The smell of chappa sausage lingered in the kitchen, rich and savory, mingling with the warm sweetness of fresh bread. Lyra set down two plates at the table—eggs, sausage, and wedges of sweetbread still steaming—and took her seat across from Hassian.

He was already eating before she even picked up her fork, head bent over his plate like a man starved. She smiled faintly but leaned her cheek into her hand.

“We need to reclaim our lives,” she said.

Hassian glanced up briefly, then speared another bite of eggs.

“I mean it,” she went on. “You hardly hunt anymore. You don’t spend time at the guild shack. You don’t work in the forge with Sifuu. You never even go have a drink with her in the evenings anymore.”

He tore off a piece of sweetbread and kept chewing.

“I’m surprised Sifuu even likes me,” Lyra added, half-laughing. “I’ve taken her son away.”

That earned her the faintest smirk. “Pretty sure she willingly handed me over.”

Lyra snorted, then poked her fork into her eggs. “I rarely hunt anymore, either. My friends have about given up on me.”

“That’s not true,” he said. “They love you.”

“Maybe they do, but they don’t expect me anymore.” Her voice softened. “I don’t feel like part of the team anymore.”

Something in his expression shifted—just slightly—but enough for her to feel it. “You’re on my team,” he said quietly. “I’ll hunt with you anytime, baby.”

That made her smile. “I still get butterflies when I think about getting to hunt with Hassian.”

He leaned forward and caught her hand in his. “So how do we fix this?”

“We just need some routine and stability,” she said.

He nodded slowly. “Okay, I agree. But you and the gang are going to want to go hunt ogopuu.”

“Yeah, but I promise we’ll go back to our original agreement,” she assured him. “I’ll only go to De Mer Dock and Mauvis Way. I promise I’ll stay away from the deep woods.”

“And I appreciate that,” he said, “but you’ll have to go to the central stables. And since the old witch has set up shop there, you’re going to encounter her.”

“I’ll ignore her. Won’t even glance in her direction. I don’t think she’ll bother me if I’m with people.”

Hassian leaned back in his chair, exhaling a long breath. His eyes went distant for a moment before focusing back on her. “Baby, it’s not you… I don’t trust her. What would you say to us all going over a couple days a week?I swear, I’m not trying to smother you, I just want to keep you safe.”

“You’re not smothering me,” Lyra said softly. “And you know we love it when you come with us. I just don’t want to pull you away from your stuff for mine. Plus I feel like we bore you, ’cause you just sit around unless you have to save us.”

“You’re not taking me away from anything,” he said firmly. “I have the rest of the week for my stuff. And if you’d rather, I’ll hunt with you. I’ll even save a puu or two for y’all.” His gaze softened. “Baby, I know what it’s like when that witch gets in your head, and she’s done enough damage to you. I can’t give her the chance to do more.”

She just looked at him for a long while. “The rest of the week you’ll do your stuff?”

“Yes,” he said. “And if you want, you can come hunt with me in Bahari when I go. I’ll teach you my secret route—no one knows it.”

“Okay,” she said, smiling. “We’ll see how it goes.”

“Okay, partner. My hunting partner, my life partner… my bedroom partner—that’s my personal favorite.”

She laughed, and before she could say anything, Hassian was already standing, tugging her gently from her chair and into his arms. His kiss was warm, unhurried, the kind that promised more than just words could.

Cleaning Out the Cobwebs

The rest of the morning slipped into rhythm. Lyra took on the house and conservatory, dusting, sweeping, and mopping until every corner gleamed and the air smelled faintly of lemon oil and fresh soap. Books were straightened, blankets folded, windows opened to let in the crisp, clean air.

Outside, Hassian wrestled with the garden. He cleared the rows, tugged up stubborn weeds, and turned the soil with slow, deliberate care. By the time he was done, the patch of earth was ready to welcome new life. Together, they knelt in the dirt and planted potatoes and carrots—Hassian’s favorites—then added tomatoes and corn to the smaller rows. It wasn’t a huge garden, but it would be enough.

When the last mound was patted into place, they retreated to the shade of the conservatory’s awning with chilled water and slices of fruit. Tau sprawled beside them, panting happily after chasing butterflies.

Lyra leaned against Hassian’s shoulder, a sheen of sweat at her temples but a glow of satisfaction in her eyes. “I feel better,” she murmured. “Like we actually did something today.”

Hassian pressed a kiss to her hair. “Feels good to take care of things. Accomplished.”

She tilted her head toward him, lips curving. “Speaking of taking care of things… honeymoon. Are we having one?”

His brow arched. “Of course we are. Let me plan it.”

Her smile widened. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

Lyra laughed, swatting his arm lightly. “But we don’t have secrets.”

“We do about this,” he said, smirking.

She narrowed her eyes at him, mock serious. “How will I know what to pack?”

“Easy,” Hassian said, his voice dipping low. “Just pack that pink nightie… and you won’t need anything else.”

Her laughter rang out bright in the afternoon air, and the moment felt exactly as it should—light, teasing, theirs.

Lyra stretched, letting the warm breeze wash over her. “So, about tomorrow…” she began, eyes glinting. “I was thinking… Bahari?”

Hassian lifted a brow, glancing at her with a quiet grin. “You want to go out there? My secret route?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yes! We can’t waste a day at home when there’s adventure waiting.”

He chuckled, shaking his head, but there was a sparkle in his eyes. “Alright, partner. I’ll lead the way. You ready to see the spots no one else knows?”

“Always,” Lyra said, linking her fingers with his. “Just don’t leave me behind.”

“Never,” he murmured, drawing her close. “Tomorrow, we reclaim the wild. You, me, Tau and Kaja.”

The four of them settled back against the cool shade, the garden freshly tilled behind them, hearts light and plans already forming for the next day’s hunt. The day had been simple, yet perfect: cleaning, planting, laughing, and sharing quiet moments that reminded them just how much they belonged together.

Raising a Glass

The Ormuu’s Horn was buzzing softly when they stepped inside, the low amber light of lanterns spilling over polished wood tables and the murmur of voices. Ashura was behind the counter, wiping down mugs, and his face lit when he saw them. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite pair of hermits,” he called, spreading his arms wide. “Back among the living?”

Lyra laughed as Hassian grunted in amusement. “We thought we’d give it a try.”

“About time,” Sifuu said from a corner table, lifting her drink. Her eyes were sharp with humor. “I was starting to think I’d have to drag my son out by his ear.”

“That’s how you raised me,” Hassian replied dryly as he pulled out a chair for Lyra. “Didn’t work then, won’t work now.”

Sifuu’s lips twitched. “Worked well enough when you were smaller.”

At the next table over, Rex leaned back in his chair with a grin. “About time, lovebirds! I was beginning to think you’d forgotten how to socialize.”

“We didn’t forget,” Lyra said, smiling. “We just… reprioritized.”

Kenyata rolled her eyes where she sat beside him. “Yeah, they reprioritized each other. And now this—” she waved a hand vaguely around the tavern—“is their big, glamorous night out.” She smirked. “Killima’s got nothing on the excitement of Bahari Ciy, I tell you.”

“You don’t complain when I bring you here,” Rex said, bumping her shoulder.

“That’s because you’re the only thing worth looking at,” she shot back, though the corner of her mouth curved despite herself.

Subira, perched primly on a stool with a glass of water, sniffed. “Some of us enjoy a quiet evening without all the noise.” Her gaze slid toward Lyra and Hassian. “Though it’s nice to see you’ve finally decided to rejoin the community.”

Lyra smiled pleasantly, ignoring the barb. “We’ve been busy.”

“Busy nesting,” Rex said with a wink.

Hassian fixed him with a flat look, which only made Rex grin wider.

Ashura appeared then, setting down mugs for the table. “On the house. It’s good to see everyone gathered.” His tone was warm, like a man truly happy for their company.

Lyra wrapped her fingers around the mug, the amber liquid glowing in the light. She leaned toward Kenyata. “I finished that book you loaned me—the one with the missing merchant. The ending floored me.”

Kenyata brightened immediately. “Right? That twist! I knew the apprentice was shady from the start.”

“Finally, someone I don’t have to beg to talk about books with,” Lyra said, laughing.

Rex groaned good-naturedly. “And here I thought I was your entertainment.”

“You are,” Kenyata said sweetly. “Just not in the intellectual sense.”

That earned a round of laughter, even from Sifuu.

For a while, the conversation flowed easy—banter, teasing, small-town stories. Hassian didn’t speak much, but Lyra caught him more than once with the faintest smile tugging at his mouth, watching her.

When the evening grew late, Lyra stood and stretched. “We should head home.”

Sifuu tipped her glass toward them. “Don’t vanish again.”

“No promises,” Hassian said, as his hand slipped easily into Lyra’s as they moved toward the door.

The night air outside was cool and fresh. They shared a quiet look, unspoken but clear: they were back.

Private Time

When they returned home from the Tavern, Lyra was in an unusually good mood, a brightness in her eyes that made Hassian’s heart lift with hope—maybe things were truly getting better for her. They took a quick shower, the warm water washing away the day, and retreated to the conservatory. Both wore nothing but their bathrobes, the damp fabric clinging to their skin, leaving just enough hint of the heat beneath.

Lyra opened a dresser drawer, searching for a sleep shirt, but before she could slip one on, Hassian slipped up behind her. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, while his other hand lifted her hair. Soft, lingering kisses trailed from her shoulder to the sensitive nape of her neck. She shivered against him, warm and wanting. His voice dropped to a husky whisper in her ear, “I know we’ve been making love a lot, but I just can’t keep my hands off you.”

Lyra’s lips curved into a teasing smile. “Hmm, maybe you should learn,” she replied, turning around to meet his mouth in a deep, hungry kiss. Their tongues tangled together, the world narrowing until only the two of them remained.

She led him toward the bed, then stopped to unfasten her robe, letting it fall softly to the floor. Hassian reached for her, but she caught both his hands in hers and shook her head. “No, no,” she smiled mischievously, “you have to learn to keep your hands off… until you’re told otherwise.”

She switched off the bedside lamp, bathing the space in silvery glow.The only light in the room came from the moons and stars pouring through the windows and glass ceiling. Lyra laid back on the bed, running her hands slowly over her own body, tracing from the swell of her breasts down to her thighs, savoring every curve.

Hassian said nothing. His own robe slipped to the floor as he sat near the foot of the bed, watching her every move.

She turned onto her stomach, one hand drifting to that secret spot that, when touched just right, made her hips grind and soft moans slip from her lips. Hassian’s breath quickened; his heart pounded fiercely as he felt his own hardness.

Rolling back onto her back, Lyra propped herself on one elbow, her other hand resuming its delicate ministrations. Her eyes locked with his as she spoke breathlessly, “You know what it’s like when you’re out in the forest—watching your prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike?”

“Yes,” Hassian whispered, his voice rough, never breaking eye contact.

“This is that moment,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I want you inside me now, please, hunter.”

With that, Hassian moved between her legs, knees settling on the bed as his hands gripped her hips and slowly slid inside her. Each movement was deliberate, filling her inch by inch, fighting the urge to lose control.

Lyra’s moans grew louder, her fingers racing at fever pitch.

“Hassian,” she called, her voice full of need, “harder, baby.”

He responded by clutching her hips tighter and increasing his pace. “Lyra, you feel so good, baby—so tight, so hot.”

Her body trembled with release, shuddering against him as she gasped and moaned, calling his name again and again. Hassian felt her muscles tighten around him, contracting with growing intensity. Leaning forward, he covered her body with his own, one hand steadying himself while the other grabbed her thigh, pulling her leg up around him. His lips roamed—kissing her ears, neck, shoulders—wherever they could find skin to claim.

“Do you like that?” he asked, voice low and breathless.

“Yes, just like that,” she answered, their bodies moving together in a steady rhythm.

“Is it good?” she asked, searching his face.

“Woman, you drive me absolutely wild,” he confessed, speed quickening as he neared his own limit. He pressed his head into her neck, gasping, “Lyra,” the only word he could manage as waves of sensation overtook him.

Afterwards, he rolled onto his back, pulling her gently on top of him. Both lay panting, clutching each other, desperate not to lose the connection they had just sealed.

As his breathing steadied, he whispered, “Next time you tell me not to touch, I promise I won’t.”

The night settled around them in hushed silver. Lyra curled into his side, her cheek over his heart, listening to the slow, steady thud that had become her favorite sound. Hassian’s arm held her close, his thumb tracing small, absent circles against her spine.

He bent to kiss her hair, the faint scent of her bath clinging to her skin. “You’re here,” he whispered, the words carrying a weight only she could understand.

A sleepy hum rose from her throat. “I’m not going anywhere.”

His eyes closed, not in exhaustion but in relief. She was warm in his arms, the steady pull of her breathing tugging him toward rest. Outside, the stars burned bright — guardians watching over them both.