Susan clapped to the beat. Grace poured drinks. The others smiled and moved with the music, giving in to the softness of the moment.
Sophie came up behind him. "They look happy."
Jude nodded, watching Rose spin, her hair catching firelight like silk. "Too happy."
Sophie slipped her arm around his waist, leaning her head on his shoulder. "You're scared."
"I should be."
"Me too." She kissed his neck. "But I still want to be close to you."
He turned to her and kissed her lips, slow and searching. Her mouth tasted like salt and wildberries. Her arms wrapped around him and held tight, grounding him again. Even here, even with so much changed, this, this between them, still felt real.
Later that night, he lay tangled with her in the treehouse. She was asleep, breath soft against his chest, one leg slung over his waist. Jude stared at the ceiling and felt the shard pulsing faintly from the pouch tied beside their bed.