Shiki closed the door behind Seraphina and Lyra with a soft click, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet mansion hallway.
He paused there for a moment, leaning against the frame, his eyes narrowing with that familiar, predatory gleam. The afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the floor, but his mind wasn't on the light outside. It was on the girl in the living room.
He pushed off the wall and walked back, his steps silent on the polished wood. There she was—Ai, bent slightly over the low table, carefully picking up the teacups and saucers from their earlier gathering.
Her ponytail swayed with each movement, and the cropped hoodie she wore rode up just enough to show a sliver of her smooth midriff. Those shorts hugged her curves perfectly, and Shiki's gaze lingered, heat building in his chest.
A grin spread across his face—slow, smug, full of intent.
