Adrian was in the chambers, his muscled arms moving rhythmically as he pushed his body off the floor, sweat dripping down his bare chest.

Each push-up was deliberate, and he concentrated solely on his movements. He had always found these periods of exertion to be meditative, a way to clear his mind after a long day of court politics back in Meridia.

The council meeting here in Zarpha had been long, and then his walk to and fro the post office. Lord Faolan's indirect jabs had been especially irritating, but right now, none of that mattered.

The faint sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, and though the door was still closed, Adrian knew exactly who was approaching. He smirked to himself, his instincts sharp as always.

Even though Lilith had left last, he wasn't surprised she was the first to return.

Sure enough, the door creaked open, and Lilith sauntered in, her lips curving into a sultry smile as her eyes swept over Adrian's topless form. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the view.

"Well, well," she purred, her voice laced with amusement. "Look at you, Adrian. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were putting on a show just for me."

Adrian chuckled, pushing himself off the ground and rising to his feet.

His body was shiny with sweat, and you could see every muscle—chest, biceps, triceps. His abs were tight and moving in the soft light of the room. He wiped his brow casually, catching Lilith's gaze as she slowly let her eyes wander over him.

"I had to do something while you were off charming the staff," Adrian teased, his lips twitching into a grin. "And besides, you know I don't need to put on a show to get your attention."

Lilith's eyes darkened with playful mischief as she approached him, her fingers lightly trailing over his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles. "Mmm," she hummed appreciatively, "Aside from the fact that we're bound to each other by a deal, you really are a perfect specimen of a man, Adrian."

Her fingers lingered on his abs, and she raised an eyebrow. "Tell me, do you enjoy knowing you have the body that could make any woman weak in the knees?"

Adrian chuckled, catching her hand before it could roam further. "I could say the same about you. How was your day, Lilith? I imagine you caused your fair share of trouble."

Lilith sighed dramatically, stepping back and tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Oh, you know me, darling. I live to stir the pot." She crossed the room and flopped onto the bed with an exaggerated stretch.

"Spent my day playing with the palace staff. Let's just say, by the time I was done, half the maids were blushing so hard they couldn't even look me in the eye." She grinned wickedly. "And no. None of them touched or pleasured me. I did enjoy watching them dance though.

"But I did learn something useful—there's an old maid here, Gerda, who's been around since before the queen took power. If anyone knows the king's secrets, it's her."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You planning to pay her a visit?"

"Of course," Lilith said casually as if she were talking about an afternoon tea. "A little charm and some... persuasion, and she'll be telling me everything I want to know."

Before Adrian could respond, the door to their chambers creaked open again, and Medea strode in, followed closely by Selene.

As usual, Medea's face was sharp, and her eyes were sparkling with satisfaction. Selene, on the other hand, looked more at ease, and her usual calm demeanour was clear as she walked into the room.

"Looks like we're all starting to gather," Adrian remarked, wiping the last of the sweat from his brow.

Medea smirked, her gaze flicking to Adrian's chest for a brief moment before focusing on Lilith. "I trust you didn't cause too much chaos in the palace, Lilith?"

Lilith grinned, rolling onto her side to face the newcomers. "Who, me? Just a little harmless fun."

Selene smiled softly, moving to sit on a nearby chair. "I spent my day in the fields," she said quietly, her voice calm and soothing as always. "It was... nice. It reminded me of home, the simplicity of working with the earth."

She paused, a slight blush rising to her cheeks. "And the women there... well, let's just say the fields of Zarpha are blessed with some of the finest curves I've ever seen."

Lilith's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Well, well, our little priestess has been admiring the locals. Don't tell me you've gone soft on us, Selene."

Selene smiled, unbothered by the teasing. "No, Lilith, just appreciating the divine beauty in all its forms. You of all people should understand that."

Adrian shook his head, amused by the dynamic between them. "And you, Medea?" he asked, turning his attention to the warrior goddess. "I'm guessing you didn't spend your day admiring curves in the fields."

Medea's smirk widened. "No, I spent my day at the barracks, showing the captain what real skill looks like." She crossed her arms, her tone filled with pride. "They needed a lesson in humility, and I was more than happy to deliver it. By the end of it, the general asked me to be co-captain."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Co-captain, huh? That didn't take long."

Medea shrugged, her eyes gleaming. "It helps when you're the best."

Just as the room fell into a comfortable rhythm of conversation, the door swung open once more, and Ava swept in, her arms laden with bags of goods. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and a triumphant grin stretched across her face.

"Guess who made a killing in profits today!" she announced, dropping the bags onto the floor with a dramatic flourish.

Lilith laughed, sitting up and crossing her legs beneath her. "Let me guess—you turned the marketplace upside down and left with a fortune."

Ava winked. "Something like that. I struck a deal with one of the merchants, and by the time I was done, he was begging me to take his money."

Lilith chuckled softly. "You've always had a way with business."

Ava beamed, clearly pleased with herself. "Well, it was fun, and now we have a bit more coin to our name. I thought we could use it to stock up on supplies or... you know, something more exciting."

Adrian glanced at the bags, then back at Ava. "I'm guessing 'something more exciting' means you already have plans for that money."

Ava grinned wickedly. "Maybe. But we'll get to that later. First, let's just enjoy the fact that we're all back here, safe and sound."

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