The warmth between them lingered, soaked into the sheets and the air and their bones.
Eden rested her head on his chest, her fingers lazily drawing patterns across his skin. His heartbeat was steady now, no longer wild and racing like it had been when they were tangled in shadows and fire.
But peace didn't last forever.
Not for people like them.
Her phone buzzed on the floor.
Once. Then twice. Then, a flood.
She ignored it.
Hunter didn't.
"Someone's desperate to reach you," he muttered, lifting slightly on one elbow to glance over.
Eden sighed. "It's probably nothing."
He leaned over her, grabbed the phone, and handed it to her. "Check it anyway."
She hesitated — then unlocked the screen.
Her stomach dropped.
LIAM: You disappeared.
LIAM: You promised you'd be here.
LIAM: Why is your location turned off?
She sat up too fast. The sheet slipped from her chest, but she didn't notice.
Hunter did.
His jaw clenched.
"You were supposed to meet him tonight?"
"I… I told him I'd stop by. I didn't mean—"
She ran a hand through her hair. "I forgot, okay?"
Hunter stared at her for a long moment, then stood.
"Forgot." His voice was quiet, sharp.
"It wasn't like that."
He paced once. Twice. Then, he turned to her.
"Do you still love him?"
The question hit harder than she expected.
"No," she said, too quickly.
He narrowed his eyes. "Then why lie?"
"I didn't lie."
"You said you were mine."
"I am!"
"Then prove it."
She stood too, the tension between them rising faster than either of them could stop.
"I came here, didn't I? I gave myself to you."
Hunter stepped forward, voice low and dangerous. "Then don't run when things get messy. Don't make me feel like I'm your secret."
"You're not a secret."
"Then why are you hiding me?"
She flinched.
He cursed under his breath and looked away.
The room felt smaller now.
Colder.
"I'm not used to this," she whispered. "Feeling this much. Needing someone this badly."
"I don't need to be needed," he muttered. "I need to be chosen."
"I did choose you."
"Then stop acting like you're waiting to be rescued by someone else."
The words sliced deep.
Eden turned, wrapping the sheet tighter around herself as she sat back on the edge of the bed. "You don't know what it's like. To be in the middle of two worlds. To be torn between what feels right… and what's safe."
"I'm not safe," he said bitterly.
"No. But you're real. And that terrifies me more than anything."
A long silence.
Then, softer this time, he walked over and knelt in front of her.
His fingers gently touched her ankle, then slid up to her calf.
"I don't want to fight with you."
"Me either."
"But I can't lose you before I've even really had you."
She looked down at him. "You already have me, Hunter."
"Then don't go to him."
Her eyes flicked to the phone again.
One new message:
LIAM: I'm outside your house.
Hunter saw it, too.
His expression changed.
Dangerous again.
"Get dressed."
"What?"
"I'm taking you home."
"But—"
"You're not facing him alone. Not after tonight."
He stood, already pulling on his clothes. "Let him see your lips swollen. Let him see what I did to your neck. Let him feel what it means to lose you."
Eden swallowed.
It was reckless.
Wild.
Wrong.
But she didn't stop him.
She got dressed.
---
Outside – Her Driveway
Liam stood leaning against his car, arms crossed.
His face lit up when Eden stepped out — until he saw Hunter behind her, holding her hand.
His expression darkened immediately.
"What the hell is this?"
Eden didn't speak.
Hunter did.
"She's not yours anymore."
"You think one night changes that?"
Hunter stepped forward, eyes glinting. "I think she does."
Liam's jaw clenched.
Eden's heart pounded like a war drum in her chest.
"Enough," she finally said, stepping between them. "I'm not a prize. I'm not a toy. And I'm not someone either of you gets to claim like property."
Hunter didn't move.
Liam exhaled sharply.
"Then choose," Liam said.
Her eyes darted between them. Her past. Her future.
Finally, she looked at Hunter.
"I already did."