Eva sat nestled in the snow, stroking Kael's thick fur, her fingers weaving through the soft, warm layers. Gradually, she felt his heartbeat slow, returning to a normal rhythm. The wild, frantic pounding beneath his chest calmed under her touch.
As her fingers wandered through his warmth, a smile unconsciously formed on her face. She marveled at how soft it was, how the reddish-brown fur gleamed even in the dim light.
Seeing this, Kael let out a rumbling, amused growl that echoed directly in Eva's mind.
"Right now you look like you're petting a puppy, daughter of Rose."
Eva's eyes flew open, noticing the smile on her face. She immediately composed herself, shook it off. Her cheeks flushed pink.
"What? No, don't be ridiculous. I mean, I'm only..." she stammered, pulling her hand back s
