A Place To Belong

Niran's breath caught in her throat, his question catching her off guard. She could feel the tension in the air, the invisible line between them growing thinner with each passing second.

"I believe they are necessary," she finally answered, her voice steady but laced with an undertone of something she couldn't quite define. "For both our sakes."

Raul hummed thoughtfully, and she could sense the smirk playing on his lips even without looking at him. "Perhaps," he murmured, "but I find that some boundaries are meant to be tested… or even broken."

Niran's pulse quickened, her mind racing as she tried to decipher his intentions. She knew she was walking a dangerous line, but she also knew that retreating now would only embolden him further.

"Only if one is prepared for the consequences," she responded, meeting his challenge head-on.