Jayden blinked.
His heart stuttered, just once... but the skip echoed through his chest like a drumbeat in an empty hall. The air between them grew thick, charged with sothing unspoken.
Penelope’s eyes held his, and for the first ti, he saw the cracks in her usual composure. A fragile spark flickered in her gaze, as if this question had been burning inside her for far too long, threatening to scorch her from within.
Slowly, deliberately, he set down his glass. The soft clink of crystal against glass was deafening in the silence.
"I think..." His voice was rough, barely above a whisper. He swallowed, then looked at her fully. "You’re amazing. Beautiful. Intelligent. Powerful. A little playful, but also..." His throat tightened. "Gentle. And the sweetest person I’ve ever t."
Penelope’s lips parted slightly, her breath hitching as if his words had physically struck her. A fragile, forced smile curved her mouth. "You think I’m sweet?" she murmured, her voice laced with sothing between disbelief and wonder. A soft, breathless chuckle escaped her, as if the idea was absurd.
Jayden didn’t laugh. His gaze didn’t waver. "I think you’re perfect," he said quietly. "And I wish you were... mine."
The words hung between them, raw and unguarded.
Penelope’s eyes widened. A sharp, quiet gasp slipped past her lips, her fingers tightening around her wine glass. She hadn’t expected that. Not the words. Not the certainty in his voice.
Jayden’s own eyes bulged slightly, realization crashing into him. He hadn’t ant to say that. Hadn’t even thought it before it tumbled out. His pulse roared in his ears.
"I—I’m sorry," he stamred, heat rising to his cheeks. "I didn’t an to—"
"It’s fine, Jayden." Penelope’s voice was soft but firm, cutting through his panic. She smiled... a real one this ti, small but warm. "I’m glad to know that’s how you feel. And you saying it like that... it just proves how honest you are."
Jayden exhaled shakily. Relief flooded him so intensely his shoulders sagged. For a second, he’d been convinced she’d incinerate him on the spot.
But then Penelope continued, her voice wavering slightly.
"And the truth is..." She hesitated, her gaze dropping to her wine glass, fingers tracing its rim. "I feel the sa way about you."
Jayden’s breath caught.
Her words struck him square in the chest, knocking the air from his lungs. He stared at her, stunned.
"I know it sounds ridiculous," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it’s true. I like you, Jayden. A lot. And even though we’ve only known each other for a short ti..." She finally looked up, eting his eyes. "It feels like I’ve known you my whole life."
A beat of silence. Then she let out a shaky laugh, self-deprecating. "And I know I’m older. I’m supposed to be the responsible one. The ntor. The... mother figure." Her fingers clenched around the glass. "But I can’t. I can’t ignore what I feel for you. These feelings I never thought I’d have again."
Her voice cracked on the last word.
Jayden’s chest ached.
Penelope took a slow breath, steeling herself. "And I know it’s selfish to put this on you. You don’t owe anything. You’re young. You have your whole life ahead of you. And I’m just..." She gestured vaguely at herself, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "An old woman who fell for soone young enough to be her son."
She laughed again, but it was hollow. Dark. "So I understand if you think I’m overbearing. Delirious. Out of my damn mind." Her fingers trembled slightly. "You don’t have to pretend to like just to spare my feelings. I—"
"It’s not a pretense."
Jayden’s voice cut through hers, sharp and sure.
Penelope froze.
He reached across the table, his hand hovering just above hers... close enough to feel the warmth of her skin but not quite touching. His gaze burned into hers.
"I do like you, Penelope," he said, each word deliberate. "I really do. But I’m just... so kid trying to figure out his place in this ssed-up world. And you?" He let out a breathless laugh. "You’re amazing. Graceful. Influential. Perfect. I don’t even know if I deserve to be near soone like you. If anything, I should be the one begging for your affection."
Penelope’s breath hitched.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
Then—
She surged forward, her hand grasping his wrist, pulling him toward her.
Her lips t his, soft and warm and yearning.
Jayden’s mind blanked.
For a second, he didn’t move.. he couldn’t. Then instinct took over. His free hand found her hip, fingers curling into the fabric of her dress as he leaned into the kiss. Her lips moved against his, slow at first, then deeper, more desperate.
She tasted like wine and sothing sweet... vanilla. Her fingers tangled in his hair, tugging gently, and he groaned into her mouth.
A minute passed. Or an hour. Jayden couldn’t tell.
When Penelope finally pulled away, her eyes were glassy. "Those things don’t matter, Jayden." she whispered. "Status, age, power... none of it matters. I just needed to know you don’t see as so over-sappy, perverted old woman falling for soone younger. I don’t care what people think. As long as I can be with you."
Jayden grabbed her chin and kissed her again, this ti longer.
"You’re perfect," he murmured against her lips. And she smiled, licking her lips as they pulled apart.
They didn’t speak after that. They simply sat, fingers intertwined, hearts exposed. And when the next piece began... sothing slow and lancholic, they leaned into each other, listening as if the music had been written just for them. Peaceful. Happy. In sync.
But as Penelope rested her head lightly on Jayden’s shoulder, a shadow flickered in her eyes. The thought of soone suddenly flashed in her mind.
Cassandra.
Penolope knew what Jayden really ant to her daughter. She knew about the unspoken, silent feelings Cassie had for Jayden. And that instantly made her feel terrible. It was as though she’d just betrayed her own daughter. And questions that burnt deeply in her heart were...
Would Cassandra ever understand?
Would she forgive her?
Penolope considered bringing up the topic and ending whatever relationship she and Jayden had just ford for the sake of her daughter. But she didn’t want to let go of the feelings she had either, and she also didn’t want to be the one to tell Jayden about Cassandra’s real feelings. That would be unfair.
So after much consideration, she decided to forget about it for now and just enjoy the newly found warmth of sothing special.
After the final performance and a standing ovation, they descended the marble stairs and returned to the hovercar. The drive back was quieter than before, filled with quiet glances and the lingering heat of the mont. When they arrived at Jayden’s house, Penelope parked by the curb.
Jayden unbuckled but paused when she placed a hand on his arm.
"Jayden, let’s keep this between us. For now," she said gently.
Jayden nodded slowly. "Yeah, of course. We can take things slow."
Her smile was soft but grateful. "Thank you. Also... there’s a gala in two weeks. And I want you to co with ."
Jayden’s brows lifted. "Like... as your date?"
She nodded, suddenly shy. "If you’re okay with that."
He grinned. "Count in."
Penelope smiled and kissed him one last ti. "Goodnight, Jayden."
"Goodnight, Penny." Jayden winked, causing Penolope to chuckle in amusent.
Then he stepped out, heart fluttering like a leaf in wind, and watched her drive off until her taillights disappeared into the night sky.
Back in his room, he peeled off his jacket, still smiling to himself, but then his eyes fell on the desktop screen pulsing in his corner.
A notification alert from the channel he’d joined a few days ago. The one hosted by the guy who tracks and studies rare beasts.
Jayden quickly approached the desktop, his eyes scanning through the ssages.
[Chthonix sighting confird. Ruby City outskirts. 8:39 PM]
[E-Rank. Average size. Less Territorial]
[Starting Docuntary: Sunday 9:00 PM]
[Ending Docuntary: Tuesday 9:00 PM]
Jayden’s blood ran cold... and hot. His mont of peace had ended. Destiny was calling again.
And this ti, it had fangs.
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