Her chest hitched, and her breath caught in her throat as Gon's thumb lingered on her jaw, the warmth of his touch still buzzing against her skin
Elowen stood there, her eyes wide and shimmering with that faint spark of surprise, her lips parted as if she processed the kiss that had just happened
Gon felt the air shift between them, thick with unspoken tension, but he knew this wasn't the place to push further
Not there, not in his mother's chambers, where the walls seemed to hold echoes of authority and expectation
He stepped back, his smirk softening into something more calculated as he glanced around the room
The hearth crackled faintly, the scent of ash and lavender still hung in the air, but his mind already moved ahead
He looked at her, his voice low and steady
"Follow me," he said, nodding toward the door
Elowen hesitated for a heartbeat, her fingers brushed her apron as if she grounded herself, then she nodded
