CHAPTER TWENTY

ALIRA'S POV

For the first time in days, the house didn’t feel like a grave.

Iris was here.

She dropped her small overnight bag near the doorway and spun around with a bright grin on her face.

“God, Alira, your place is so clean it looks like a furniture ad…. never gets old.”

I laughed softly.

“That’s because I never leave it.”

“Well, lucky for you,” she said, kicking off her shoes.

“You have a guest now and I brought snacks.”

We settled in quickly.

I warmed up some leftover pasta while she spread chips and cookies across the coffee table like we were teenagers again.

I watched her move around like she owned the space and It felt comforting..Familiar…and normal.

For a few seconds, I forgot about the message on my door, the nightmares, Liam, and even Alec.

I needed this.

After we both sat down in the living room with plates in hand, silence stretched for a bit, the kind where you know the real conversation hasn’t started yet.

I finally broke it.

“Iris... do you remember what happene