Page 46 of Bloom in Darkness

Astra hesitates, but Sabine answers for him. “He is now.”

His head turns sharply toward her. She smiles without warmth. “Go enjoy your weekend. We’ll discuss your schedule when you get back.”

I don’t like the way she says it, Caelan’s jaw flexing once before he turns us toward the exit. “Come on.”

We move. I keep Astra tucked against my side all the way through the club, my palm flat against his ribs where I can feel his heartbeat. No one tries to stop us. Outside, the night air bites hard, scraping the edge off the aggression humming under my skin. Caelan heads for the car while I steer Astra along beside me, his steps matching mine even though our height difference makes it awkward. He doesn’t complain.

Halfway across the parking lot, Astra looks over at Caelan. “Did you really consider buying the club?”

Caelan snorts softly as he unlocks the car. “No.”

Astra slows. “You sounded like you meant it.”

“I needed Sabine to believe I meant it.” Caelan opens the driver’s door, then looks back at him. “That’s different.”

Astra studies him for a second before a quiet laugh slips out, some of the tension finally easing from his shoulders. I climb into the back with him, barely getting settled before Astra shifts toward me on his own and presses his shoulder into my chest. I wrap both arms around his waist and pull him the rest of the way against me until his back is flush to my chest.

“Bryn.”

I press my face into the curve of his neck. His scent is still edged with stress, and I rub my jaw slowly along his skin.

“I’m okay,” he murmurs.

I don’t answer. I just keep him against me while Caelan starts the engine.

Caelan’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. “He’s not letting go.”

Astra glances toward the front. “Yeah, I got that.”

“Give it fifteen minutes minimum once we’re home,” Caelan says.

Astra tips his head enough to look toward the front. “That specific?”

“Experience.” Caelan’s mouth curves in the mirror. “Some asshole got in my face after a match years ago. Bryn carried me out of the building and followed me into the bathroom because I had a split lip.”

“You were bleeding,” I say.

Astra starts laughing again, the sound warmer this time. Caelan catches his eyes in the mirror. “It was annoying as hell.” I bury my face in Astra’s neck again. His hand settles over mine against his stomach, and his fingers stay there.

After a few quiet miles, Astra’s thumb starts rubbing slow circles over my knuckles. “Still the whole weekend?” he asks, his voice low like he’s afraid to break the stillness.

Caelan answers from the front seat, not even turning. “Especially after that.”

Astra glances out the window for a second—just long enough to watch the streetlights slide over the glass—then settles deeper against my chest. “Good.”

I press my mouth to the side of his head and let my lips linger there in his damp hair. “Hey,” I murmur, the word rumbling through my chest into his. “Caelan got a sketch out of you last night.” I tighten my arms around him just enough to feel him breathe. “I want one too.”

Astra tilts his head back to look up at me, a real smile spreading across his face. “You want me to draw you?”

“Yeah.” I hold his gaze. “This weekend. At home.”

“Okay.” His thumb starts moving over my knuckles again. “But I’m warning you, it’s probably just going to be a picture of you scowling at someone.”

Caelan catches my eye in the rearview mirror, smirking. “I’ll frame it.”

Astra

Saturday morning is almost too quiet, the kind of stillness that usually makes me wait for something to go wrong. I wake sometime after nine with Bryn’s heavy arm across my waist and Caelan’s knee pressed against mine beneath the blankets, my body pleasantly sore. All three of our scents are still caught in the sheets.