Tobias POV
A sharp knock jolted me from sleep. I blinked against the morning light spilling in through the narrow window and reached for my phone 7:30 a.m. Not exactly a lie-in, but I’d had worse.“Good morning, sir,” said a soft voice as the door creaked open. A young man entered, balancing a wooden tray. He offered a respectful bow before setting the tray on the bedside table and vanishing without another word.I sat up slowly, rubbing my face. The Priory’s idea of breakfast was humble porridge and black coffee, no sugar, no milk. The scent did nothing to improve my mood.But that wasn’t what bothered me.For the first time in a while, my night had been empty. No dreams. No clearing. No soft skin, warm laughter, or whispered questions. It was like she'd vanished completely from my subconscious.Was she okay?The last thing I remembered before sleep was her voice on the voicemail, tipsy and honest. She hadn’t wanted toLila’s POVThe corridor my room was in felt just like the others we’d wandered through, same smooth stone walls, same heavy wooden doors but this one was much shorter. Only four doors, two on each side, and one at the very end. I peeked inside each of the rooms and found them nearly identical simple beds, small writing desks, and neatly folded linens but the room at the end of the hall gave me pause.It wasn’t grand, just... quieter. A little larger, with a wide window that opened up to a view of the sea. Light poured across the stone floor, illuminating a deep soaking tub in the adjoining private bathroom. The thought of a hot bath tonight almost made me cry with gratitude. I left my bag on the desk and quietly shut the door behind me.When I returned, Tobi and Thefros were still standing in the hallway. Thefros gestured to a door down the adjacent corridor.“There’s a room just up here on the left,” he said. “It’s unoccupied. Tobias, you’re wel
Lila’s POVAs we moved deeper into the church, the grandeur began to fade, replaced by a humbler, more monastic style. The opulence of gilded altars and stained glass gave way to pale, seamless stone—walls, floors, and ceilings all the same soft grey, as if the entire corridor had been carved from a single mountain. Thick wooden doors were scattered down the hall, each one slightly different, all looking like they could groan if opened.Now and then, heads peeked out at us from behind doors, staring openly, mouths agape, eyes wide with curiosity. I suddenly felt like I was being paraded through an exhibit, as if I were some strange creature they'd never seen before.We kept walking, left, right, another turn until we reached the end of a long corridor. A final door stood before us, distinct from the others. While made of the same dark wood, it was overlaid with twisting wrought-iron vines, delicate and intricate. I found myself studying the craftsmanship in awe, fingers twitching to t
Lila’s POV“Where did you get this car?” I asked as Tobi unlocked a silver Volkswagen Golf.“This morning. I said I had errands to run,” he replied, loading our bags into the boot.“So… you bought a car this morning?” I blinked at him as I got in and buckled up.“I didn’t buy it—it’s a hire car,” he said, merging out of the underground parking.“What happened to the other car?” I asked hesitantly.“I gave it to Oscar and Henry. Thought they’d get more use out of it than we would.”“Oh…” I said, surprised. He’d just… given away a car? “I’m sorry.”“For what?” Tobi glanced at me, puzzled.“You had to get rid of your car. Because of me.”“That was my parents’ car, and trust me they won’t miss it,” Tobi said with a laugh. “They probably don’t even remember they own it.”“Seriously?”“They have properties and apartments all over the world. You know just in case,” he added with a smirk. “They don’t manage those details themselves. My father has an advisory team. They handle the small stuff
Lila’s POVWe woke early the next morning, partly because I was eager to get on the road to Mauros, but also because Tobi said he had a few errands to run first. I decided a shower was definitely in order.The bathroom caught me off guard, it was nothing like the rest of the apartment. The living space was all warm neutrals, solid wood furniture, and low lighting. But the bathroom? Modern, sleek, and bright. Floor-to-ceiling white subway tiles gleamed under crisp lighting, and the rainfall showerhead felt like something out of a luxury hotel.I turned the taps until the water reached the perfect temperature, then stepped in. It was divine. I stood there for a few moments, letting the warmth soak into my skin before finally reaching for Tobi’s body wash. It smelled like cedar and spice warm, masculine, undeniably him.As I lathered up and moved down my legs, I noticed something: the scabs from that awful day were peeling away, revealing fresh, unsc
Lila’s POVWaving goodbye to Moira as we stepped into the late afternoon light, I felt strangely content. Tobi carried both our bags in one hand, the other laced gently with mine, never letting go as we walked back to his apartment. We chatted easily the whole way small stories about life in Lenweil, the odd things we’d each gotten up to while apart, laughing at ourselves and at each other.As we passed the grocers near his front door, Tobi slowed down, eyeing the display of fresh produce and handmade items lining the window.“We should probably grab a few things,” he said, tilting his head toward the store. “There’s literally nothing at the apartment.”“We could always eat out tonight,” I suggested.“Definitely. But what about the morning?”“Okay, maybe just a few bits,” I said with a grin.What looked like a tiny corner shop from the outside turned out to be deceptively large. Three narrow aisles stretched deep into t
Tobi’s POVLocking the door behind us, I turned to find her sitting on the bed, legs crossed, watching me. She looked like something from a dream soft caramel curls, flushed cheeks, and those stormy grey eyes that always managed to undo me. I caught the faint blush rising across her skin, and the shift in her scent told me exactly what she was feeling.Flowers and honey.That sweet, addictive scent of hers wrapped around me, pulling at something deep and primal. I didn’t stand a chance.I crossed the room in two strides and gently pushed her back onto the bed, claiming her lips with mine. She tasted like heat and longing, better than anything I’d ever known. My self-control frayed with every second I touched her. I wanted to take it slow, but Lila had other ideas. Her arms locked around my neck, legs wrapped around my waist, holding me there with surprising strength.“We came up here to talk,” I murmured against her mouth, forcing myself