The room had gone completely silent.
Velmora Nyx was hugging Ethan.
And not just a quick hug.
It was a full, deep, slow embrace—like the kind you give soone you haven’t seen in years.
One of her arms was wrapped around his back, the other resting firmly between his shoulder blades.
She held him close, chin resting lightly on his head, body soft and warm and completely surrounding him.
Ethan didn’t fight it.
He just stood there, head lightly buried in her chest, letting her hold him.
Nobody in the room moved.
But no one looked shocked either.
Not really.
Evelyn leaned toward Everly and whispered under her breath, "She’s doing it again."
"Yeah," Everly whispered back, eyes half-closed. "Classic Nyx."
Liliana rubbed her forehead. "How many tis does this make now?"
Isabella folded her arms. "Too many. But this is the first ti she’s done it in front of everyone."
Seraphina exhaled. "Of course, she waited until now, which is kinda surprising. She always makes her moves when the timing is dramatic."
Even Lilith wasn’t surprised. Her expression was unreadable, but her arms were crossed—and not in anger.
More like soone watching a scene she’d seen play out a hundred tis, only this ti the lighting was different.
Elowen was the only one smiling.
"Well," she said, raising her cup. "It’s been a while since I’ve seen her go full mother mode."
"She hasn’t changed," Lilith muttered.
"She never will," Elowen replied. "And you love that about her."
Lilith didn’t respond.
At the center of it all, Velmora kept holding Ethan.
She didn’t flinch. Didn’t look up. Didn’t care that the entire room was watching.
Her face had softened in a way few people had ever seen. It was calm and gentle, like all the weight she carried was slowly leaking out, one heartbeat at a ti.
Ethan didn’t say anything either.
He’d been through this before.
Maybe not this intense.
Maybe not in front of everyone.
But Velmora had always been like this with him. Little touches. Gentle pats on the head. A warm hand on his back when he looked stressed.
She had a way of getting close—physically close-and wrapping him up without warning.
Most of the ti, he just accepted it.
Because honestly?
It felt good.
It felt safe.
He still rembered the first ti it happened—years ago, right after a rough training session when he had pushed himself too hard and collapsed on the floor.
While everyone else had stepped back and given him space, Velmora had walked over, sat beside him, and gently pulled him into her lap.
Not a word.
No teasing.
Just warmth.
Since then, it has beco a pattern.
And now, this... this was just a deeper version of that sa feeling.
Her soft and curvy body made comfort feel real. Her warmth surrounded him like a blanket fresh from the dryer.
Her scent was clean and faintly sweet, like lavender mixed with sothing older and harder to place.
Velmora’s hand slowly stroked the back of his head.
"Everything okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," Ethan murmured, still not pulling away.
The silence in the room finally broke when Isabella groaned. "Okay, can soone at least say sothing before this turns into a three-hour cuddle session?"
"He’s already used to it," Evelyn said.
"He probably missed it," Everly added.
Elowen grinned. "That’s why it’s so powerful. She doesn’t co in strong very often, but when she does..."
"She wraps him up like a boa constrictor," Liliana muttered.
"More like a human hot water bottle," Isabella said. "Warm and emotionally charged."
Lilith finally sighed. "Alright, Nyx. Let him breathe."
Velmora humd thoughtfully.
Then loosened her arms.
Just a little.
Ethan took a small breath and stepped back slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Thanks," he said awkwardly, avoiding everyone’s eyes.
Velmora gave a rare, tiny smile. "You needed it."
Ethan nodded once and walked toward the kitchen like he was trying to escape the conversation entirely.
No one stopped him.
Not because they didn’t care, but because they knew.
This was just Velmora being Velmora.
They’d all seen it before—just never this upfront.
Seraphina looked at her. "You’ve really been holding that in, huh?"
"I’ve had the itch for a while," Velmora said, completely serious. "Today just... felt right."
Liliana sat back, arms crossed. "I’ll admit... that was kind of sweet. Weird. But sweet."
"She’s not trying to seduce him," Lilith said. "It’s different."
"I know," Liliana muttered. "That’s why it’s weird."
Elowen chuckled. "You’re just jealous she gets hugs that don’t need bribes or bait."
"I get hugs," Isabella said defensively.
"You steal hugs," Everly said.
Evelyn raised her hand. "I actually ask."
"I trick him," Everly said proudly.
Lilith gave them all a long look. "Can we stay focused, please?"
"Focused on what?" Isabella asked. "The emotional breakdown Nyx is about to have the next ti he goes more than three days without hugging her?"
Velmora didn’t deny it.
She just sat back down on the couch and picked up her tea.
"I don’t need him every day," she said simply. "Just enough."
"You’ve been saying that since year one," Lilith reminded her.
"Still true."
Seraphina sat down, arms folded over her stomach. "I just don’t get how you knew today was the day."
"I didn’t," Velmora said. "I just... felt it. Like I wasn’t the only one missing sothing."
Liliana raised an eyebrow. "You think he wanted it too?"
Velmora’s gaze didn’t waver. "I know he did."
The room went quiet again.
But this ti, the air wasn’t tense.
Just heavy with sothing unspoken.
Warm.
Understanding.
Lilith finally broke the silence. "Just don’t take it too far. You know how protective everyone is."
"I’m not claiming him," Velmora said. "I’m... bonding. That’s different."
Elowen looked at her sideways. "Are you bonding like a normal person? Or like a succubus with an ancient affection complex?"
"Yes," Velmora said with a faint smile.
Everyone groaned.
But there was no edge in it.
They were used to her by now.
Even Ethan was used to her.
And deep down?
None of them really minded.
Because whatever Velmora had—whatsoever strange, old ache she carried—it seed to lt away a little every ti she held him.
And for now?
That was enough.
They could tease her later.
Right now, everyone just needs a breather.
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