When I wake again, the room is still and dim, the air thick with the quiet hum of something unspoken. My body feels heavy but not in a bad way—more like the weight of everything that's happened is settling over me, wrapping around me like a blanket. I'm still in Dante's arms, his warmth grounding me in a way that makes it hard to think about anything else.

I blink, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, but as the fog in my mind lifts, I'm immediately aware of the lingering tension in my body. It's not the kind of tension that comes from fear or exhaustion, though. It's something else. Something deeper.

The memory of Nikolai's kiss flashes in my mind—the softness of it, the unexpected tenderness that came with it. But even more than that, I remember the way I'd felt watching him with Lila and Dante. I had been confused and shocked. I'd been... drawn in. And now, that same heat that had stirred in me before is back, simmering just beneath the surface.

I shift slightly in Dante's arms, my breath catching as I realize just how close I am to him. His hands rest on my waist, his touch light but firm, and I can feel the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath me. The warmth of his body seeps into mine, making it hard to think clearly, and for a moment, all I can focus on is how much I want to close the gap between us.

My heart skips a beat, and I try to push the thought away, but it's no use. The pull toward him is undeniable, and the longer I lie here, the stronger it gets. I want to kiss him. I want to feel that connection again, the one that had sparked when Nikolai kissed me, but this time with Dante. It's more than just desire—it's the bond we've formed, the way our lives have become so intertwined. It's like I can feel everything, the weight of our connection pressing against me, urging me forward.

But it's not just Dante. As my eyes flick toward the other side of the room, I see Lila, still sitting by the window, her posture relaxed but alert. The soft neon light from the outside casts a gentle glow on her face, and there's something about her that draws me in just as much as Dante. Her calm strength, her quiet compassion—it pulls at me, making me want to reach out, to feel that same connection with her.

I take a slow breath, trying to steady myself, but my thoughts are swirling in a way I can't control. The tension between us all is palpable, and I can feel the heat rising in me again, that same unfamiliar warmth that I've been trying to ignore. But it's harder now. It's harder because I don't just want Dante. I want Lila too.

Suddenly, Lila shifts in her seat and glances at me, her expression soft but a little more serious than usual. She stands and walks over to the bed, sitting beside me and resting a gentle hand on my arm. Her gaze is focused, like she's weighing something carefully.

"Olivia," she begins quietly, her voice soft but firm, "there's something you should know... about me."

I blink, momentarily distracted from my racing thoughts, and sit up a little straighter. "What is it?"

Lila hesitates for a moment, then glances at Dante before looking back at me. "I can... read minds," she says, her voice steady but cautious. "It's something I've been able to do for a long time. I don't use it unless I need to, but... I thought it was only fair to tell you now, especially since... well..."

My heart stops. I stare at her, the words taking a moment to fully sink in.

Lila can read minds.

That means... oh, god. That means she knows. She knows exactly what I've been thinking. She knows I want to kiss Dante.

She knows I want to kiss her.

My face flushes hot with embarrassment, and I can feel my pulse quicken as the realization hits me like a wave. My thoughts—every single one of them—have been laid bare for her to see. And the worst part is, she's been so calm, so composed this entire time. I want to disappear into the bed, melt into nothingness, anything to escape this mortifying situation.

"Oh my god," I blurt out, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "You... you've known what I've been thinking this whole time?"

Lila gives me a small, understanding smile, her hand still resting gently on my arm. "Only recently," she says softly. "I don't intrude unless it's necessary, but... your thoughts are pretty loud, Olivia."

I groan, covering my face with my hands. "I can't believe this."

Dante chuckles softly behind me, his arms tightening slightly around my waist. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about," he says gently, his voice laced with amusement but also warmth. "Lila only told you because she didn't want to keep anything from you. She respects your privacy."

I peek through my fingers, my face still burning. "But you... you know what I've been thinking."

Lila nods, her smile softening. "Yes, Olivia. I know."

I shake my head, trying to bury my embarrassment, but it's no use. I feel like I've been completely exposed. My desires, my confusion—everything I've been struggling with is now out in the open, and I don't know how to handle it.

"I'm so sorry," I mumble, my voice muffled by my hands. "I didn't mean to... I mean, I didn't want to make things awkward or... or..."

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Lila's fingers gently brush against mine, coaxing me to lower my hands. When I do, I find her smiling at me with a kindness that makes my embarrassment soften just a little. "Olivia, it's okay," she says softly. "I understand how you feel. And there's nothing to be ashamed of. The bond we share, it's not something you can control. It's natural to feel drawn to us. We feel it too."

Her words are a balm to my frazzled nerves, and for the first time since she told me about her ability, I manage to take a steady breath. "You do?"

Dante speaks then, his voice low and soothing. "Of course we do. The connection we share isn't something to be afraid of."

I glance between them, my embarrassment slowly giving way to something warmer, something more comforting. They're not upset. They're not judging me. They understand.

But I still can't shake the nerves swirling inside me, the weight of what I'd been feeling before Lila dropped the mind-reading bombshell. "So... what now?" I ask, my voice still shaky but calmer than before.

Lila's smile deepens, and she squeezes my hand gently. "Now, you can stop worrying so much about what we know. If you want to explore this connection, we're here for you. No pressure. No expectations. Just... trust."

I take a deep breath, glancing at Dante and then back at Lila. The warmth of their presence, the understanding in their eyes—it's enough to melt the last of my fear.

Slowly, tentatively, I lean toward Lila, my heart pounding in my chest. She doesn't move, doesn't push or pull, just lets me come to her at my own pace. And when our lips finally meet, it's soft and gentle, like the beginning of something I've been waiting for, something I didn't know I needed until now.

The kiss lingers for a moment, and when I pull back, my breath is shaky, my pulse racing. Lila smiles softly, her hand still resting on my arm, a quiet reassurance.

I glance at Dante, who's watching us with a look that's both protective and understanding. There's no jealousy, no tension—just an acceptance that fills the space between us.

I lean toward him next, and when our lips meet, it's different. There's a quiet intensity, a deeper connection that's been building from the very start. His hand moves to cup the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and I feel that same spark again, the one that had been simmering inside me all along.

When I finally pull back, I'm breathless, my heart pounding, but I feel lighter, more at peace with the weight of everything. This connection between us—it's real. It's more than just physical attraction. It's the bond we share, the trust we've built, the way our lives have intertwined.

And maybe I'm ready to embrace it.

- - - - - - -

When I wake again, the room is quiet, save for the soft murmur of voices nearby. The warmth of Dante's arms is still wrapped around me, grounding me in the moment. My mind feels clearer now, but that doesn't stop the strange, simmering tension that lingers inside me. The memories of earlier flash through my mind—Nikolai's kiss, the way I feel drawn to Dante and Lila—and a familiar heat creeps back into my body.

I stir slightly, blinking against the dim light, and the quiet hum of the room settles over me like a blanket. Dante's steady presence behind me is comforting, but I can still feel the confusion swirling in my chest, like I'm on the edge of something I don't quite understand. I don't know what this is between the four of us, but I can't deny how deeply connected I feel to each of them.

I shift in Dante's lap, my movements catching his attention as his arms tighten gently around me. "You're awake," he murmurs, his voice low and warm, that familiar rumble sending a shiver down my spine.

"Yeah," I breathe out, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. But as I sit up slightly, I'm met with a pair of familiar mischievous eyes—Nikolai. He's sitting closer to the edge of the bed now, leaning casually but with that signature intensity behind his gaze. His presence alone is enough to make my pulse quicken, and I suddenly become very aware of how close we all are.

"You sleep too much, sweetheart," Nikolai teases, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. The touch is light, playful, but it sends warmth curling through me all the same.

I give him a small smile, trying to ignore the way his fingers linger against my cheek. "Maybe because I'm trying to avoid your teasing," I shoot back, though my voice lacks its usual edge.

Nikolai's grin widens, clearly enjoying my flustered state. "Can't avoid me forever," he murmurs, his hand now resting on my shoulder, his thumb brushing lightly against the fabric of my shirt.

I swallow, trying to focus on his words, but my mind is still spinning with the events of earlier. The kiss. The connection. The way I feel drawn not just to Nikolai, but to Dante and Lila, too. I can't shake it, and I don't know what to do with it.

Lila, as if sensing my turmoil, stands up from where she's been sitting by the window. She moves gracefully to the bed, sitting beside me with that quiet, calm energy she always seems to have. Her presence soothes me, even as the warmth inside me flares again at her closeness.

Her hand rests lightly on my arm, and I can't help but glance at her. She's watching me with those understanding eyes, the ones that make me feel like she sees right through me. And maybe she does—she can read my thoughts after all. I flush, remembering that she already knows about my growing desire for her and for Dante.

"Olivia," Lila says softly, her voice gentle. "I know this is all confusing for you."

That's an understatement. I feel like I'm caught in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to figure out what any of it means. What is happening between us? Is it just the bond we share, or is it something deeper? Something more?

Nikolai, ever the one to lighten the mood, chuckles softly, his hand sliding down to my waist in a way that feels both casual and deliberate. "You think too much," he says, his voice teasing but affectionate. "Just let yourself feel it."

I want to laugh, to push back against his playful words, but the truth is, I don't know how to stop thinking. My mind is racing with a thousand questions—questions I don't have answers to. I don't know what this connection is between us, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do with the feelings that keep pulling at me.

I glance at Lila again, my gaze lingering on her calm expression, and the pull toward her grows stronger. It's not just attraction. It's more than that. It's the quiet strength she exudes, the way she seems to ground me even in my most chaotic moments. I want to reach out to her, to touch her, to feel the same connection I felt earlier when we kissed. The thought makes my heart race.

But then there's Dante. His steady presence behind me, his arms still wrapped protectively around me—it makes me feel safe in a way I hadn't expected. I want him too. I want to feel that intensity again, the one that sparked when we kissed. And yet, I can't seem to figure out how to handle all of it at once. How can I want all three of them this way?

I shift in Dante's arms, trying to gather my thoughts, but it's no use. Nikolai's touch on my waist is grounding me just as much as it's setting me on fire, and Lila's soft gaze is drawing me in, making me want to close the gap between us.

"I don't know what's happening," I admit softly, my voice shaky. "Between all of us."

Lila's hand tightens gently on my arm, and she smiles at me in that knowing way, as if she understands exactly what I'm feeling. "It's okay, Olivia. You don't have to figure it all out right now."

Nikolai's grin softens, and he leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Just go with it, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice low. "Let yourself feel what you're feeling."

His words send a shiver down my spine, and I bite my lip, unsure of what to say. It's like my body and mind are at war with each other—one wanting to pull back, the other wanting to dive in headfirst.

But then I glance at Lila again, and I can't deny it anymore. I want her. I want to reach out and feel that connection with her, just as much as I want Nikolai's touch and Dante's steady hold. It isn't just physical desire—it's more than that. It's the bond between us, the way our lives have become so tangled together that I can't separate one from the other.

Slowly, tentatively, I reach for Lila, my heart racing as I close the distance between us. She doesn't move, doesn't push or pull, just watches me with those calm, understanding eyes. When our hands finally touch, a quiet spark shoots through me, like the bond between us is coming to life again.

Lila smiles softly, her hand gently squeezing mine. "You don't have to rush anything," she says quietly. "We're here to protect you, no matter what."

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. I don't know what to say, but I know one thing for certain: I'm not alone in this. Whatever is happening between us, whatever this bond means, I'm not in it alone.

And for now, that's enough.