Snow stood in shock as the door to Quintessa''s apartment closed with a soft click, leaving him on the


    outside; he was suddenly forgetful of why he hade back here tonight. Quintessa burst into


    laughter, a sound that seemed to say, "Life is full of unexpected reunions!"


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    There was a time when Snow had caught her in a fiery exchange on a balcony with someone else, and


    now, here she was, catching nces of Quintessa and Tyrone, unable to tear away from each other.


    Was this what they called karma?


    Tyrone took a bite of Quintessa before asking, "Why are youughing at a time like this?"


    Quintessa yfully twirled a strand of Tyrone''s hair, "I was just thinking that, it seems like a pretty good


    choice to spend this beautiful night with a handsome guy like you.''


    With a swift motion, Tyrone scooped Quintessa into his arms, "You should''ve made that choice a long


    time ago. Think of all those wonderful nights we''ve wasted." Quintessa''sughter filled the room, "So,


    tonight, I''m borrowing you, and not your mom."


    "


    As Tyrone found the light switch on the wall, the room was suddenly bathed in light. The once simple


    one-bedroom apartment resembled a luxurious presidential suite, with no scent but that of fresh paint.


    Quintessa, looking around at the unfamiliar room, couldn''t quite identify the emotion brewing inside her.


    This ce used to be her only refuge, and now it felt like she had lost even that.


    Caught in her thoughts, she barely noticed it when Tyroneid her down on the bed.


    Tyrone, hovering over her, pressed, "Quintessa, you could at least pretend to notice me more. You''re


    always lost in thought; what''s that about?"


    Quintessa wrapped her arms around Tyrone''s neck, "Just thinking about what position might be best."


    Tyrone chuckled, "Sure, like I''d believe that. I must be out of my mind."


    He yfully lifted the hem of Quintessa''s dress, "Anyway, I''ve been waiting for so long, I can wait a bit


    longer. Tell me, what was the deal with you and Alexander in Serenitia?" Quintessa raised an eyebrow,


    sensing Tyrone''s impatience with the question.


    Looking into Tyrone''s deep eyes, she exined, "Isn''t it normal for two young people to find sce in


    each other''spany amidst danger and sin, and develop a fondness for each other?"


    But that fondness hadn''t had the chance to evolve into something more before reality shattered it into


    pieces.


    Once the crisis was over, he returned to his high society life, and she returned to her battlefield.


    Perhaps it would''ve been better if they had never met.


    Tyrone felt a sourness bubbling up inside him, a bitterness that seemed to spread all the way to his


    mouth.


    Quintessa''s casual remark left


    Tyrone feeling blocked, stabbed, and sour. She and Alexander had shared the hardest times together,


    while he had been lost in a life of excess back home: Tyrone wanted to be angry, but he realized he


    had no right to be.


    It was almostughable that Tyrone, of all people, found himself without the right to be upset.


    But he could provide what Alexander couldn''t provide to her. Tyrone looked into Quintessa''s eyes, "You


    want fame, and you want to be a star; I can give you all of that."


    Quintessa silenced Tyrone with a gentle touch, her breath warm and inviting, "Right now, talking isn''t


    what you''re best at."


    Her hands found their way under Tyrone''s shirt, and her fingertips, which had been roughened by use,


    created a tingling sensation on his skin.


    Tyrone''s breathing grew heavy as he roughly tore away Quintessa''s dress.


    But suddenly, Quintessa flipped their positions, pinning Tyrone down with


    a confident move, and ced a finger on his lips, "I told you, tonight, I''m the one making the requests."