Beneath the Veil of Shadows

Chapter 19

The morning sun filtered through the windows of Sapphire's room. As she slowly woke, she felt a moment of confusion. The soft sheets of her bed enveloped her, a stark contrast to the cool, leather couch in the library where she had fallen asleep. Memories of the previous night rushed back-Elias's presence beside her, the weight of his gaze, the tension in the air. Had he carried her to her room? The thought sent a flutter through her chest, her heart quickening at the possibility. She shook her head, trying to dispel the warmth creeping into her cheeks.

Sapphire sat up, glancing around the room. After taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, the cool floorboards sending a shiver up her spine. She padded softly to the bathroom, splashing her face with cool water to wash away the remnants of sleep. Looking into the mirror, she took a deep breath, trying to shake off the butterflies that seemed to flutter in her stomach.

Deciding on a simple outfit, she opted for a soft, satin, mint green blouse paired with tailored white trousers. As she dressed, she couldn't help but feel a little thrill of excitement at the thought of seeing Elias again, even if it was just in passing. After brushing her hair, she pulled it into a loose bun, letting a few strands fall delicately around her face. A light swipe of lip gloss completed her look, and she felt ready to face the day.

When she stepped into the dining room, she was greeted by the sight of Logan already seated at the large, polished table. He was munching on a piece of toast, casually scrolling through his phone with one hand while the other held a cup of coffee. The air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, mingling with the sweet scent of pastries laid out on a decorative platter.

"Morning, Sunshine," Logan said, glancing up with a teasing smile as she entered. "Nice of you to join me. I was starting to think I would have to eat all this delicious food by myself."

Sapphire rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a smile. "And what a tragedy that would be. I wouldn't want you to suffer through such a difficult dilemma alone."

Logan chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. "You are lucky I am so selfless. Maybe I should charge you for my generosity."

She walked over to the table, pouring herself a cup of coffee and selecting a warm croissant. "I still can't wrap my head around how you have so much free time, Logan. Shouldn't you be out actually running your business instead of playing my glorified bodyguard?"

Logan smirked, glancing up from his phone. "I would argue that entertaining you with my charming presence is the most productive thing I could be doing."

"Charming?" Sapphire scoffed. "More like... mildly tolerable, at best."

"Aw, come on. Admit it, Sapphire, you would miss me if I wasn't around."

Sapphire rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a grin. "Please, I would throw a party."

"Yeah, sure. You would be crying into your pillow within a day."

She was about to retort when the sound of footsteps made them both fall silent. Sapphire's eyes darted toward the hallway as Elias entered the room, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene.

The room fell quiet, the playful atmosphere between Sapphire and Logan dissipating under the weight of Elias's presence. His tall, commanding figure had a way of doing that-making everything feel smaller, more serious. Sapphire straightened in her chair instinctively, feeling the tension in the air shift.

Elias didn't say anything at first, his dark eyes flicking between them before he settled on Sapphire. She felt the intensity of his gaze, as if he was silently questioning what she and Logan had been talking about, even though he hadn't heard a word.