Chapter 17: Small Trip

The next morning felt unusually still. I had barely finished packing when Cassandra called me over to the sitting room.

She stood by the window, arms folded, watching the light filter through the glass. Her wings swayed lazily behind her, a sign she was in one of her better moods.

When I stepped closer, she turned with a smile that felt a little too polished. "Good, you’re here."

I leaned against the wall. "What’s this about?"

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her gaze drifted toward the hall, with Dorian on his phone, murmuring something secretly.

"Our family… hasn’t exactly been at its best lately," she said finally, her tone lighter than her words. "But Dorian and I have been talking. A lot, actually."

I blinked. "And?"

"We’ve decided a change of scenery is what we all need." Her voice brightened, like she was trying to sell the idea to herself as much as to me. "A little vacation. Somewhere quiet. You, me, and the others. It’ll give us a fresh start."

"A vacation," I repeated flatly.

She gave a soft laugh and leaned closer, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Not just any vacation, a small-town retreat. The kind of place where time slows down and people talk to each other."

Her fingers tapped against her elbow as if she was mentally checking things off a list. "You’ll love it. Mineral-rich hot springs, a night market packed with weird trinkets and the food. You’ve never had roasted flamefruit, have you?"

I shook my head.

"Sweet and spicy at the same time," she said, like that explained everything. "And that’s not even the best part. The town’s famous for its Dreamer’s Festival. They say if you write a wish and float it down the river, it might actually come true. Pretty romantic, right?"

I gave her a dry look. "Sure, I guess."

Cassandra shrugged, unbothered. "Well, I bet Nora would like that." She started pacing lightly, the sharp click of her heels echoing through the room. "And hey, there’s a premium illusion garden there. Shifts with the moon’s phase. It’s supposed to be good for mental clarity."

"Sounds expensive," I muttered.

"Maybe." She smiled, all sharp edges. "But this is the time to enjoy! What’s the point of keeping money if it’ll just rot away."

I sighed, pushing a hand through my hair. "You’re really set on this, huh?"

"Of course." Cassandra’s smile softened just enough to seem genuine. "It’ll be good for all of us. Especially you."

I didn’t ask what she meant by that. I already knew. It wasn’t like I’d been subtle about wanting to be left alone lately.

And yet, here she was. Offering me hot springs and magical festivals like that would fix whatever was wrong. Maybe it would be easier to just go along with it.

"Fine," I said, dragging the word out. "I’ll go."

Cassandra’s wings twitched, a little too pleased. "Good. It’s settled then." She stepped past me, brushing my shoulder lightly with her hand. "You’ll see, it’s not as bad as you think."

I wasn’t convinced.

When she left the room, I let my head fall back against the wall. A vacation. Great. Nothing like being stuck in a remote town with family tension thick enough to choke on.

A faint rustle pulled my attention to the hallway. Nora. Of course she was there. She entered the room, her antennae shifting lazily. Her smile was subtle, but the gleam in her yellow eyes said enough.

"You heard all that?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Every word." She tilted her head, and for a moment, her wings shimmered in the sunlight. "I think it sounds fun."

"Of course you do," I said, stepping toward her. "You’re probably already planning on how to annoy me further."

"Me?" She pressed a hand to her chest, mock innocent. "I would never." Then, softer, she added, "But since you’re coming along, maybe I might enjoy it a little."

I gave her a look, but whatever retort I had died when she took a step closer. The air between us felt warmer, heavier. It always did when she was near.

Without warning, Nora's fingers slid up my arm. She stepped closer, the warmth of her body brushing against mine.

I could feel her breath against my neck, the delicate exhalation brushing against it. And she stayed still for a second, like she had all the time in the world.

“You’re too tense,” she murmured, her voice smooth and teasing. Her other hand drifted to my waist, her fingertips curling just under the hem of my shirt. “That’s not good for you, you know.”

A shiver crept up my spine as her fingers traced lazy patterns against my skin. A thought crept up, that this isn’t right, but it got subdued just as instantly.

My body wasn’t fighting it. If anything, it felt like it wanted more.

Her hand slid a little higher, and I bit back the sound rising in my throat. Her fingers, its softness, the way she touched me like I belonged to her.

“You’re so quiet,” she said, her tone softer now, almost pleased. “I like it when you’re like this.”

She shifted closer, her body pressing against mine as her fingers trailed higher, brushing along the edge of my ribs. I felt the heat of her curves through the thin fabric, too much yet not enough all at once.

I clenched my jaw, willing myself to separate from her, to do something, anything. But the rub of her hand against my ribs made it harder to think clearly. Harder to want to.

Nora tilted her head, her antennae twitching as she studied my face. Her golden eyes locked onto mine, almost testingly.

I should have looked away. I didn’t.

Her lips curled faintly, and without a word, she pushed herself off me. The sudden absence of her warmth left the air cold against my skin, but I couldn’t decide if I felt relieved or disappointed.

Nora took a step back, stretching her arms behind her back like nothing had happened. "Relax, Markus," she said, her voice light and teasing. "I was only joking."

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she tilted her head. "But…" She trailed off, her eyes glinting with something too amused, too knowing. "You sure seemed into it. Should I be flattered?"

I felt heat rise to my face, sharp and unwelcome. "I wasn’t," I muttered, trying to shove the feeling down, but the traces of her touch remained buried in my mind.

"You should be careful," she added, a jeering tone returning to her voice. "If you keep reacting like that, I might start thinking you enjoy it."

Without waiting for a response, she turned while forming a smug grin, and walked away.

~~~

Outside, the morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wet asphalt. The family car sat idling in the driveway. A sleek, black vehicle that had seen better days, but not too worse for wear.

Dorian stood by the driver’s side, fingers drumming against the roof. His face was set in a scowl, barely masked by his sunglasses. "I’m driving," he announced flatly, his voice cutting through the stillness.

Cassandra, already sliding into the passenger seat, didn’t argue. She just let out a soft sigh and adjusted her hair.

"Fine," she said, her tone too even to be cheerful. "As long as you don’t get us killed, I don’t care." There was no bite to her words, like she’d already decided it wasn’t worth the fight.

Dorian scoffed under his breath and yanked the door open.

I lingered by the trunk, shoving my bag inside while trying to push down the lingering heat crawling under my skin. I still felt the echo of Nora’s touch, too fresh to ignore, but I couldn’t let myself think about it.

A soft tug on my wrist pulled me out of my thoughts. It was Nora.

She stood beside me, her yellow eyes sweeping over my face, studying me in that same unreadable way she had before.

For a second, her touch felt gentler, like she was checking if I was still stuck in my head. Then, as if deciding she’d given me long enough to brood, she pulled me toward the car.

"Come on," she said, her voice low and warm. "You’re not getting out of this, so quit stalling."

I didn’t resist. I told myself it was just easier to go along with it. That’s all it was.

Nora slid into the backseat first, tugging me in beside her before I could think too hard about it. Her leg pressed against mine, and she didn’t bother moving away. If anything, she leaned in a little closer, like she belonged there.

Cassandra turned in her seat, flashing us a smile that was a little too bright to be natural. "Alright," she said. "Let’s try to make this fun, okay? A few hours in the car isn’t the worst thing in the world."

Dorian snorted softly and slammed the door shut. "Sure. If you say so." He shifted the car into gear without another word, pulling out onto the road with a little more force than necessary.

Cassandra ignored him. Instead, she turned her attention back to us, her smile softening. "You two should enjoy yourselves. The town’s beautiful this time of year, and besides, who knows? Maybe you’ll actually like it."

Nora hummed faintly, her fingers brushing against my wrist again before she settled back into her seat. "I’m already enjoying myself," she murmured, just quiet enough for me to hear.

I swallowed hard and turned my gaze out the window. The road stretched ahead, long and winding. And no matter how much I tried to focus on the distant horizon, I couldn’t stop feeling her touch beside me.

The hum of the engine filled the car, low and steady, as the city slowly faded behind us. I kept my eyes on the passing scenery. Rows of concrete and glass giving way to open stretches of green.

It was easier to focus on that than the hand pressed against my side. Easier to pretend nothing was wrong.

Nora hadn’t moved away. If anything, she seemed content to stay exactly where she was. I could feel the faint brush of her arm against mine every time the car shifted, the pressure light but deliberate. I told myself it didn’t mean anything. That she was just being herself.

But even as I stared out the window, trying to act normal, I could feel her eyes on me. Watching.

When I glanced her way, she didn’t even bother to hide it. Her head was tilted slightly, silver hair falling against her shoulder. She wasn’t teasing, not like before. It was quieter now. Curious, patient, like she was waiting for something.

I shifted in my seat, but the knot in my chest didn’t loosen.

From the front seat, Cassandra let out a small breath. I didn’t turn, but I caught her expression reflected faintly in the glass, lips pressed tight, one brow slightly raised. She saw it. Of course, she did.

But she didn’t say anything. Just made a face, half-exasperated, half-something else. Whatever thought passed through her mind, she let it go.

Dorian, meanwhile, didn’t care enough to notice. His focus stayed on the road, one hand tight on the wheel while the other scrolled absently through his phone. His jaw was set in a permanent scowl, and the tension rolling off him was as thick as the silence he carried with him.

The air inside the car felt too thick, like I was breathing through cotton. I shifted against the seat, trying to ignore the faint nausea creeping in.

I swallowed hard before speaking. "How much longer?" My voice came out quieter than I intended.

Dorian didn’t glance away from the road. "Couple hours," he said, the words short and clipped. "If the traffic doesn’t screw us."

Great. Just great.

I let my head fall back against the seat, exhaling through my nose. The queasy feeling didn’t ease. If anything, the steady motion of the car made it worse.

"You okay?" Nora’s voice was softer, closer. When I turned my head slightly, her yellow eyes were already on me, sharp and focused.

I nodded, though my stomach disagreed. "Yeah. Just carsick."

Her lips curled faintly, but there was no teasing this time. Not yet. She shifted in her seat, leaning in just a bit closer. "You sure?" she asked, voice low enough that only I could hear.

I gave another nod, hoping she’d leave it at that.

But she didn’t. Of course, she didn’t.

Her hand drifted up to my face, brushing a strand of hair away from my forehead. The touch was soft. Her fingers lingered at my temple, gently massaging the spot where my headache throbbed, I froze.

The pressure was light, careful, but it worked too quickly, easing the discomfort like she knew exactly where to touch.

"Better?" she asked, voice low, just for me.

I let her touch me, let the warmth of her fingertips sink deeper. It felt good, too good. But my stomach twisted for an entirely different reason.

"Yeah," I muttered, forcing my gaze out the window. "It’s fine."

She didn’t let go.