Chapter Seven.

Sage stirred before the sun had fully risen, the soft glow of early morning filtering through the curtains. She lay there, her arm wrapped around Harlow's waist, feeling the slow rise and fall of her breathing. It was a strange but exhilarating feeling—waking up next to someone who already meant so much in such a short time. She thought about their connection, how it was like something out of a story—dark and light, demon and angel, forbidden but irresistible. The thought made her smirk, and she pulled Harlow closer, burying her face into the crook of her neck.

Harlow stirred at the touch, making a small, sleepy noise before turning into Sage's embrace. "Mmm… morning."

"Morning, angel," Sage murmured, pressing a lazy kiss to her shoulder.

They lay there for a while, lost in the simple pleasure of each other's warmth. Harlow nuzzled into Sage's chest, her fingers tracing soft patterns on her arm. It felt right—too right. As if their souls had already decided this was where they belonged.

Eventually, the gentle touches turned into something more. Harlow tilted her head up, her lips brushing against Sage's in a slow, teasing kiss. Sage responded eagerly, pulling her closer as their bodies molded together. Heat bloomed between them, and Harlow, feeling particularly bold, decided to take things further. She shifted, straddling Sage's lap, her mischievous grin sending shivers down Sage's spine.

"You like being teased, don't you?" Harlow whispered against her lips, slipping her shirt over her head and tossing it aside.

Sage groaned, her hands instinctively finding Harlow's waist, fingers digging in just enough to make her gasp. "You're playing with fire, angel."

Harlow's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Maybe I like the burn."

They lost themselves in each other, bodies pressing together, hands exploring, kisses deepening. Sage was completely undone by Harlow's confidence, her soft moans fueling the fire between them. Every touch, every teasing remark, every breathless whisper sent them spiraling further into each other, until they were left tangled in sheets, hearts pounding in sync.

Afterward, as they lay catching their breath, Sage brushed a strand of hair from Harlow's face. "You are… something else."

Harlow grinned, kissing the tip of her nose. "I'll take that as a compliment."

They showered together, playfully stealing kisses under the hot water before getting dressed and heading out for breakfast. Harlow, still flushed and grinning from their morning together, couldn't stop stealing glances at Sage, who looked equally smitten.

Back at the house, Harlow groaned dramatically as she pulled out her laptop. "I have a math exam due today, and I suck at math."

Sage leaned over her shoulder, peeking at the screen. "Lucky for you, I don't."

For the next hour, Sage helped her through equations and formulas, occasionally teasing her about getting distracted. Harlow pouted when Sage got a particularly hard problem right without hesitation.

"Ugh, you're too smart," she whined.

Sage smirked. "And you're too cute when you're frustrated."

They spent the day together, chatting with Harlow's mom, who was more than happy to poke fun at their obvious infatuation with each other. They played games, lounged around, and enjoyed just being together, the weight of the world feeling far away for once.

By the afternoon, they curled up back in Harlow's room, Demon Slayer playing softly on the TV. The warmth of Sage's body against hers was soothing, and before she knew it, Harlow drifted into sleep.

But sleep did not bring peace.

A cold wind swept through her subconscious, and suddenly, she was no longer in her room. She stood in a vast, endless space filled with swirling mist. A deep voice echoed through the void, sending chills down her spine.

"In one week, you must return to the spirit realm. The balance depends on it."

Harlow's heart pounded. "Why? What do you mean?"

"You will understand soon."

The voice faded, and darkness swallowed her whole.

She woke with a start, her breath uneven. Sage was still asleep beside her, her face peaceful, unaware of the turmoil unraveling inside Harlow's mind. How was she supposed to tell her?

The thought gnawed at her for the rest of the evening. When Sage finally noticed something was off, she nudged Harlow gently. "What's wrong?"

Harlow hesitated. "There's… something I need to tell you."

Sage's eyes darkened with concern. "Okay. Tell me."

Taking a shaky breath, Harlow whispered, "I have to go to the spirit realm in a week. For something important."

Sage tensed, her gaze searching Harlow's. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know," Harlow admitted. "But I have to go."

For a moment, Sage looked like she might argue, but then her expression softened. She reached out, cupping Harlow's cheek. "Then we'll figure it out together."

Relief flooded through Harlow, but a lingering fear remained. Something was coming. And it was only a matter of time before it changed everything.

Sage's grip on her tightened. "You're not going alone."

Harlow hesitated. "I don't think I have a choice."

Sage's expression hardened. "Bullshit. You always have a choice. I don't care what this spirit realm expects from you—I won't let you walk into something dangerous without me."

Harlow swallowed, frustration rising. "Sage, you don't understand. This isn't just some trip. This is… it's bigger than me. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do yet."

Sage's jaw clenched. "Then all the more reason for me to come with you. I won't just sit back and wait for you to—"

"Sage!" Harlow snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. "This isn't about what you want. This is something I have to do alone."

Silence fell between them, thick with tension. Sage exhaled slowly, her hands forming fists at her sides. "You don't get to push me away just because it's hard."

"I'm not pushing you away." Harlow's voice softened, though the frustration in her eyes remained. "I just… I don't want you to get hurt."

Sage looked at her for a long moment before nodding, though her expression remained guarded. "Fine. But promise me one thing."

Harlow met her gaze. "What?"

"Promise me you'll come back to me."

The weight of the request settled between them, and Harlow felt her chest tighten. Slowly, she reached for Sage's hand, intertwining their fingers. "I promise."

But deep down, she wasn't sure if she could keep that promise.