Morning light came through the window, making the inn room bright and blinding white. Eon stirred first; his body was heavy with the kind of exhaustion that came from more than just the road journey of yesterday. The bed beneath him was damp and tangled with sweat and something else, the sheets twisted into knots from the night's passion. He blinked against the morning light, feeling the warmth of Elora's body pressed against his side, her arm draped lazily over his chest. Her breathing was slow and even, her dark hair splayed across the pillow like spilled ink. For a moment, he just lay there, watching her, the events of the night replaying in his mind, the confessions, the tears, the way they'd come together in a rush of emotion and need. It felt very surreal, like a dream he wasn't ready to wake up from yet.
He shifted slightly, and she murmured in her sleep, her fingers tightening on his chest-skin. Eon couldn't help but smile at her innocent figure. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers, soft and unhurriedly.
Her eyes fluttered open, hazy at first, then sharpening with recognition. She didn't pull away; instead, she kissed him back, her hand sliding up to cup his face. The kiss deepened naturally, a lazy exploration that chased away the remnants of their sleep. They rolled onto their sides, facing each other, limbs entangling as if trying to hold onto the bubble of intimacy a little longer. The world outside, the journey, their mission, all felt distant, unimportant in this moment. All that mattered was the taste of her, the way her body fit against his, the faint scent of lavender still clinging to the quilts.
Seconds stretched to minutes, the kiss breaking only for quick breaths before they dove back in, hands wandering with familiar ease now. Eon's fingers traced the curve of her spine, eliciting a soft giggle from her.
"We should get up," he whispered against her mouth, but there was no conviction in it. She also hummed in agreement, but pulled him closer instead, her leg hooking over his hip.
Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door shattered their sweet moment. They both froze, hearts jumping. "Eon? It's time to go," Verra's voice called from the other side, steady but edged with impatience.
Eon cleared his throat, trying to sound normal. "Yeah, I’m up. Be out in a minute." His voice came out rougher than intended, laced with the remnants of sleep and something more.
Elora buried her face in his neck, stifling a giggle. "That was close, hehe," she whispered, her breath warm on his skin.
He grinned, but there was a flicker of nerves in his chest. ‘Verra, did she suspect if we are together or not?’ He pushed the thought aside for now. "Come on, lazybones. Up." He grabbed Elora’s hands, lacing their fingers together, and tugged her upright. She resisted playfully, flopping back against the pillows with a dramatic groan.
"Nooo, five more minutes," she whined, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. "The bed's too comfy. And you're too warm. Let’s sleep a little more."
Eon laughed, a genuine low sound that felt good after everything he had to face after coming to this world. He pulled harder, hauling her to a sitting position despite her mock protests. "If I have to drag you out like this, I will. Naked if needed." He waggled his eyebrows, earning a swat on the arm from her.
"You're terrible," she said, but she was smiling, leaning in to steal one more quick kiss. "Fine, I'm up. But only because you're so handsome today."
They disentangled themselves from the messy sheets; the air in the room was thick with the evidence of their passionate night. Eon found his breeches tossed over the washstand and pulled them on, glancing over as Elora slipped back into her nightgown temporarily before rummaging for her travel clothes. "You know, you look pretty good all rumpled like this," he teased, handing her her tunic. "Like you had a wild night or something."
She snatched it from him, her cheeks flushing a light pink. "Oh, shut up. You're the one who kept me up." But there was no bite to it; her tone was light, flirtatious, like she was testing this new dynamic between them. She stepped closer, adjusting his collar unnecessarily. "Though... I wouldn't mind doing it again sometime."
Eon's pulse quickened at that, but he kept it playful. "Careful what you wish for. I might hold you to it." He kissed her cheek, then stepped back to finish dressing, the moment lingering warm between them.
Once they were decent, Eon in his simple tunic and breeches, Elora in her practical riding skirt and blouse, they shared one last look, a silent acknowledgment of the shift in their relationship.
Eon opened the door, expecting the hallway to be empty. Instead, Verra stood there, arms crossed, her sharp eyes flicking between them. The shock hit Eon like a bucket of cold water; Elora's hand froze on the doorframe behind him.
Verra's gaze lingered on their flushed faces, the rumpled clothes, the way they stood a little too close. She didn't say a word, just raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. The silence stretched between them; it was thick and uncomfortable. Eon's mind raced, ‘ Shit, now what? If Alaric finds out I slept with Elora, I am dead meat for sure.’ Elora shifted awkwardly beside him, her earlier playfulness evaporated at seeing Verra.
Finally, after staring at them for a couple of seconds, Verra just turned on her heel and walked away without comment, her footsteps echoing down the stairs. Eon let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Oufff. Well, that was... something," he muttered.
Elora nodded, wide-eyed. "Do you think she will tell anyone about us?"
"Probably not, from the way she just turned away from us, but who knows," he admitted, but there was no time to dwell. They hurried after her, the inn's wooden floors creaking underfoot.
Outside, the group was already mounted and ready. The morning air was fresh in Oakhaven Village, unlike anything Eon had ever breathed in, carrying the scent of fresh bread from a nearby bakery and the earthy tang of horses.
Alaric adjusted his saddlebags, chatting idly with one of the guards about the road ahead. The horses stamped impatiently, their breaths puffing in the cool air. As soon as Eon and Elora came out, they saw Verra swing onto her mount without a glance back at them.
Eon and Elora exchanged a quick, nervous look before heading to their own horses. Eon helped Elora up first, his hand lingering on her waist a second longer than necessary, but he pulled away when he caught Alaric's side-eye from across the yard. He instantly let go of Elora and went to his own horse. They mounted in silence, the group's easy chatter filling the space around them.
As they started to move out, Eon glanced at Verra from the corner of his eye. She was riding ahead, focused on the path, not joining in the conversations like she usually did. No explosion, no accusations, just that quiet, knowing stare. It unnerved him more than yelling would have.
'Is she going to say something later? Or just let it simmer?' He relaxed a fraction when she didn't immediately call them out, but the tension lingered inside him.
Before they fully left the village, Eon spotted a street vendor with a cart of fresh goods. He reined in his horse. "Hold up a sec." He dismounted quickly, buying a couple of warm loaves and a bunch of bananas. They were simple for breakfast, but better than an empty stomach. Handing half to Elora as he remounted, he grinned. "Let’s eat breakfast on the way. Since we, uh, overslept."
She took it gratefully, peeling a banana and taking a bite. "Thanks. I'm starving."
Alaric was not riding with Elora today; he was just nearby on another horse. He noticed Eon gave his sister the bread and raised an eyebrow. "Eating now? We had breakfast ages ago. What, nobody woke you?"
Elora shrugged, keeping her tone casual. "Guess not. I slept like a dead person yesterday night." She avoided Eon's eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
Alaric's face flickered with something, maybe suspicion? But he just grunted, assuming the obvious: separate inns, separate rooms, separate delays. Of course, He didn't know the half of it. "Well, don't make a habit of it. We've got a lot of ground to cover." He spurred his horse forward, oblivious.
Verra, still silent, didn't react. She kept her gaze on the horizon, her horse plodding steadily. The group fell into a rhythm; the clop of hooves and the creak of saddles were the only sounds for a while. Eon chewed his bread thoughtfully; the taste was very simple and grounding for his taste. But at least it would fill his belly till they got to any nearby villages for lunch.
The road stretched ahead, winding through fields dotted with early morning mist. Whatever storm Verra might be brewing, it hadn't broken yet. For now, that was enough.