The cold should have been the first thing Lux noticed.
The Adirondack winter had teeth. Even standing outside for a few minutes usually sent icy needles through his gloves and boots.
But as he stared at Kael standing in the open crate, Lux realized something strange.
He wasn't cold anymore.
Not exactly warm either.
Just… comfortable.
Which made no sense.
Snow drifted lazily through the air between them. Kael's dark cloak moved slightly in the wind, the fabric brushing against his long frame.
He stepped fully out of the crate.
The movement was fluid and quiet, like someone used to controlling every inch of their body.
Lux swallowed.
Up close, Kael was even more striking than he'd first realized. The sharp line of his jaw. The subtle golden undertones of his skin. The way his amber eyes seemed almost luminous against the gray sky.
It was distracting.
Lux forced himself to speak.
"So," he said, gesturing vaguely toward the drone behind Kael. "That's it? No paperwork? No creepy handlers?"
Kael glanced at the cargo shuttle, which was already beginning its silent ascent back into the storm clouds.
"They rarely stay long," he said calmly.
His voice was smooth.
Too smooth.
Lux frowned slightly.
Something about the sound of it seemed to slide through his thoughts like warm honey.
He shoved the sensation aside.
"Right," Lux said. "Efficient, I guess."
Kael's gaze returned to him.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Lux shifted his weight in the snow.
He should probably say something normal. Something owner-like.
Instead he found himself studying the stranger in front of him again.
There was something oddly magnetic about Kael's presence. Not aggressive. Not intimidating.
Just… compelling.
Like standing near a fireplace after walking through the cold.
Lux cleared his throat.
"Are you… cold?" he asked.
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Kael tilted his head slightly, as if considering.
"No," he said.
Lux frowned.
"You're not wearing anything warm."
Kael looked down at his cloak.
"I am comfortable."
Lux blinked.
That was not a normal answer.
A quiet gust of wind stirred the trees around the courtyard. Snow swirled between them, briefly obscuring Kael's face.
When the flakes settled again, Lux noticed something strange.
The air around Kael seemed… different.
Not visible.
Just—
Warmer.
Lux rubbed the back of his neck.
Weird.
Maybe the manor's heat vents reached this far.
That had to be it.
Kael took a slow step closer.
Not threatening.
Just closing the distance enough to make conversation easier.
But the moment he did, Lux felt it again.
A faint wave of warmth rolled through his chest.
It wasn't heat.
It was something softer.
A pleasant heaviness spreading through his shoulders.
Like tension quietly dissolving.
Lux blinked.
"…Huh."
Kael watched him carefully.
Those amber eyes were very sharp.
"Is something wrong?" Kael asked.
Lux shook his head quickly.
"No."
Then he hesitated.
"Actually… this might sound weird."
Kael didn't interrupt.
Lux gestured vaguely between them.
"Do you… run hot or something?"
For the first time, Kael looked slightly puzzled.
"Run hot?"
"Yeah." Lux rubbed his arms. "Because it suddenly feels like I walked into a heated room."
A quiet pause stretched between them.
Something subtle changed in Kael's expression.
Not alarm.
Recognition.
But it vanished almost instantly.
"The temperature outside is quite cold," Kael said evenly.
"Yeah," Lux muttered. "I noticed."
Another breeze swept across the courtyard.
Lux should have been freezing by now.
Instead the strange warmth lingered.
Not overwhelming.
Just… comforting.
Like being near someone familiar.
Which was ridiculous.
Lux had known this guy for maybe two minutes.
He shook his head firmly.
"Okay. Standing around in the snow is dumb."
He jerked his thumb toward the manor behind him.
Tall windows glowed softly with golden light. The old stone building looked enormous against the dark forest.
"Let's get inside."
Kael followed his gaze.
The estate loomed above the courtyard like something from an old winter painting—warm light spilling across snow-covered steps.
"Is that where we will be staying?" Kael asked.
Lux snorted softly.
"Yeah. Unless you prefer the crate."
Kael's lips curved slightly.
Not quite a smile.
But close.
"I think the house will be acceptable."
Lux turned toward the steps.
"Good. Because it's about to snow another foot out here."
He started walking toward the manor, boots crunching through the snow.
After a moment, Kael fell into step beside him.
The warmth followed.
Lux noticed immediately.
The closer Kael walked, the stronger the strange comfort became. Not overwhelming—just noticeable enough to make Lux oddly aware of the space between them.
He glanced sideways.
Kael moved with easy confidence, long strides barely disturbing the snow.
Lux forced his attention forward.
"This place is bigger than it needs to be," he said casually. "But my family likes dramatic architecture."
Kael studied the manor as they approached the steps.
"It is impressive."
"Yeah," Lux said. "Impressive and very empty."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
He grimaced slightly.
Kael didn't comment.
But Lux felt those amber eyes flick toward him again.
They reached the stone steps leading up to the entrance.
Lux pushed open the heavy wooden door.
Warm air spilled into the winter night.
The interior lights illuminated a massive entry hall—high ceilings, dark wood beams, and a fireplace crackling somewhere deeper inside the manor.
Lux stepped aside.
"Well," he said.
"Welcome to your new home."
Kael paused in the doorway.
For a brief moment, he looked back toward the forest.
Snow continued to fall silently between the trees.
Then he stepped inside.
As he crossed the threshold, Lux felt the strange warmth surge again.
Stronger this time.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… noticeable.
Kael glanced at him.
"You are very quiet suddenly," he said.
Lux blinked.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
Lux rubbed the back of his neck again.
"Just thinking."
"About?"
Lux hesitated.
Then he shrugged.
"…About how weird it is that the mystery listing didn't mention you're basically a walking space heater."
For the first time, Kael actually smiled.
It was small.
But undeniably amused.
"I see," he said softly.
And Lux had the sudden, inexplicable feeling that Kael understood far more about that warmth than he was saying.