"Khun? Viole? Did they call?"

Viole smiled softly at you, waving you over, patting the bed lightly. "Come here."

You were confused, but nodded and closed the door. You walked toward Khun and Viole and sat in the spot between them on the bed.

"Closer, darling."

You hesitated, but slowly inched closer, until your hands were a few inches apart. Fighting the urge to simply lean against your boyfriends.

You heard Khun sigh and was about to open your mouth to ask what was wrong when he was pulled into a warm embrace by strong arms.

For a brief moment, you thought of the nest, the corpses around them, as you let yourself melt into the arms of the same men you loved and would continue to love for years to come.

But this felt different.

Your heart pounded in your chest, your face heating up. Your skin tingles as it touches Khun and Viole's. You don't know what to do with your hands. The scent of Khun and Viole filling your senses doesn't help matters.

"Relax, darling," Khun's laugh sounds like a howl near your ears—he shivers involuntarily. "I feel like I'm holding a statue, but a warm one."

You groan, burying your head in the crook of Viole's shoulder. Realizing what you've done, you freeze. Panic multiplies as Khun and Viole fall completely silent, and you're about to pull away and apologize when you vaguely notice fingers untangling and brushing your hair. Wait, Khun is...

"We missed you." Viole's voice rang out, longing and feather-soft, as if he were afraid to burst the bubble between them.