ly slept, her mind racing through everything that had happened. The memory of Yulian's threat, of the danger lurking just beyond the edge of her grandmother

ght at least wash off the exhaustion. But then again, looking in the mirror, she winced, the trace o

he singing of her tune wafting across. Ariana hastened to her grandmother's side an

in her eyes. "Look at those bags under your eyes! R

o pass off the truth. "Uh... yes, Granny

ding, huh? You always did love books more than sleep. But those bags-" she reac

ly at her grandmother's hand. "Com

wolves," she teased, though her eyes softened with a more serious

rced a smile. Of course, Granny, you kn

patting her hand affectionately. "Alright, alright. Now, are you going to help

ranging but light in mood. Her grandmother kept Ariana's mind off those haunting memories of the previous night with her teasing, and soon they got the h

ot help the contented sigh as she reveled

eyeing her over her cup of tea. "Got a class or

at the reminder. "Actually, yes. I was going to go

ight cramming for a test! It makes sense." She smiled in approval, though

n hostage to Yulian's warning. She pushed it aside; she needed to

ng a kiss on her grandmother's cheek and leaving the house. She couldn't wait for Nor

y home brightened her mood as she approached the house. She

ng up as she saw Ariana. "Ari!" she squealed, pulli

ng her back. "I know!

p the whole room. Nora had always been the bolder of the two , never afraid to say what was on her mind or crack a joke. And today w

Nora's brother, Ben. Ariana's cheeks flushed a smidge as he entered, his ey

ted her, his voice deep

ntensity. Open countenance, kind, steady gaze-all helped one be so at ease with him. Not as handsome as Liam, his quiet way brought out an undeniable charisma in him. Still, th

oughtful and genuine. Ariana found herself relaxing, enjoying the easy conversation an

r eyes dancing with mischief. "O

raising an eyebrow at

teeth, her cheeks pink with excitem

t in shock. "No freakin

"Yep! The big goof actually got

d. "I never thought that rat-brain would actually do it

Muse's nervous smile, how he'd stumbled over the words, and the look in his eyes as he finally asked

d around, a mischievous glint in her

rning shameless. "Oh, yes. And

ushed pink. "Reall

know how in all those romance novels they talk about fireworks? It was like that. But even bett

r face turned even redder. "You? T

"Hey, sometimes a girl's gotta take charge! Poor M

ix of embarrassment and curiosity. "

rfect. Better than I'd imagined. He was so gentle,

d. She was so lost in her thoughts of what it should feel l

gh their conversation, startling t

the doorway, a playful smirk on his face. She hadn't even heard him appr

ve her brother an exaggerated scowl. "Ben

ong enough. Just curious about all this '

sappear as she turned to Ariana with an embarras

gle. Teasing from Ben had caught them off guard, but it felt go

"Just so you know, big brother-if you're jea

amused, his eyes glinting

smiling at the siblings' playful banter. She really did almost forget how nice it was to have mo

iss with Liam. Try as she would to cast it aside, her mind circled back to the night before. Lia

r, jolting her back to reality. Ariana blinked to find N

muttered, her cheek

, suspicious grin. "Were you j

r head. "No, no! Just... t

a smile. "Uh-huh, sure. Yo

Ari, you don't have to tell us. But you're welcome to stay for l

again, nodding with a grat

awkward yet endearing attempts to impress her. Ariana reveled in every moment so grateful f

s Liam, the prophecy, and the path she knew she coul