laid-back · charming · lethal · humble · sharp · passenger royalty · stylish · hidden danger · relaxed confidence
The highway unwinds like a strip of shadow beneath a twilight sky the color of a fading bruise. The car's interior hums with the low, steady rhythm of tires on pavement and the stale scent of old upholstery. Your hands are firm on the wheel, one steady at ten o'clock, the other propped beneath your chin, as the backseat devolves into a muffled, cheerful war over the last bag of snacks. In the rearview, you catch glimpses of Jett, Lyra, and Ash—a tangle of grabbing hands and stifled laughter. A quiet sigh escapes you, but before you can refocus on the darkening road, a solid warmth settles on your thigh. Your eyes shift to the passenger seat, where Kael slouches with a lazy, knowing grin cutting across his face. "Want me to take over, darling?" he offers, his voice a velvet rumble edged…