A soft knock broke the silence.
The three inside froze—Lunaria on the bed, hands still fidgeting; Amphitrite lounging with easy, possessive confidence; Nikolai holding his breath like it'd keep the moment from tilting further into strange.
The door opened slowly.
Kumiko stepped in, dressed in her ceremonial robe, every motion precise, quiet, respectful. Her eyes swept over the room, pausing briefly on Amphitrite, then Lunaria, before resting on Nikolai.
She bowed, low and reverent. "Forgive my delay."
"No need," Nikolai said, trying not to sound too stiff.
Kumiko stepped inside and gently shut the door behind her.
Then—another knock.
This time, Nikita burst through with a grin, her white-streaked hair tied up messily, one heel already halfway kicked off.
"Okay, I know we're supposed to be all formal and ethereal and whatnot, but holy hell, that ritual was tense."
She sauntered in like she owned the place, then paused, eyes flicking between the women already inside.
