Chapter 21 - Seraphina

I woke up feeling...warm. Safe. The kind of safe I hadn't felt in years. My head was resting against something solid, and the faint sound of rhythmic breathing filled my ears.

Blinking against the morning light filtering through the curtains, I shifted slightly, realizing I was wrapped in strong arms.

Adrian.

I tilted my head up, my gaze landing on his face. He was still asleep, his features completely relaxed, and for the first time, I noticed just how peaceful he looked. The hard lines of his jaw were softened, and his usual sharp, calculating gaze was hidden behind closed lids.

His dark lashes were longer than I'd ever noticed before, fanning across his cheekbones. His Prussian blue eyes were hidden now, but even in sleep, he looked strikingly handsome. Almost unfairly so.

My gaze drifted down to his lips, slightly parted as he breathed evenly. How could someone look this perfect without even trying? It wasn't fair.

He was still holding me, his arms firm but gentle around my waist, as if even in sleep, he was trying to shield me from the world. The oversized shirt he had worn last night was rumpled, the faint scent of him—a mix of fresh cedar and something undeniably Adrian—lingering in the air.

I shouldn't have been staring, but I couldn't help it. He looked so different like this. Vulnerable, even. Not the cold, unshakable Adrian I'd grown used to seeing.

A strand of his dark hair had fallen over his forehead, and before I could stop myself, my fingers reached up to brush it away. His skin was warm under my touch, and for a moment, I froze, afraid I might wake him.

But he didn't stir. His breathing stayed steady, his grip on me not loosening in the slightest.

I leaned back just enough to get a better look at him, my chest tightening with an emotion I couldn't quite name. He was...beautiful. Not just in the physical sense—though that was undeniable—but in the way he made me feel.

Last night, when he held me as I broke down, I felt something shift. He didn't just offer comfort; he gave me a piece of himself, his unwavering strength, his silent promise that I wasn't alone.

And now, as I lay here in his arms, I realized I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to lose this fleeting moment of peace.

"Adrian," I whispered softly, my voice barely audible.

He didn't wake, but his arms instinctively tightened around me, pulling me closer against his chest. My heart skipped a beat, and I bit my lip to keep from smiling like an idiot.

How did he do this? How did he make me feel so...safe? So seen?

I sighed, resting my head back against him. For once, I allowed myself to just be. To savor the warmth of his embrace and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear.

Maybe I'd tell him how much this meant to me later. Or maybe I wouldn't. For now, I just wanted to stay here, wrapped in his arms, and pretend that the rest of the world didn't exist.

As I lay there, tangled in Adrian's arms, I felt him shift slightly beneath me. His breathing hitched, and I knew he was waking up. My heart raced as his arms instinctively tightened around me for a brief second before loosening.

I blinked up at him just as his eyes fluttered open, their deep Prussian blue color catching the soft morning light. For a moment, neither of us moved, our faces mere inches apart.

"Morning," he murmured, his voice low and raspy from sleep. His gaze met mine, still heavy with drowsiness, but there was something else there—something softer.

"Morning," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

We stared at each other, neither of us daring to move or speak further. His hair was a tousled mess, and the faintest crease of a pillow line ran along one side of his cheek. It should've made him look less composed, but instead, it only made him more human.

"Were you watching me sleep?" he teased lightly, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

I froze, my cheeks heating up. "What? No! Of course not."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing me. "Hmm."

I pushed against his chest lightly, trying to put some distance between us, but his arms stayed firmly in place.

"You're not getting away that easily," he said, his smirk growing.

My breath caught as his gaze dropped to my lips for the briefest moment before returning to my eyes. His face was so close, I could see every detail—the faint stubble on his jaw, the way his lips curved in that infuriatingly attractive way, the depth in his eyes that seemed to pull me in.

"Adrian..." I said, my voice faltering.

"Seraphina," he countered softly, his tone teasing but his gaze steady.

The weight of the moment settled between us, heavy and electric. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

"You didn't answer my question," he said after a pause, his voice dropping an octave.

"What question?" I managed to ask, my throat suddenly dry.

"Were you watching me sleep?" His smirk softened, replaced by something more genuine, more tender.

I swallowed hard, my gaze flickering to the side as I mumbled, "Maybe."

He chuckled, the sound low and warm, sending a shiver down my spine. "I knew it."

Before I could protest or defend myself, he loosened his hold slightly, giving me just enough space to sit up. But his eyes stayed locked on mine, studying me like I was the most fascinating thing in the world.

"Seraphina," he said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "You don't have to keep everything bottled up. Whatever's weighing on you, you can share it with me."

His words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. The sincerity in his gaze, the gentle warmth in his voice—it was too much.

I looked away, breaking the intensity of the moment. "I'm fine," I said softly, even though I knew he wouldn't believe me.

He reached out, his hand brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "You don't always have to be fine, you know."

His touch lingered for a moment, and I found myself leaning into it before I could stop myself. There was something about the way he looked at me, like he truly saw me, that made it hard to put up my usual walls.

But just as quickly as the moment came, I pulled back, clearing my throat. "We should get ready for the day."

He didn't press further, but the look in his eyes told me he wasn't letting this go. Not entirely.

As I got up and walked toward the bathroom, I felt his gaze follow me, warm and steady, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe I wasn't so alone after all.

The steam from the hot shower clung to my skin as I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapping my bathrobe tightly around me. The fabric was soft, but it did little to shield me from the cool air in the room. I was toweling my damp hair when I noticed Adrian sitting casually on the edge of the bed, his posture relaxed but his piercing Prussian blue eyes locked on me.

"Feeling refreshed?" he asked, his tone light, but the mischievous glint in his eyes told me he was up to no good.

"Much better," I replied, trying to ignore the way his gaze made me feel both exposed and electrified.

Adrian leaned back slightly, resting on his hands, his lips curving into a smirk. "You know, for someone who insists on being so tough, you look surprisingly... adorable in a bathrobe."

I rolled my eyes, but I could feel the heat creeping up my cheeks. "Adorable isn't exactly the look I'm going for, Adrian."

He pushed himself off the bed and strolled toward me with deliberate slowness, his tall frame radiating a confidence that only he could pull off. "Oh? Then what look are you going for, Seraphina?"

I took a step back, clutching the towel in my hands like a shield. "Something that says 'don't mess with me,' obviously."

Adrian stopped just a foot away, towering over me as he tilted his head in mock contemplation. "Hmm. I don't know," he mused, his voice dropping an octave. "I think you're pulling off the 'helpless damsel' vibe pretty well right now."

I glared at him, my lips parting to retort, but before I could speak, he reached out and tugged playfully at the edge of my robe's tie.

"Adrian!" I squeaked, swatting his hand away.

He laughed, the deep, rich sound filling the room. "Relax, Seraphina. I'm just messing with you."

"You're impossible," I muttered, turning away, but he moved faster, stepping in front of me and blocking my escape.

"Impossible, huh?" he teased, his voice low and filled with mock offense. "And here I thought I was charming."

"Charming isn't the word I'd use," I shot back, my glare faltering under the intensity of his gaze.

He leaned in slightly, his smirk softening into something more genuine. "Oh, come on. Admit it—you'd miss me if I wasn't here."

I tried to ignore the way his words made my heart skip a beat, but my silence must have given me away because his smirk returned, brighter than ever.

"Thought so," he said smugly, brushing a damp strand of hair away from my face.

I swatted his hand again, stepping around him this time. "Go bother someone else, Adrian."

"Can't," he called after me, his tone playful. "You're the only one I feel like bothering."

I didn't look back as I headed for my suitcase, but I could feel his eyes on me, watching, waiting, as if he knew he had already won whatever game we were playing.

The flight back from the Middle East was quieter than I expected. Adrian and I sat side by side in the private jet, but neither of us spoke much. The weight of what we'd overheard—the plan to kidnap Iris, my father's involvement—was heavy. My mind raced with possible ways to stop it, but each thought only led to frustration.

Adrian, as always, appeared calm, though I could see the tension in his jaw and the subtle way his fingers drummed against his thigh. He wasn't as unaffected as he seemed, and the thought oddly comforted me. At least I wasn't alone in my whirlwind of emotions.

When we landed and returned to the mansion, Lyra and Nick were waiting for us in the living room. Lyra's sharp eyes scanned both of us, no doubt picking up on the tension.

"Finally," Nick said, standing from the couch. "How was the trip? Did you meet the mysterious Isabella?"

"Not just Isabella," Adrian said, his voice clipped as he walked past Nick and headed for the liquor cabinet. "Her father was there too."

Nick's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "What?"

Lyra's eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

I sank into the nearest armchair, exhaustion hitting me all at once. "It was worse than we thought," I admitted. "He's planning to use Iris to manipulate me."

Nick let out a low whistle, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by seriousness. "That's...low, even for him."

Adrian poured himself a glass of whiskey, his movements precise and controlled. "Low doesn't begin to cover it," he muttered, taking a sip before turning to face us. "We need to act fast. If they take Iris..."

"They won't," I interrupted firmly, standing from the chair. My voice was steady, but inside, I felt like I was falling apart. "I won't let them."

Adrian's gaze softened as he looked at me, but he didn't argue. Instead, he nodded. "We'll figure this out."

Lyra stepped forward, her expression determined. "What's the plan?"

"We need more intel," Adrian said, setting his glass down. "We know what they're planning, but we don't know when or how. Until we do, we're at a disadvantage."

Nick crossed his arms, his lips twitching as if suppressing a sarcastic comment. "So, more waiting?"

"Not waiting," Adrian corrected. "Strategizing."

Lyra nodded, already pulling out her laptop. "I'll start digging. There has to be a trail somewhere."

Nick sighed and flopped back onto the couch. "Guess I'll keep watch. Someone has to keep this place secure while you two were off playing spies."

Adrian shot him a look but said nothing, instead turning his attention back to me. "You need to rest," he said softly.

"I'm fine," I replied automatically.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You've been through a lot. Take a moment, Seraphina. We'll handle this."

I wanted to argue, but the sincerity in his eyes stopped me. For once, I let myself lean on him, even if just for a moment.

As I walked toward my room, I heard Nick mutter, "You two were probably off on a secret honeymoon, weren't you?"

Adrian let out a dry laugh. "Right, Nick. Because nothing says romance like dodging armed guards and dealing with her father's schemes."

Nick grinned, completely unfazed. "Hey, I'm just saying, you two have that 'we've-been-doing-more-than-just-working' glow."

I stopped in my tracks and turned to glare at him. "Nick, I swear, if you keep talking, you're going to be the one glowing—after I set you on fire."Nick raised his hands in mock surrender, but his smirk didn't fade. "Okay, okay, I'm done. Just saying, the tension in here is thicker than Adrian's wallet."

"Nick." Adrian's tone was calm but laced with warning.

"Fine," Nick sighed, leaning back against the couch. "Go get some rest, boss lady. You've got that scary look in your eyes, and I like living."

I rolled my eyes and continued to my room, muttering under my breath. Behind me, I heard Adrian say, "One of these days, Nick, you're going to push her too far."

Nick's laugh echoed through the hall. "Oh, come on. You both secretly love my commentary."  Adrian didn't respond, but the sound of his footsteps following me made my chest feel lighter, even if I wouldn't admit it.