A soft knock on the door made me jolt. My chest still a little raw from the heat, I hesitated.
"Alastair? May I come in?" a calm voice called.
I blinked. The tone felt… familiar, though I couldn't place why. "Who's there?" I asked cautiously.
The door opened, and a young man stepped inside, polite and composed, closing the door behind him. He smiled, but there was something in his gaze—intense, almost possessive—that made my stomach twist. My mind struggled. I've never met him… have I?
Then it clicked faintly, a shadow of memory from this body: This… must be my cousin.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you," he said smoothly, stepping a little closer. "I heard you've been resting alone. Thought I'd check in."
I nodded slowly, unsure what to say. "Thank you… I've been… resting."
He studied me, head tilted, eyes sharp yet gentle. "You look exhausted," he said. "Rest is important, especially after… everything."
Something about the way he lingered, the careful attention, made my chest tighten. I didn't understand why this stranger—my cousin—felt so compelling, why I felt a pull I couldn't name.
"I'm fine," I said, trying to steady my racing heart. "Just tired."
Leo's smile softened slightly. "I'm glad. Still, if you ever need anything… I'm here. For you."
The words were polite, but the underlying intensity sent a shiver through me. I shifted on the bed, body still restless from heat, instinctively aware of him in a way I couldn't explain.
Finally, he nodded and moved toward the door. "I won't keep you. Just… remember, you're not alone."
The door clicked shut. I sank back onto the bed, mind spinning. He's my cousin… but why do I feel this way? Confusion, unease, and something else I didn't yet understand lingered in the air.