n's room, a mischievous gri

asked, handing him a

eyebrow, grateful fo

nks,

e of his bed, surveying th

ip, huh? Sou

dded, sippin

We're uncovering som

eyes s

I com

expression

your subject. Focus

y po

fair. I'm

n's tone

r research purposes only. B

grin r

hat's th

ian ch

ve. Not t

ghed, st

promise me

at?" Sebas

ck juicy

tian

ea

his notes, his mind returning to Adeli

ard, his thesis taking shape. But his foc

bbled note beside him-

Sebastian's hand re

rs, his heart beati

ng once, twi

e's voice is so

s smile sp

ine. It's

then her wa

stian. Wh

k in his chair, feel

my thesis befor

s voice

ng to contain

ian ch

the fe

lessly, discussing everything fr

n realized he didn't wan

Adel

es

ard to seeing

esponse was

o, Seb

ent, but Sebastia

, feeling

just got a whole

gers, her hand lingering on the scre

er chest, Sebastian's voice

ut smile, replaying

st in her thoughts, his

kipped a beat. Sh

hile, she didn't feel suffocat

th of fresh air, a reminder

itcase, Adeline's packin

uldn't come

together, exploring ancient

vering secrets b

r thoughts wandering to the

too much into th

astian fee

snapping Adeline

for tomorrow. Dad's still hes

rged. Her brother's su

deline finished packing, her

inning of an adventure-

his chair, his phone st

echoed in his mind,

ling that their conversat

olleagues to...

r shared interests, the way Adeline's

r smile, radia

rgot about the trip, the

saw was

e, her passion,

faster, his mind raci

o open up, to

ered, scars hidden

, her gentle probing

he tru

o the books surrounding hi

used to return to th

d a part of him he

ed he was looking forward to the

lore the connect

rets beyond th

r bond could transc

is pocket, his hand still feelin

uldn't come

t a golden glow over the

r. Lee, sipping coffee a

r bright smile illu

, dropping her bag

e?" Sebastian asked

ed, her pony

leared hi

. Let's review

nearby, gave Adelin

r schedule, Sebastian's

spark of excitement

trip had offi

spirits high, the team set

on: the ancient

history and my

ebastian felt a thr

or uncover

journey alon

e, carrying the resear

her seat, Sebastian s

d, sending a flutter t

ian asked, his vo

ed, her pony

dig into Ashw

iled, his ey

heard the ruin

sly, discussing everything from his

ng roads, Adeline's laught

, smiled, pleased with