for her. "You were a Mortalis. Or at least, I thought you were."
Celeste's breath hitched, the weight of his words pressing against her chest, something sharp and aching curling in her stomach.
"So you didn't want me?" she asked, and despite her best efforts, the words came out too raw and exposed.
Jase's jaw tightened, his golden eyes flickering with something unreadable before his fingers brushed lightly against her knee.
"No," he murmured, his touch lingering, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. "I wanted you too much."
Celeste stilled, the air in her lungs evaporating, her pulse pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it.
"Then why—" she started, voice barely there, but Jase was already shaking his head, already answering before she could even finish.
"Because I thought it was impossible." His exhale was slow, unsteady, his gaze flickering away for just a second before snapping back to hers, raw, open. "I knew I was drawn to you. That I liked you. That I couldn't stop thinking about you." His fingers tightened just slightly against her leg, the warmth of his touch searing through the thin fabric of her jeans.
"But I convinced myself it was just… attraction. That my instincts were wrong." He let out a breathless laugh, one that sounded almost self-deprecating, shaking his head as if frustrated with himself. "I was an idiot."
Celeste's heart slammed against her ribs as the weight of his confession hit her, overwhelming and undeniable.
"What about Amy and Lucas?" Celeste asked, curiosity sparking in her eyes.
Jase's smirk returned, lighter now, a touch of fond amusement creeping into his expression. "Oh, their first meeting was a complete disaster."
Celeste raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Define disaster."
Jase chuckled, leaning casually against the counter. "Amy was training in the combat arena when Lucas showed up for the first time. He was cocky as hell, thought he could take on anyone, waltzing in like he owned the place."
Celeste snorted, shaking her head. "Sounds exactly like Lucas."
"Amy didn't like him. At all."
"Wait—really?" she asked, genuinely surprised.
Jase nodded, his grin widening. "Yeah. She thought he was arrogant and full of himself. And Lucas? He thought she was uptight and needed to loosen up."
Celeste's brows shot up. "So what happened?"
Jase's smirk turned downright mischievous. "They fought."
Celeste blinked. "Wait. Fought as in—?"
"A full-blown sparring match," he confirmed, his grin growing. "And Amy wiped the floor with him."
Celeste burst out laughing, the mental image of Lucas getting utterly wrecked by Amy sending her into hysterics. "Lucas lost?"
"Oh yeah," Jase said, shaking his head. "He was pissed. Spent weeks challenging her to rematches, determined to prove he wasn't some rookie."
Celeste wiped at her eyes, still giggling. "And then?"
Jase tilted his head, amusement flickering in his golden gaze. "One day, during another match, Lucas finally managed to pin her down. He had her, just for a second, and then his eyes turned gold."
Celeste froze, laughter fading. "Just like that?"
Jase nodded, watching her closely. "Just like that. He recognized her."
Celeste's heart did a little flip, something warm settling in her chest. "And Amy?" she asked, voice softer now.
Jase's smirk returned, full of knowing amusement. "She punched him in the face."
Celeste gasped before dissolving into another round of laughter. "You're kidding."
"Nope." Jase leaned in slightly, his grin infectious. "Lucas said she was the most frustrating woman he'd ever met."
Celeste grinned, shaking her head. "And Amy?"
Jase's smirk deepened. "She told him that just because they were soulmates didn't mean she had to like him."
Celeste's smile softened, something warm and wistful curling inside her. "And now they're inseparable."
Jase chuckled, nodding. "Yeah. But it took time. They had to fight for it. They had to choose each other."
Celeste let the words sink in, something about them settling deeper than she expected. Slowly, she nodded, a small, genuine smile playing at her lips. "I like that," she admitted softly.
Jase's golden eyes softened, the teasing fading into something quieter, something undeniably real.
"Me too," he murmured.
The cookies were forgotten, their sweet scent lingering in the air. Outside, the night was quiet, and the kitchen felt still except for the soft tick of the clock.
Jase stood close, his hands resting lightly on either side of Celeste's legs as she sat on the counter. His warmth and steady presence were impossible to ignore. The space between them was small, yet the unspoken tension felt heavy.
Celeste lifted her head to meet his gaze, her golden-silver eyes catching the light. His expression held something deeper than hesitation, something she was not sure she was ready to name.
Celeste swallowed, her fingers curling slightly against the countertop. "Do you regret it? About us?"
For a moment, something flickered across his face but then it was gone, replaced by a quiet certainty that sent her heart stuttering in her chest.
"Never," he murmured, and there was no doubt, no room for misinterpretation.
And then he kissed her.
It started soft and hesitant, as if he expected her to pull away, but she didn't. She leaned in, closed the distance, and gripped his shirt to draw him closer. That was enough.
Jase deepened the kiss, his arms firm around her waist as he pulled her against him. His touch was steady and intentional, not rushed. The way his hands rested on her back and his lips moved against hers felt like a truth long known, finally allowed to exist.
It wasn't an explanation but a promise that no matter what had happened, no matter what would come next, they had always been meant for each other.