?Chapter 0450


    The living room was alive with conversation andughter, the walls echoing the joyous celebrations of the semester''s end. My friends, many of whom I had known since freshman year, were scattered around, some lounging on the plush couches, others congregated in animated discussions around the dining table.


    "Look at her, the blushing bride!" Jessica''s voice, dripping with yful sarcasm, rose above the hum of conversation as she approached me. Her arm was draped around Lori, who, despite the teasing remark, wore a proud smile.


    Iughed, rolling my eyes. Enzo and I had been married for several months now, and my friends rarely let me live down the fact that we had gotten married so young. But that''s just what happens when you find your fated mate.


    *Jessica, I swear, one more mention of me being a ''bride'' and I''ll throw you into the pool," I said.


    "Hey! It''s not every day one of our own decides to tie the knot so young," she winked, nudging me gently.


    Lori sighed, giving Jessica a pointed look. "Jess,y off it. If Nina and Enzo are happy, that''s all that matters. Besides, they''re adorable together."


    Jessica took a mock offended stance. "Hey, I am happy for them! Super happy. But speaking of proposals..." She turned her teasing eyes to Lori, her grin widening. "When are you going to pop the question?"


    Lori''s cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink. "Why is it my responsibility to propose?"


    "Well, out of the two of us, you''re definitely the less girly'' one," Jessica responded, air- quoting the word ''girly''. "So, it should happen that way."


    Lori''s expression shifted from embarrassment to mock annoyance. "Just because I prefer jeans over dresses doesn''t mean I should be the one to propose!"


    The two of them locked eyes, an air of mock tension between them, before they both broke out into fits ofughter. I chuckled, watching the banter unfold. Their rtionship, always filled with yful jests and teasing, was one of the many constants in our group.


    Taking advantage of a brief lull in conversation, I decided to circte the party, greeting old friends and making some new ones. The atmosphere was light, joyous, and full of promise.


    As the night progressed, the cool air and the allure of the outdoors beckoned me to the back patio. The twinkling fairy lights we''d strung up added a soft glow to the surroundings. There, I found Matt leaning on the railing, his gaze fixed on the stars above.


    "Hey," I greeted, my voice soft.


    He looked over, his eyes lighting up with a smile. "Nina! It''s been a while since we had a one- on-one chat."


    I joined him, leaning against the railing beside him and following his gaze upwards. I hadThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    never thought that someone like Matt would wind up being one of my closest friends, but I was happy that it had happened. He had changed so much since everything had happened, but he still had his signature good humor and charm.


    "It really has been," I said. Thefort of our shared history was a salve to the fast pace of the evening.


    Matt''s face grew contemtive as he hesitated for a moment. "Nina, do you ever dream about the war with the Crescents?"


    I blinked in surprise, taken aback by the abrupt shift in topic. "Where did thate from?" He shook his head, a shadow passing over his features. "I still dream about the fighting, the bloodshed... Those rogues overrunning our beloved town."


    I felt a pang in my heart. It was a topic that many of us had silently decided not to broach, the trauma still too fresh in our minds.


    "Every night," I admitted in a whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "I see Tiffany a lot." a lump formed in my throat as I thought back on my beloved mentor, how she had died so suddenly and without mercy. I could still hear the crunch of her neck in my mind. "I dream about her dying at the Crescents'' hands."