enjoyebooks Chapter 24
Chapter 24
KAEL’S POV
I tucked the small bundle of fur inside my jacket as I approached Celestina's door, the warmth of the kitten's tiny body seeping through my shirt. Each vibration of its purring resonated against my chest like a secret heartbeat. This wasn't protocol—nothing about my recent actions aligned with the rigid guidelines I'd followed for years. But protocol had never made Celestina's eyes crinkle at the corners the way they had at dinner last week, had never coaxed that rare, genuine laughter from her lips that seemed to surprise even her.
I paused outside her door, wiping my suddenly damp palm on my trousers before knocking softly. The kitten shifted against me, tiny claws catching on my shirt as if sensing my quickening pulse.
"Come in," her voice called from within, carrying that familiar cautious edge she reserved specifically for me—not quite trust, not quite disdain.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Celestina stood by the window, her silhouette cutting a sharp figure against the morning light that streamed in behind her. The sunbeams caught the copper highlights in her dark hair, turning the edges to flame. She turned at my entrance, and I watched as her expression immediately shifted—brows drawing together, lips tightening at the corners when she noticed my smile.
"Good morning, Celestina," I said, fighting to keep my tone casual despite the unusual weight squirming inside my jacket and the nervous energy coursing through me.
She raised an eyebrow, eyes narrowing slightly as she studied my face. "You're in an unusually good mood." Her fingers tightened almost imperceptibly on the folder she held. "Should I be worried?"
I chuckled, noticing how the sound softened the sharp angles of her posture. The spark of curiosity that replaced her typical cold distance made something warm unfurl in my chest.
"I thought I'd start the day with a little... surprise."
"What kind of surprise?" she asked, setting down the folder and crossing her arms—a defensive gesture I'd come to recognize as her way of preparing for disappointment.
"Patience, my queen," I teased, using the nickname that always made her jaw clench. My hand slipped behind me to retrieve the kitten I'd carefully hidden.
The moment I revealed the fluffy ragdoll kitten with its striking blue eyes and cream-colored fur marked with gentle gray points, Celestina's carefully composed mask crumbled. Her eyes widened, lips parting as her arms uncrossed of their own accord. The folder she'd been clutching slipped from her fingers, forgotten as it hit the floor with a soft thud.
"Meet your new friend," I said, unable to suppress my grin at her unfiltered reaction.
The silence between us thickened with each passing second. I watched her face intently, cataloging every nuance of emotion that crossed her features—shock giving way to confusion, followed by a soft vulnerability I'd witnessed only in rare, unguarded moments when she thought no one was watching.
"You got me... a cat?" she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper, lacking its usual sharp edges.
I nodded, stepping closer to place the kitten in her hesitant hands. The creature weighed almost nothing, yet I could see from the way Celestina's arms tensed that to her, it might as well have been made of lead.
"I did. I thought you could use some company. Someone to keep you grounded."
The moment the kitten settled in her arms, it nuzzled against her chest, its purr intensifying. The transformation in Celestina was immediate and breathtaking—her shoulders dropped an inch, the perpetual furrow between her brows smoothed away, and a genuine smile curved her lips, revealing the small dimple in her left cheek that so few ever saw.
"What's her name?" she asked, her voice taking on a quality I'd never heard before—soft, almost reverent.
"That's up to you," I replied, savoring the rare, unguarded moment as her finger traced the kitten's ear with unexpected tenderness. "She's yours."
She stroked the kitten's fur with gentle fingers, studying its face as though memorizing every detail. The morning light caught in the kitten's blue eyes, making them glow almost the same shade as Celestina's dress.
"She looks like a Luna," she said after a moment, her thumb brushing against the crescent moon marking on the kitten's forehead.
"Luna," I repeated, tasting the name, watching Celestina rather than the kitten. "I like it."
Our eyes met over Luna's head, and for once, there was no wall between us, no pretense of formality or diplomacy. Just two people sharing a moment of unexpected connection.
"Why would you do this, Kael?" she asked, vulnerability making her voice uncertain, the question hanging in the air between us like a fragile thing.
I leaned against her desk, choosing my words with the same care I'd use to disarm an explosive. "You've been through a lot, Celestina. I thought you could use something to bring a little joy into your life."
"You've been doing a lot for me lately," she said quietly, her gaze dropping to Luna, who had curled into a contented ball against her chest. "More than I expected."
"It's the least I can do," I replied, allowing sincerity to color my tone. "You deserve to feel cared for."
When she looked up at me again, something had shifted in her expression—a softening around the eyes, a willingness to see me differently. The morning light caught the moisture gathering at the corners of her eyes before she blinked it away.
"Thank you, Kael. Truly."
I smiled, feeling as though I'd won something precious and fragile. "Anything for you, Celestina."