Aqua closed the door slowly, letting the latch click into place. The house felt too quiet without Kieran’s presence — like the warmth he carried with him had slipped out into the forest along with him.
She pressed her palm to her chest, willing her heartbeat to settle.
“Get a grip,” she muttered. “He’s your friend. Your friend.”
Her stomach fluttered anyway.
She turned away from the door and headed toward the stairs, ready to check on Aries and maybe start sketching the wetsuit measurements she’d need. But halfway up, she paused.
A faint sound drifted from the second floor.
Not crashing. Not snarling. Not the chaos she’d grown used to.
Just… humming.
Aqua blinked.
Aries was humming.
She crept up the remaining steps and peeked around the corner. The guestroom door was open, and Ar
