Warmth pressed against my back, solid and steady, each slow breath lulling me deeper into sleep.
I sighed, instinctively curling closer.
An arm slid around my waist, pulling me in, heat radiating through me. A slow breath fanned against my ear, followed by a deep, raspy murmur.
"Morning, love."
A slow, sleepy beat passed before reality crashed through the haze of sleep like ice-cold water.
What. The. Hell.
My eyes snapped open, a jolt of panic shooting through me.
I lurched upright before I could even think, the sudden motion sending a dizzy rush through my head, my breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts.
I scanned my surroundings, my pulse thundering in my ears, a flicker of relief settling over me as I took in the familiar setting of dark-toned walls illuminated by sleek strip lighting, casting a soft glow that pulsed faintly against the smooth floorboards.
My floor-to-ceiling windows stood bare, unobstructed, offering a sweeping view of Lysoria's skyline, bathed in deep indigos and molten gold as the city stirred beneath the morning light.
I was in my room.
But whatever relief I felt vanished in an instant.
Because lying beside me, half-naked, looking way too smug for someone who had no right to be there, was Calder.
I froze.
He was stretched out comfortably, his dark hair tousled in a way that suggested he had just woken up, or hadn't slept much at all.
The covers were half-draped over his lower body, but it did nothing to hide the fact that he was wearing nothing except his boxer briefs.
My stomach dropped.
Calder propped himself up on one elbow, watching me like this was the most amusing thing he'd ever witnessed, his hazel eyes roaming lazily over me.
"That's a hell of a way to wake up, Athens."
I followed his gaze, my breath catching as realization struck.
I was only in my bra and panties, and judging by the slow, unapologetic way Calder's eyes lingered, he was more than enjoying the view.
I yanked the sheets up to my chest, as if that could somehow fix whatever this was, as if it could erase the absolute disaster I had just woken up to.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN MY BED?!" I demanded, my voice borderline hysterical.
Calder, unbothered as ever, just stretched, his toned arms flexing as he rolled onto his back like he had all the time in the world.
"Damn, you're loud in the mornings," he mused, looking way too amused for someone who was about to be violently thrown out of my bed.
I shoved at his shoulder, hard. "Calder. Get. Up."
He didn't budge. If anything, he just grinned wider.
"You're kinda cute when you're panicking."
"Calder!"
He groaned, finally sitting up, rubbing his jaw as if this whole situation was some mild inconvenience.
"Alright, alright. No need to get violent, love."
My heart was still racing, my brain trying and failing to process how we had even gotten here.
"Explain. Now." My voice was sharp, bordering on dangerous.
Calder, the smug bastard, just smirked. "Wouldn't you rather try to remember?"
I was going to kill him.
I scrambled out of bed, still clutching the sheets, my pulse hammering with a mix of panic and sheer confusion as my mind desperately searched for the last thing I remembered.
Dinner. Lune Noire. Cocktails. Music.
Then, nothing.
A complete void.
My breath hitched. I never blacked out. Ever.
My stomach twisted painfully.
"No, no, no." I pressed a hand to my forehead, as if that would somehow help. "This, this is not happening."
Calder chuckled, arms folding behind his head. "I hate to break it to you, babe, but it's very much happening."
I shot him a glare, still trying to string my thoughts together. "Did we...?"
Calder arched a brow, gaze flicking over me with slow, deliberate amusement. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
I gaped at him, horrified.
Without another word, I grabbed the sheets tighter around me, stumbled toward the bathroom, and slammed the door shut behind me.
I dropped the sheets onto the cool tile, gripping the edges of the sink as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, like it might somehow give me answers.
I looked… fine.
No smeared makeup. No wild bedhead. No signs that anything happened.
My skin still had that post-spa glow, my body felt normal, and most importantly, I didn't feel sore.
We didn't sleep together.
I exhaled sharply, but relief didn't last.
Because I couldn't remember a damn thing after Lune Noire.
I turned the faucet, splashing cold water onto my face, willing my memories to come back.
Nothing.
Frustration coiled in my chest. I hated not knowing.
I stepped into the coldest shower imaginable, hoping the shock would jog something loose.
It didn't.
By the time I stepped out, nothing had changed.
Still missing memories. Still no closer to answers.
And still an infuriating Calder waiting for me outside that door.
I took my time picking an outfit from my connecting walk-in closet, hoping the extra minutes would help clear the fog in my mind. No luck there.
With a sigh, I got dressed and stepped back into my bedroom.
Calder, now fully dressed, stood in front of the mirror, methodically adjusting his sleeves with the effortless confidence of someone who belonged everywhere and answered to no one.
"You really need to invest in some better lighting," he mused. "The ambiance is great for brooding, but I think it could use a little..."
"Calder, cut the shit."
He turned, eyes raking over me far too slowly.
I folded my arms. "Okay, you need to stop looking at me like that. It's weird."
Calder simply smirked. "What? I'm just appreciating the view."
I rolled my eyes. "Calder, quit messing around and tell me what happened last night."
His smirk didn't waver. "You really don't remember?"
I let out a sigh of frustration. "Calder. If I remembered, I wouldn't be asking you."
For the first time since I woke up, something flickered in his expression. A beat of hesitation. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
He exhaled through his nose, tilting his head slightly as if considering his next words. "Well, this is awkward."
Before I could snap at him, my eyes flicked to the glowing numbers on my bedside clock.
"Oh fuck! I'm gonna be late."
I shoved everything into my bag, my movements hurried and clumsy, then grabbed my comm crystal to check the time, only to see a message from Ezzy.
Slept in. Can't pick you up. You're on your own, babe. Good luck.
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "Damn it! Ezzy's not picking me up. Guess I'm officially late."
Calder, already heading for the door, barely spared me a glance. "Not if you've got yourself a ride."
He twirled his keys around his finger, smirking like he was doing me the biggest favor in the world. "Come on, babe, I'll drop you off."
Every fiber of my being wanted to refuse, but unless I wanted to walk in mid-lecture like an idiot, I had no choice. Muttering under my breath, I trailed after him.
We made our way down the stairs, my mind too caught up in my frustration over Calder, my missing memories, and the complete disaster of a morning to think about much else.
That is, until we walked straight into the dining room.
And right into Myrren and Lara.
Seated at the table. Mid-breakfast.
Both of them looked up just in time to see me and Calder stepping into the room together.
Silence.
Myrren paused mid-sip of her drink, her expression unreadable except for the single, perfectly arched brow that spoke volumes.
Lara, on the other hand, was not so composed.
Her gaze flickered between us, jaw nearly unhinged, as if waiting for her brain to catch up with what her eyes were seeing. It wasn't catching up fast enough.
Calder, completely unfazed, flashed his signature grin, his confidence as obnoxious as ever.
"Morning, Lady Myrren." His gaze slid lazily to Lara. "Lara."
I wanted to die.
Lara's stare burned into me, demanding answers I did not have.
Meanwhile, Myrren, simply hummed, took another sip of her drink, and turned her attention back to her Spectris, as if our unexpected entrance was mildly interesting at best.
I forced my limbs to move, walking past them with a mumbled, "See you later," before either of them could speak.
Calder followed at his usual infuriatingly casual pace, clearly enjoying every second of my discomfort.
His sleek black luxury car gleamed under the morning light, and ever the gentleman, he pulled open the passenger door with a knowing smirk.
Still mortified, I slid inside, barely sparing him a glance as he shut the door behind me.
A moment later, the engine purred to life, and we were off to Brightforge High.
The atmosphere in the car was thick with something unspoken, both of us aware of it, neither willing to acknowledge it.
I stared out the window, watching the city blur past, but the silence pressed down on me, heavy, suffocating.
Until I couldn't take it anymore.
"Hanging out anywhere you are, always spells trouble," I muttered, arms crossed. "I'm telling you, Calder, next time I see you in the same place as me, I'm walking right out the door."
Calder scoffed, one hand lazily draped over the wheel. "How am I the one at fault here? You and Lara were the ones throwing back cocktails like moderation was a myth."
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. "Right, because I'm sure you were sipping water and making responsible choices all night."
Calder placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "Of course I made responsible choices. I'm a model of self-control."
I snorted, unconvinced.
His smirk returned, lazy and pleased with himself. "You, on the other hand, should be thanking me for keeping you both out of trouble, and getting you home in one piece."
I blinked, his words finally registering.
"Wait, you brought us home?"
Calder cast me a sidelong glance, amusement flickering in his eyes. "How did you think you ended up in bed, love?"
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
Because I didn't have an answer.
I stared at him, my grip tightening on my bag. "What were you doing in my bed, though? Half-naked at that."
Calder's hand flexed subtly around the steering wheel, his smirk faltering for just a second before he covered it up.
"Yesterday, when we were at Lune Noire, I don't know what you saw, but you totally freaked out."
A chill crept down my spine. "Freaked out how?"
His gaze stayed on the road, but something in his expression shifted, calculated, careful.
"Even when we left, you kept looking over your shoulder, like something was following you."
He glanced at me briefly, like he was gauging my reaction, before turning back to the road. "When we got to your room, you tore off your clothes like you were angry at them, muttering something about creepy shadows."
Creepy shadows.
A flicker of something cold whispered down my neck.
"And then?" I prompted, my voice quieter now.
Calder hesitated, his jaw ticking slightly before he finally spoke.
"Before you passed out, you begged me not to leave you alone." He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. "You were scared, Athens. And I mean, really scared."
The weight of Calder's words lingered, pressing down on me like something tangible. The certainty in his voice unsettled me more than I wanted to admit. I wasn't the kind of person who begged for anything, let alone pleaded for someone to stay.
And yet, I had.
A thick silence settled between us, but Calder, being Calder, wasn't one to let things stay heavy for too long.
His lips twitched, amusement dancing in his eyes as he leaned back into his seat with an infuriating amount of ease. "As for the half-naked part, that's just how I always sleep. Didn't want you getting any wrong ideas."
I blinked, my head snapping toward him. Of course. Of course he'd throw that in now.
Before I could shoot a snarky reply his way, the parking lot of Brightforge came into view, filled with the usual clusters of students. Except now, they weren't just focused on their own worlds. No, because Calder's sleek, luxury car rolling up to the entrance was impossible to ignore.
Eyes followed us. Whispers started.
I exhaled sharply. Great. Just what I needed. More rumors.
I reached for the door, eager to escape, but before I could open it, Calder had already stepped out. Within seconds, he was rounding the car, pulling open the door like this was some kind of VIP escort service.
I fought the urge to grimace. Yeah, not used to this.
I hesitated for just a second before stepping out, hyper-aware of the eyes on us.
Calder smirked. "Have fun, Athens."
I turned to him, and for once, no sarcastic remark came to mind. Because this wasn't just Calder being Calder. This was the same Calder who had taken care of both Lara and me. The same Calder who had stayed with me when I...
I swallowed. When I was terrified of something I couldn't even remember.
My fingers curled into the hem of my jacket. "Calder."
His smirk faltered, curiosity flickering across his face. "Hmm?"
I hesitated. Then, quietly said, "Thank you. For everything."
For a moment, Calder's expression softened, like he wasn't expecting me to actually say it. But just as quickly, something unreadable flashed through his eyes, something almost hesitant.
His jaw tensed slightly before he spoke. "Athena, you need to be careful out there. I mean it."
There was an edge to his voice, a weight that settled between us. It wasn't casual. It wasn't teasing. It almost felt like a warning.
And then, as if catching himself, he pushed off the car, flashing a cocky grin. "Can't have my favourite disaster getting into more trouble without me."
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. There it was.
Calder chuckled, stepping back as I turned toward the school. But as I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he wasn't saying.