After dinner at my apartment, I offered Michael and Rafail the option to stay the night since the journey back to town was quite long. They agreed, and I assured them I’d arrange for an Uber to take me back to Josh's place so they could rest early.
As we stood in front of the building, waiting for my ride, Michael broke the silence. “Arwen, do you still experience those moments?” he asked, his voice low and contemplative.
I turned to him with a puzzled look. “What moments?”
He met my eyes briefly before clarifying, “The glowing.”
“Oh…” The realization hit me, and I let out a small gasp. “I’d almost forgotten about that.” I paused, collecting my thoughts. “No, not anymore, Michael. The last time was when you found me on the rooftop.”
He nodded slowly, his gaze drifting from me to the road ahead, his expression unreadable but pensive. The sound of distant traffic filled the silence between us for a moment before he spoke again.
“Rafail and I will be meeting with… some people,” he said carefully, still avoiding eye contact.
“Some people?” I repeated, my curiosity piqued. “Are they like us?”
Michael’s gaze finally shifted back to me, his dark eyes serious. “I can’t say for sure. They’re… different. But they’ve reached out to us because some of their people have been killed. I don’t know all the details yet.”
A chill ran down my spine at his words. “Killed?” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “By who?”
He shook his head slightly, his expression tightening. “That’s what we need to find out. It could be unrelated to us, but I have my doubts.” His brows furrowed, and he took a step closer, his tone softening. “Arwen, I need you to be careful. Until we know more, it’s best to stay alert. Don’t ignore anything unusual.”
The weight of his concern pressed on me. Michael rarely showed this level of worry, and seeing it now stirred a mix of fear and unease in me. “I’ll be careful,” I promised, my voice steady despite the anxiety blooming in my chest.
As my Uber pulled up, Michael opened the door for me but paused before stepping back. “If anything happens, no matter how small it seems, you call me immediately. Understand?”
I nodded, feeling the seriousness in his tone. “I will,” I assured him. “And Michael… be careful too. Whoever these people are, they reached out for a reason.”
He gave me a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I will. Goodnight, Arwen.”
“Goodnight,” I replied, climbing into the car and watching as he stepped back onto the curb. His figure grew smaller as the car pulled away, but the image of his concerned expression stayed with me, a reminder that the world we were navigating was far more dangerous than I wanted to admit.
The ride back to Josh’s place felt unusually long, or perhaps I was simply lost in thought. My gaze flitted between the glowing city lights outside the window, but my mind was elsewhere, caught in a spiral of questions.
What just happened?
I tried to make sense of everything. Michael’s parting words replayed in my head: "Please be careful." There was a weight to his tone that unsettled me, as if he knew something I didn’t. A chill ran down my spine at the thought of the unknown danger he had hinted at.
And then there was Nick.
A pang of guilt twisted in my chest. It felt like I’d been careless—too preoccupied with my own life, my friends, and... Diarmid.
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. How could I forget Nick? He was family, my anchor, the one who always had my back. Yet, here I was, swept up in a whirlwind of distractions, barely sparing him a moment in my thoughts.
The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “You okay, Miss?”
I startled slightly and managed a small smile. “Yes, I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.”
He nodded, his attention returning to the road.
I leaned my head against the window, letting the cool glass calm my restless thoughts. It’s not like I forgot Nick entirely, I reasoned with myself. Life has just been… complicated.
But even as I tried to justify it, a sense of unease lingered. The connection I had with Nick wasn’t something I could ignore or put on hold. And yet, I’d been doing exactly that.
Memories of my dream—or rather, my communication with Nick—resurfaced. The vividness of it still haunted me: his voice, the children, the woman… Talisa. I swallowed hard, the image of Nick’s face etched into my mind. He had looked older, weathered by time, but there was still so much love in his eyes when he saw me.
What does it all mean?
My thoughts shifted to Diarmid. A different kind of warmth filled my chest, one that brought both comfort and confusion. He had become a significant part of my life so quickly, but was I allowing myself to get too caught up in him?
I sighed, closing my eyes as the hum of the car engine lulled me into a state of reflection.
The Uber came to a stop, pulling me from the haze of my thoughts. I blinked, realizing we had arrived at Josh’s place. For a moment, I sat there, my head leaning against the cool glass of the window. The familiar sight of the house grounded me, but something else caught my eye.
Parked just ahead of the house was a sleek SUV.
I tilted my head to the left, squinting to see if I could recognize the vehicle or its driver. A faint sense of curiosity prickled at the back of my mind.
Who could that be?
“Thanks,” I murmured to the driver as I handed over the fare, barely glancing his way before stepping out of the car.
The moment I closed the door behind me, the SUV’s driver’s side door swung open.
And then I saw him.
Diarmid.
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The sight of him stole the breath from my lungs, as it always did. His tall, commanding frame seemed to radiate an effortless confidence, his presence demanding attention even in the dim light of the quiet street. The faint glow of the nearby streetlamp danced across his features—the sharp cut of his jaw, the intensity of his storm-gray eyes, the tousled dark hair that looked like he had just run his hands through it.
For a moment, I froze, my heart stuttering in my chest.
“Arwen,” he greeted, his voice low and rich, sending a warmth through me that I couldn’t quite explain. He stepped closer, his movements smooth and purposeful, as if every step was measured.
“What… what are you doing here?” I finally managed to ask, my voice coming out softer than I intended.
He smiled, the corners of his lips quaking up in a way that was both teasing and warm.
“I came to check on you,” he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Check on me?” I echoed, my brows knitting together. “Why?”
“Well, if you hadn’t ignored my message earlier…” Diarmid began, his tone light but tinged with a hint of uncertainty. His gray eyes met mine briefly before darting away, as if unsure of how to continue.
I blinked, caught off guard by his words. Then it hit me.
“Oh,” I murmured, realizing dawning. “I was going to reply, but…” I hesitated, the memory of Michael’s call flashing in my mind. “Michael called, and I got distracted.”
Diarmid’s brow furrowed slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Michael?” he repeated, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of something I couldn’t quite place.
I nodded, fidgeting slightly under his gaze. “Yeah, it was about something urgent. I didn’t mean to ignore your message, Diarmid. I just—”
“You don’t have to explain,” he cut in gently, his expression softening. “I understand.”
There was a brief silence between us, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Diarmid shifted his weight, shoving his hands into his pockets as he looked down at the floor, his usual confident demeanor replaced by something more vulnerable.
“I guess I just…” he started, trailing off as if searching for the right words. “I guess I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
His admission caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond.
“I’m fine,” I said softly, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Really. But… Thank you. For checking in.”
Diarmid glanced up at me, his gaze meeting mine, and for a fleeting moment, the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch.
“Always,” he said simply, the single word carrying more weight than I expected.
I felt a warmth spread through me, and before I could overthink it, I reached out and lightly touched his arm.
“I’ll make it up to you. Coffee? Lunch? Whatever you want, my treat.”
His lips curved into a faint smile, the uncertainty in his expression melting away. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said, his voice carrying a teasing edge.
Josh chose that moment to poke his head into the fence, his timing impeccable as always.
“Are you two lovebirds done whispering out here, or should I get some popcorn?”
“Josh!” I exclaimed, my face heating as I shot him a glare.
Diarmid chuckled, the sound low and warm, and for the first time that night, the tension in my chest eased.
“We’re coming in,” Diarmid said, his tone amused as he gestured for me to go ahead.
As I walked past Josh, he gave me a knowing grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. I ignored him, my thoughts too tangled with the lingering weight of Diarmid’s presence and the unspoken connection between us.
Once we stepped inside, I gestured toward the couch. “Make yourself comfortable, Diarmid.”
Josh, always the theatrical one, clapped his hands together and announced, “I need some serious me time.” Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into his room with an exaggerated yawn, leaving me alone with Diarmid.
The door clicked shut, and suddenly, the apartment felt smaller—quieter—like the walls themselves were leaning in to watch.
Diarmid moved toward the couch, his gait effortlessly graceful, and sat down. The way he leaned back, one arm draped casually over the backrest, made him look like he belonged there, like he owned every room he walked into.
Meanwhile, I stood frozen in place, fiddling with the edge of my sweater, trying to figure out what to say. What do you even say to someone who looks like that? My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it.
“Would you like something to drink or eat?” I blurted, the words coming out in a rush.
Diarmid’s gaze shifted to me, his gray eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
“Water’s fine,” he said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to settle in my chest.
“Water. Right. Sure,” I stammered, nodding too quickly. Smooth, Arwen. Really smooth.
Turning on my heel, I nearly tripped over my own feet as I made my way to the kitchen. Grabbing a glass, I filled it with water, my hands shaking slightly. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. You’ve had dinner with him before. This isn’t new. Stop acting like a teenager with a crush.
When I returned, he was sitting forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together as if he was deep in thought.
“Here you go,” I said, holding out the glass.
He took it from me, his fingers brushing mine for the briefest moment. The contact sent a jolt of warmth through me, and I quickly pulled my hand back, hoping he didn’t notice the flush creeping up my neck.
“Thanks,” he murmured, taking a sip.
I sat down on the armchair across from him, curling my legs beneath me, trying to appear relaxed even though my nerves were in overdrive. The silence stretched between us, thick and charged.
“You seem… nervous,” Diarmid said finally, his tone teasing but gentle.
I laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Do I? I guess I am. I mean… you’re here, and it’s just us, and…” I trailed off, realizing how ridiculous I sounded. “You’re… intimidating,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
His brows lifted, a small smile curving his lips. “Intimidating? That’s not something I hear often.”
I gave him a look, rolling my eyes slightly. “Oh, come on. You walk into a room and everyone notices you. Don’t tell me you’re not aware of it.”
Diarmid chuckled, the sound rich and deep, like velvet brushing against skin. “Maybe. But I think you’re giving me too much credit, Arwen.”
“I’m not,” I muttered under my breath, though I wasn’t sure if he heard it.
He leaned back, his posture relaxed but still somehow commanding, like the space bent itself around him. His eyes softened, the cool gray warming as they settled on me. “If it helps, you don’t need to be nervous around me,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost tender.
I swallowed hard, my heart skipping a beat. “I’ll try,” I managed, offering him a small, hesitant smile.
Diarmid tilted his head slightly, studying me with an intensity that made the room feel warmer. “Good. Because I enjoy spending time with you, Arwen. I don’t want you to feel uneasy when we’re together.”
His words were so simple, yet they carried a weight that made my chest tighten.
“I… I enjoy spending time with you too,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
The corner of his mouth lifted into a smile—not his usual teasing smirk, but something softer, something real. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said, his gaze never leaving mine.
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward or tense. It was filled with something unspoken, something that hummed quietly between us like the first few notes of a song you knew would be beautiful.
Then, as if reading my thoughts, Diarmid leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, his expression turning serious. “You’re different, Arwen,” he said, his voice low, almost reverent.
My breath caught. “Different how?”
He hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “You make me feel… grounded. Like I don’t have to be anything other than myself when I’m around you.”
I blinked, stunned by the honesty in his voice, the vulnerability in his eyes.
“I think…” he started, then stopped, his jaw tightening briefly before he looked at me again. “I think meeting you was the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.”
The words settled over me like a warm blanket, wrapping around my heart and leaving me speechless.
“Diarmid…” I began, but the words caught in my throat. What could I possibly say to that?
He smiled softly, almost as if he understood. “You don’t have to say anything, Arwen. I just wanted you to know.”
And in that moment, as his gaze held mine, I felt a warmth that chased away every doubt, every fear. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel lost.