Adam's heart hammered against his ribs. His throat went dry.
'Damn... since when did Ignis become this beautiful...?'
The firelight caught the soft curve of her jaw, the warmth in her eyes, the way her flames flickered not with aggression but with something softer—something that made his chest ache.
They stared at each other. The moment stretched.
Then—
"What are you two planning to do?"
Lilith's voice sliced through the tension like a blade. Adam and Ignis jolted apart, heads snapping toward the sound. Lilith stood a few paces away, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. Behind her, Isolde lingered at the edge of the treeline, still drying her hair with a cloth.
"N-Nothing!" Adam's voice came out too fast. "We were just talking!"
Ignis nodded vigorously, her flames flaring with embarrassment. "Yeah! Just talking! Normal talking!"
Lilith's crimson eyes narrowed. She didn't look convinced. But she said nothing—only hummed, low and knowing, before stepping aside.
