CHAPTER 350: IT’S A DATE [5]

Brandon and Charlotte stepped into the lobby of the hotel and glanced at the reception desk.

A chandelier hung overhead, its crystals catching the light and casting soft prisms across the walls.

The rain’s gentle patter was muffled here, replaced by the soft hum of classical music playing in the background.

They approached the reception desk, where a polite concierge in a crisp suit greeted them with a warm smile. "Good evening. Welcome to Auberge Lumière. How can I assist you?"

With a nod, Brandon spoke "We’d like to book a room for the night."

The concierge nodded and tapped at a sleek tablet. "We have a deluxe suite available," he said, glancing up with a smile.

"It’s on the top floor, with a view of the city and a private balcony. King-sized bed, en-suite bathroom, and a small sitting area. Perfect for a cozy night in."

Brandon gave a soft nod "Sure, sounds good."

The concierge nodded, processing their request "Excellent choice," he said, handing them a keycard with a gold embossed logo.

"Room 504. The elevator is to your left, and please let us know if you need anything... room service, extra towels, anything at all."

Brandon took the keycard, and both of them headed to the elevator.

The ride to the fifth floor was brief, and they quickly entered the deluxe suite.

The door opened to a spacious room with warm, hardwood floors, a plush king-sized bed, and a small sitting area with a velvet sofa facing a floor-to-ceiling window.

The private balcony beyond showed a view of the city’s lights, now softened by the lingering mist.

Charlotte draped her cloak over the sofa’s arm and glanced at the window, seeing the city’s glow. "This is nice." she muttered, trailing her fingers along the glass.

He smiled, kicking off his damp shoes and plopping onto the couch "We should change our clothes first..."

She crossed to the bed, sitting on its edge and kicking off her own heels "I will take the bathroom to change."

Brandon gave a nod and she stood up, going to the bathroom.

He wasted no time, quickly taking off his damp shirt and pants, the fabric clinging stubbornly to his skin.

From his own storage ring, he pulled out a pair of soft gray sweatpants and changed swiftly, tossing his wet clothes into a neat pile by the sofa, and ran a hand through his hair, shaking off the last of the rain’s chill.

---

A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Charlotte stepped out.

She had changed into a fitted black tank top and soft black sweatpants.

Her hair was loose, still slightly damp but brushed back, and her cheeks held a faint flush.

She paused in the doorway, and her gaze softened as she saw Brandon lounging on the sofa.

He was already on the room’s phone, talking to the room service "Yeah, sounds good."

He glanced at Charlotte, "Hey, big sister, do you want the pasta primavera?"

Charlotte nodded as she crossed the room to join him, settling onto the sofa beside him. "Yes, that sounds perfect."

A few minutes later, a knock at the door interrupted them, and Brandon stood up before reaching the handle.

A hotel staff member wheeled in a cart with their dinner, and she quickly placed the plates on the small table in the sitting area before leaving them alone once more.

Charlotte stood up, stretching her arms slightly "Come on, Kael.. let’s eat before the food gets cold."

---

Leaning on the glass balcony, Charlotte glanced at the city lights with a cigarette resting between her fingers as she took a slow drag, exhaling a plume of smoke that curled upward, mingling with the mist.

She held her mobile phone to her ear, and a woman’s voice came through the line, "It is real; the previous Matriarch of the Bleaufort house is dead, and her funeral is in two days."

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed as she took another drag of her cigarette, letting out a slow huff of smoke "Has the information been made public yet?"

"No, Madam. Only the Great Houses and some higher-echelon people know about this for now."

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed further, and she leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on the railing "Mhm, update me if you get any further info."

"Yes, Madam,"

With a soft tap, Charlotte ended the call and brought the cigarette to her lips again, taking a slow drag, the smoke curling upward in lazy spirals.

As she exhaled, her gaze drifted back to the suite, the floor-to-ceiling window showing a clear view of the warmly lit room within.

Her eyes settled on Brandon, who was sleeping on the bed by lying on his stomach.

The soft glow of the chandelier cast gentle shadows across his skin, highlighting the lean lines of his muscles and a jagged scar that ran diagonally across his lower back.

Charlotte’s eyes trembled as the blue and yellow energies within them merged, swirling with a sudden intensity.

She shook her head to clear the rush of memories and guilt that threatened to surface, and a quiet sigh escaped her lips.

She stubbed the cigarette on a nearby ashtray and turned away from the balcony as she walked back into the suite.

Charlotte crossed the room and sat gently on the edge of the bed beside Brandon.

Her eyes were drawn to the scar again and a quiet ache settled in her chest.

She reached out, hesitating for a moment before gently caressing the scar, tracing its jagged path tenderly.

Her lips curved into a faint smile as she watched him.

She shifted, lying down beside him on the bed carefully so as not to wake him.

Propping herself on one elbow, she continued to gaze at the scar, her fingers lingering near it, not quite touching now, but close enough to feel the warmth of his skin.

"You’re stronger than you know, Kael," Her smile deepened in a mix of pride and affection, and she reached out again, brushing her fingers lightly against his hair, smoothing a stray lock from his face.

Her gaze lowered for a moment, and she thought about it, biting her lip.

Her eyes flicked back to his back, and a quiet resolve settled over her.

Slowly, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her chest gently against his back in a tender embrace.

The warmth of his skin against hers was soothing and she hugged him closer, her arms encircling his waist while resting her fingers lightly against his stomach, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

Her lips brushed against the nape of his neck, and she rested her cheek against his shoulder.

She closed her eyes, savoring the closeness, and Brandon stirred slightly, a soft hum escaping his lips, but he didn’t wake up and continued sleeping.

Charlotte’s arms tightened slightly around him, her fingers tracing idle patterns against his skin, and she let out a soft sigh, her breath stirring the hair at the nape of his neck.

’My cute little brother... who stood up for me even though he knew I hated him... and for this scar, I will spend my lifetime making up for it...’

Her fingers slightly tightened around her body, pulling him closer. ’I will protect you...’