Page 182 of The Moonborn's Curse

"Sweetie, you can't avoid your destiny by hiding behind our couch."

"I'm not hiding behind—!"

But she was.

Ana opened the door with a flourish.

Hagan stood there with his usual grim set to his mouth and arms full of food—actual steaming food in compostable boxes.

Hagan said, gaze already scanning the room. "Brought lunch."

"Of course you did," Ana said. "You're like a determined golden retriever. And who is this? "

Seren's face emerged from behind the couch. Her eyes widened and she bolted over the couch and wrapped her arms around Veyr in a tight hug. "Veyr! You're here!"

The stoic warrior blinked, then hugged her back gently. "Little Lunara. You're thinner. Have you been eating?"

"I—uh—sort of?"

Hagan inserted himself between them, a wall of muscle and possessive male energy. "That's close enough. You want to keep your limbs, Veyr?"

Ana and Ryn exchanged looks.

"This one's gonna end in blood," Ryn muttered.

"I hope it's a shirtless brawl," Ana added, under her breath.

"Guys," Seren sighed. "Behave."

She turned to Ana. "This is Veyr. And these are my friends- Ana and Ryn."

Ana, for once, was uncharacteristically quiet. She blinked. Opened her mouth. Closed it. Blinked again.

Ryn leaned closer and muttered to Seren, "She short-circuited. I think she just met her new sexual awakening."

Ana rallied after a few seconds, trying—and failing—to look unaffected. She straightened her blouse and offered a bright smile. "Hi. You're... tall."

Veyr tilted his head slightly, expression flat. "I get that a lot."

His gaze swept over her once—curious, clinical-like he'd stumbled upon an oddly shaped sculpture and couldn't decide whether to praise or prod it. Ana blinked, taken aback.

Before the silence could grow too awkward, Ryn stepped forward, arms crossed. "You're the one who uses curved blades. Silver-dipped steel?"

Veyr's brow lifted with mild surprise. "Yes."

They stared at each other for a beat.

"Take a look at this blade I stole from...," Ryn said, already turning toward the kitchen.

Without another word, they disappeared down the hall, talking about blade composition like they'd just discovered a shared religion.

Ana stared after them, crestfallen. "Seriously?"

Seren tried not to laugh. "They're probably just geeking out. It's not flirting."

Ana turned to her, arms crossed. "Are you sure? Because he looked at me like I was an unpaid bill and her like a shiny new dagger."

Seren shrugged. "I think it's more of a bromance. You know... if Ryn were a man."

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