The cabin air felt less like "cold" and more like the atmosphere had quietly lowered its oxygen subscription plan. But then Zarius moved, and suddenly the whole frozen, empty feeling disappeared.
He didn't just reach for Cherion, he completely swallowed him up in one movement. It felt less like a hug and more like the dramatic final scene of a slow-burn romance that had dragged everyone through emotional torture for Gods know how long. Zarius's arms locked around him like steel bars, hauling Cherion clean off the ground until his feet were basically decoration.
Then came the kiss.
This was not one of those soft, poetic kisses people write about in flowery love letters. It was messy. Desperate. Slightly catastrophic. Teeth bumped. Someone's lip got caught. Tongues collided like they were in a fight for survival. The warmth crashed into him without warning, sudden enough to wipe every coherent thought straight out of his head.
