The room was filled with murmurs, everyone eagerly awaiting the next chapter, when Hecate, her brow furrowed and gaze fixed on a distant point, raised a hand, demanding silence.

"I need to do something," she said in a grave, resolute voice.

Before anyone could formulate a question or react, the goddess vanished in a flash of silver light, leaving behind confusion and an unsettling emptiness.

In the next instant, she appeared deep within the temple of the Fates, a dark and sacred sanctuary where the threads of destiny intertwined like the very fabric of time itself. The structure was vast and ancient, with towering silver columns and walls that glowed faintly with the otherworldly light of the floating threads—delicate yet potent, like existence itself.

There, at the heart of the temple, chaos unfolded. Eros was unhinged. His eyes, usually soft and filled with tenderness, now burned with an intense red, a reflection of uncontrollable rage. He gripped Lachesis and Clotho with such ferocity that the Fates, mighty as they were, seemed to wither before him. Psyche, exhausted, was trying to hold him back, her hands desperately clutching his in a futile attempt to calm him.

"Eros, please!" Psyche pleaded, her eyes filled with desperation. "Let them go!"

But Eros did not hear her. His mind was consumed by the fear of losing her, his anxiety driving him into an unstoppable frenzy.

When Hecate arrived, accompanied by Atropos, the air grew dense, almost tangible. The goddess's footsteps echoed faintly, drawing Eros's attention. He turned abruptly, still clutching the Fates with brutal force. The moment his fiery eyes met Hecate's, his expression grew even more ferocious. He released Lachesis and Clotho without care, letting them collapse to the ground. In a blink, his figure disappeared and reappeared in front of Hecate with a speed only a god could muster.

Before anyone could react, Eros shoved Hecate violently against the temple wall. The air between them crackled with heat and tension. His eyes blazed a searing red, his fury threatening to consume him entirely.

"Where is she?!" he roared, his voice thundering through the chamber, raw with desperation. Hecate, utterly composed, did not waver. She held his gaze, unflinching.

Psyche, witnessing the scene, approached cautiously, her eyes pleading. She turned to the goddess, searching her face for an answer, a truth that could soothe Eros.

Hecate, still locking eyes with him, replied in a calm yet unyielding voice: "Kiara is safe, Eros. You have not lost her. She is unharmed."

With a growl of frustration, Eros pressed closer, his face mere inches from Hecate's, forcing her head against the cold wall.

"Do not lie to me, Hecate," he snarled, his voice a blend of anger and fear.

Hecate's tone remained steady, unwavering. "I am not lying. She is safe."

At that moment, Eros released her, as if struck by a flash of clarity. His breaths were still ragged, but his body trembled slightly, the rage beginning to ebb away.

"Where is she?" he asked again, his voice cracking, almost a whisper. This time, it was not rage but uncertainty that filled his words.

Atropos stepped forward, her ancient, wise gaze heavy with understanding. "You must calm yourself first," she said gently, her voice carrying the weight of centuries. "Then, we will tell you everything you wish to know."

"You ask me to calm down when you and your fucking sisters are the reason I almost lost her?" Eros rasped, his voice raw with pain and anger. His desperation was so palpable that he seemed oblivious to those around him.

"We understand your anger..." Lachesis began, but her words were cut short as Eros turned to her with a fiery glare.

"Anger?!" he shouted, his voice breaking under the weight of his emotions. He took a threatening step toward Lachesis, his eyes blazing with fear and love intertwined.

Before he could get any closer, Psyche placed herself between him and Lachesis. Her hands blocked his path, the goddess of the soul standing as the last barrier between Eros and his blind fury.

"Move," Eros said, his voice hollow, as if nothing of the god who had once loved Psyche remained. His gaze was cold, distant, unrecognizing.

Psyche did not budge. With a resolve only she possessed, she met his eyes directly.

"If you think acting like a beast will bring her back to you, you're wrong," she said, her voice clear and defiant. "You heard Hecate. Your little princess is fine."

Her words cut through the air like a blade. Eros froze for a moment, his body tense, his breathing still erratic. The fury lingered, but something shifted. The painful truth in Psyche's words struck a chord deep within him, though he resisted accepting it. His gaze softened for the briefest moment before he looked away, unsure whether to believe what he had been told.

Hecate, watching everything with a quiet intensity, understood this was only the beginning. She could see the fear that had driven Eros to this point—the anguish of potentially losing Kiara had consumed him. But there was something more: a truth he wasn't yet ready to face. The storm within him hadn't subsided, but at least he was beginning to grasp the magnitude of what was happening.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Eros demanded, his voice still hoarse, now devoid of emotion but tinged with a desperation he could no longer hide.

His piercing gaze moved from one Fate to the next, lingering on Atropos, Lachesis, and finally settling on Hecate, waiting for her to speak and give him the answers he so desperately sought.

[...]

Moments earlier, in another room, everyone had stared in shock at Hecate's abrupt departure, her absence leaving a lingering sense of unease. Zeus, rolling his eyes in visible impatience, rose to his feet, commanding attention.

"While we wait for Hecate, you are free to do as you please. I, too, have matters to attend to," the god announced before vanishing in a flash of lightning. Others followed suit, leaving the space empty of Olympians within seconds. Only the minor gods, demigods, and the Original family remained.

With the great gods gone, the demigods began to relax. For the first time in a long while, Greeks and Romans found a chance to converse without urgency or tension.

Meanwhile, Luke and Klaus stood engaged in a seemingly casual discussion, though their occasional glances toward Kiara and Eros betrayed their true focus. Klaus measured each word carefully, while Luke struggled to maintain his composure, his attention clearly divided.

Kiara, on the other hand, stayed close to Eros, observing her surroundings but never straying far from him.

Suddenly, she felt Eros shift uneasily. Turning to ask if he was all right, she was left stunned as he vanished in a blink, leaving only empty space behind.

Her reaction was immediate. She stood abruptly, her heart racing, her face a mix of shock and worry. Her wide eyes stayed fixed on the spot where he had been, unable to process what had just happened.

Hypnos and Thanatos, noticing the abrupt disappearance, exchanged quick glances before approaching Kiara with urgency. Their movement caught the attention of others, who turned their curious gazes toward the young woman.

"Where did he go?" Hypnos asked, frowning as he stared at the empty space.

"I don't know," Kiara whispered, her voice barely audible. She extended a trembling hand toward the place where Eros had been, confusion etched across her face as she struggled to find answers she did not have.

Suddenly, a thunderous noise echoed through the hall, silencing all conversation. A brilliant rift began to open in the center of the room, the air thick with an overwhelming, electrified energy. All eyes turned to the phenomenon, a mixture of awe and fear washing over them.

From the rift emerged Hecate, enveloped in her usual aura of authority and mystery. Klaus, raising an eyebrow, crossed his arms with apparent indifference.

"Oh, good, you're back, mother," he said dryly, though his comment went entirely unnoticed as Hecate ignored him completely.

The goddess's gaze locked onto Kiara with an intensity that made the young woman uneasy. Feeling the weight of the stare, Kiara turned slowly, her breath catching when their eyes met.

Behind Hecate, two figures emerged swiftly from the rift. One was Psyche, her face weary but calm, and the other... Eros. But this was not the same Eros who had vanished moments earlier. His eyes burned with a wild combination of desperation and relief, his body tense, his movements frantic, as though driven by a force beyond his control.

When his gaze met Kiara's, his expression shifted instantly. Relief flooded his face, and, ignoring Psyche's attempts to stop him, he strode toward Kiara with unwavering purpose.

"Eros, wait—" Psyche began, but her voice was lost as he advanced without hesitation.

In mere seconds, Eros reached Kiara and, without hesitation, wrapped her tightly in his arms as though he feared losing her again. The tribrid, though stunned, returned the embrace, sensing his desperation in every movement.

Only then, Psyche approached with weary steps, her gaze fixed on Eros and Kiara, while Nemesis watched her with a hint of unease from the sidelines.

Still clinging to Eros, Kiara raised her eyes toward Hecate and Psyche, confusion evident on her face. She didn't understand what was happening, but the tension in the air was palpable, and the looks both women cast her way seemed to conceal truths yet to be revealed.

A chill ran down Kiara's spine when she noticed the dark glare of her father, fixed upon them. Almost involuntarily, she began to pull away from Eros's embrace, but the god wouldn't let her go completely. Instead, he cupped her face gently with his hands, holding her with a tenderness that starkly contrasted his earlier frenzy. His fingers brushed her skin as if he needed to confirm that she was truly there, that she wasn't a dream.

"Eros..." Kiara whispered, her voice trembling, unsure of what to say or do.

Before she could react, the god leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss filled with need, desperation, and relief.

Kiara gasped in surprise, her eyes flying open as she tried to process what was happening. For a moment, her body instinctively responded, hesitantly returning the kiss. But the noise in the room quickly broke through her daze.

A chorus of murmurs and exclamations of surprise filled the air, shattering the moment. Kiara pulled away abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest. Psyche, who had been watching the scene with evident boredom, let out an exasperated sigh.

"This has to be a joke," she muttered wearily, crossing her arms as she raised an eyebrow at her husband.

Eros seemed oblivious to Psyche's reaction and the collective murmurs in the room. His eyes remained fixed on Kiara, and a faint smile graced his face. Despite his relief, there was something in his gaze—a mix of vulnerability and fear of losing her again.

"Are you okay?" Eros asked softly, his eyes studying every detail of her face as if trying to memorize it.

Kiara opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She tried again and again, but her mind was too scattered to form a coherent thought. Finally, when she managed to react, she glared at him, her cheeks flushing from both the kiss and the attention of the entire room.

Stealing a quick glance behind Eros, her eyes scanned the expressions of those present. All eyes were on them, mouths agape, gazes incredulous. But what caught her attention most was Luke.

Unlike the others, he didn't seem surprised. His expression was dark, serious, and there was something in his eyes that made her chest ache. It wasn't anger, nor was it indifference. It was something deeper, something she couldn't quite decipher.

Turning back to Eros, she found him still staring at her as though she were the only thing that mattered in the universe. His gaze remained intense, fixed, almost desperate, as if he feared she might vanish if he looked away. Swallowing hard, uncomfortable under the weight of his stare, she raised her voice, seeking answers.

"Why are you acting so strange?" she asked, trying to sound firm, but her tone betrayed the confusion that consumed her.

Eros didn't respond. His expression stayed serious, unmoving, as if her words hadn't reached him. It was as though he was lost in his own thoughts yet unable to tear his eyes away from her. Kiara felt a shiver run through her as she realized that, in that moment, nothing else seemed to matter to him.

The discomfort was broken by Psyche, who approached with a casual stride. Her immediate presence caused a ripple of murmurs among the minor gods and demigods present. Everyone seemed to expect an explosion of jealousy or anger after what she'd witnessed, but instead, the goddess wore an expression of boredom, almost indifference, though her eyes betrayed a faint hint of relief.

Leaning slightly to one side, Psyche peered around Eros to look at Kiara. Her gaze swept over her with a mix of scrutiny and disinterest before she delivered a comment laced with sarcasm:

"You disappeared, girl," she said in a soft yet firm voice.

Kiara blinked in confusion. "What? I was only gone a few days," she replied incredulously, her mind racing to process what Psyche had said.

A scoff escaped Psyche's lips, almost a laugh. "You've been missing for a month," she declared, her tone teetering on the edge of exasperation.

The revelation hit Kiara like a lightning bolt. Her eyes widened as she glanced between Psyche and Eros. Confusion and shock overwhelmed her.

"A month?" she murmured, struggling to comprehend what she'd just heard. Her gaze finally landed on Eros, seeking confirmation, but he simply stared at her with a mix of reproach and sadness. His silence spoke volumes.

Psyche sighed, rolling her eyes with dramatic flair. "Eros and I searched everywhere for you," she said, crossing her arms. Though her tone was light, her words carried a weight Kiara couldn't ignore.

The tribrid took a step back, clutching her chest as she tried to piece everything together in her mind. Everything inside her seemed to crumble under the weight of this revelation.

As Kiara stepped away from Eros, breaking the only contact that seemed to anchor him to reality, the god let out a low, guttural growl. His gaze darkened even further, and he stepped toward her, his hand reaching out as though needing to touch her again—as though that was the only way to keep his sanity intact.

Before he could get closer, an invisible, swift force violently shoved him backward, slamming him into the wall with a loud, resounding thud. Eros grunted from the impact, only to find Klaus standing before him, gripping his throat with brutal strength.

The hybrid's eyes burned with restrained fury, his jaw clenched as he spoke in a low, menacing tone dripping with danger. "Give me one good reason not to tear your head off right now for daring to lay your hands on my daughter," he spat, his grip tightening around Eros's neck.

The hybrid's eyes burned with restrained fury, his jaw clenched as he spoke in a low, menacing tone dripping with danger. "Give me one good reason not to rip your head clean off your shoulders and leave your remains as a warning to anyone foolish enough to think they can lay a hand on my daughter," he hissed, his grip tightening around the god's neck like the jaws of a beast ready to devour.

Eros's eyes, once glowing faintly red, flared with fierce intensity. A deep growl rumbled from his chest, and with a swift motion, he knocked Klaus back several steps with a forceful swipe. The Original barely stumbled but only grew angrier.

Hecate, who had been watching from a corner with feigned calm, stepped forward, her voice ringing out with firm authority. "Niklaus, stand down!"

But he didn't listen. His fury was an unstoppable torrent, and he moved quickly, ready to immobilize the god once more.

Eros, breathing heavily, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath, stood poised for the next clash. His glowing red eyes blazed, and the tension in his body was like a storm on the verge of breaking.

When Klaus was close enough, he had no chance to react. In the blink of an eye, Eros raised a hand, seized Klaus's head in an unyielding grip, and, with a sharp, brutal motion, twisted his neck. The sickening crack echoed throughout the room.

Klaus's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, and a deathly silence filled the space as everyone stared in stunned horror.

Kiara, frozen in shock, took a few seconds to react before a strangled cry escaped her lips.

"Eros!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief and confusion, unable to process what she had just witnessed.

The god turned to Kiara at the sound of her voice, his gaze locking onto her as though nothing else in the room mattered. He stepped toward her, but before he could close the distance, two invisible forces restrained him. Kol and Elijah had intervened, enraged at what the god had done to Klaus and determined to protect their niece.

"Not another step," Kol growled, appearing in front of Eros while Elijah gripped his arm, his face tight with disapproval. But the god was undeterred.

With terrifying ease, Eros grabbed both Originals as if they were mere dolls. In seconds, the chilling sound of bones snapping pierced the air as he broke their necks with swift, precise movements. The brothers' lifeless bodies collapsed to the floor, joining Klaus.

For a brief moment, the room was engulfed in stunned silence. Demigods recoiled, retreating behind the goddesses present, their fear and confusion palpable. But Kiara, still standing before Eros, did not move back. Her gaze held no fear, only concern as she looked at the god, who seemed completely unhinged.

Eros took another step toward her, but this time, Thanatos and Hypnos appeared, intervening with lightning speed. Both gripped him firmly, struggling to hold him back.

"Eros, calm down!" Thanatos demanded, his voice tinged with disbelief as he fought to restrain him.

"Hecate, what's wrong with him?!" Hypnos shouted, his tone desperate as he strained against the god's violent thrashing.

Hecate, who had been watching from a corner with her usual composure, now bore an expression of rare uncertainty. For once, she seemed at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, Eros continued to struggle, his blazing eyes fixed solely on Kiara. Every attempt to subdue him only seemed to fuel his fury. But then, without warning, his body stilled. His breathing remained ragged, but he no longer resisted.

Thanatos and Hypnos exchanged confused glances, then realized the reason. Kiara had stepped forward, moving toward the god despite the chaos surrounding her.

Eros barely breathed as he felt her hands on his head. The tribrid, her face tense and her gaze resolute, placed both hands on his temples. A radiant light emanated from her palms, an energy that seemed to calm the charged atmosphere.

Everyone watched in complete silence, transfixed, as Kiara's power enveloped Eros. His resistance melted away. His body trembled faintly, but his fiery eyes remained locked on hers, as though he was still searching for something, something only she could provide.

"It's okay, Eros. You're okay..." Kiara murmured, her hands still glowing softly, her voice carrying a mixture of sadness and profound concern.

Eros, his breath still uneven and his eyes clouded, stared at Kiara as if she was the anchor tethering him to reality.

With a shaky sigh, Kiara whispered something inaudible, words laced with a power that surged through Eros like a lightning bolt. Slowly, his eyes began to close, and his body surrendered to the sleep induced by her will. His tense posture softened, and before he could collapse, Thanatos caught him swiftly in his arms.

"Psyche, come here," Kiara called, her voice steady yet gentle. The goddess approached without hesitation. Then, turning to Hecate, Kiara spoke again. "Can we postpone today's chapter?"

Hecate nodded, immediately grasping the gravity of the situation. She turned to the demigods and others in the room, giving clear instructions on how to occupy themselves for the rest of the day.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Kiara enveloped the two gods and the primordial in shadows and transported them to Solaris, though this time to a different room than the one she had shared with Luke. Thanatos wasted no time carefully placing Eros on the bed, his gaze fixed on the god with a concern he made no effort to hide.

"How did he end up like this?" Kiara asked, moving closer to the bed and sitting down next to the god, who lay deeply asleep.

Psyche, realizing the question was directed at her, let out a weary sigh. She glanced around the room, searching for a place to sit, and when she spotted the small couch in front of the bed, she didn't hesitate to move toward it, settling down with exhaustion.

"I've told you before, girl. When you disappeared, he lost control," Psyche replied, her voice tinged with weariness and a hint of reproach. "The other one is worse, but he holds it together for Willow."

Kiara tensed, her eyes fixed on Psyche with desperation. "How are they?" she asked, her voice breaking.

Psyche sighed, holding back her own anger as she looked at Kiara softly. "They're fine, both of them. Lana and their mother keep him grounded. If it were up to him, he'd have already destroyed Olympus."

Thanatos and Hypnos exchanged confused looks.

"What are you talking about, P?" the primordial asked, fixing an intense gaze on Psyche.

She looked at him for a moment before turning her gaze to Eros, still deeply asleep in front of her. Then, her eyes landed on Kiara, who trembled like a leaf, holding one of Eros's hands in her own, gripping it tightly as if afraid it might break.

The goddess of the soul sighed and stood up, walking toward the two confused beings. "Come on, I'll explain outside." With that, the three of them left the room.

A low groan from Eros caught Kiara's attention, and she quickly turned her gaze toward him. The god was starting to open and close his eyes, slowly adjusting to the blinding light of the room.

Eros blinked several times, his gaze fixed on Kiara as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Finally, his eyes focused on her, and in a raspy voice, he asked, "Angel?"

Kiara couldn't help but smile sadly upon seeing him, a glimmer in her eyes. "Hey," she murmured, gently caressing his face, letting the softness of her touch glide over Eros's skin. Her serious expression softened, and with infinite tenderness, she brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen across his face.

Eros looked at her with eyes still struggling to focus, as if it was hard to believe she was there, in front of him. "I missed you," he said, his voice low but filled with a warmth only he could offer.

Kiara let out a soft laugh, but the sadness never left her expression. A treacherous tear slid down her cheek, falling onto Eros's skin. "I missed you too," she repeated, her voice barely holding together.

Without saying anything else, Eros carefully lifted his hand, as if fearing that any sudden movement might make her disappear. His fingers traced through Kiara's soft hair, entwining in it in such an intimate way that it felt as if everything that had happened until now could fade away. He gently pulled her closer, bringing his face near hers, and with the utmost tenderness, he kissed her. It was a sweet, cautious kiss, as if Eros feared that by kissing her, she might vanish again, like she had so many times before.

Kiara returned the kiss with a warmth that reached his soul, as if time had condensed into a single heartbeat. Despite the uncertainty, despite the chaos, for a moment, it was just them.

They parted slowly, the air between them heavy with unspoken emotions. Kiara smiled, but the expression never reached her eyes, as though a shadow lingered within her.

Eros, as always, knew that part of her. He knew something wasn't right. Without thinking, he gently pushed her toward the bed, urging her to lie down beside him. She nestled against his chest, closing her eyes for a moment as the sound of his breathing became the only comfort she could find.

Eros stroked Kiara's hair with a gentleness that only he knew how to offer, letting his fingers entwine with her strands while his eyes remained fixed on the ceiling. "How are you?" he asked, his voice soft, warm like a whisper.

Kiara tensed at his question, a lump forming in her throat. She couldn't lie to him, but she also didn't want to burden him with her fears. "I'm fine," she replied, though her voice cracked, betraying her contained emotions.

Eros gave a faint smile, not looking away from the ceiling. The constellations above him kept him absorbed, but his mind was entirely focused on Kiara. "Before I got to you, Hecate and the Moirai..." His voice faltered for a moment, and Kiara sensed a trace of anger in his words. "They... they told me about their plans, about what they did."

Kiara didn't respond; the silence filled the room, but the tension emanating from her was palpable. Eros took it as a cue to continue. "They brought your friends back... your family," he said, letting the words hang in the air before continuing. The silence around them felt heavy, almost suffocating.

Kiara sighed, the weight of her confusion and pain reflected in her lost gaze. "I don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Eros looked at her with deep understanding, aware of the storm that was consuming her. "You don't have to have all the answers right now," he said gently. "Don't put so much pressure on yourself, Kiara."

Kiara shook her head slightly, as if his words couldn't calm the chaos within her. "I'm afraid of losing them... all of them," she confessed, her voice cracking with the emotion she'd held back.

The god looked at her with a gaze full of certainty, as if nothing could threaten what they had between them. "You won't, Kiara. I won't let you lose the ones you love again," he assured her, each word filled with a truth only he seemed to understand.

But Kiara, trapped in her doubts, couldn't shake the uncertainty gnawing at her. Her mind dragged her into questioning whether her choices were fair, whether what she was doing would end up destroying everything in its path, even Eros. "What if this doesn't work?" she whispered, barely audible. "What if in the end, I'm just deceived, and I drag myself back into that horrible reality where they're not alive anymore? Where my dad..." Her voice cracked, and a trembling sigh escaped her lips, gasping for air between the words.

Eros looked at her with a mixture of sadness and understanding. He leaned toward her, gently taking her face in his hands, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Kiara," he said, his voice firm but full of sweetness. "I know fear consumes you, but what's coming is not like the past. You don't have to carry all the pain you feel alone. You won't."

Kiara swallowed with difficulty, feeling the weight of her words, but doubt still clouded her mind. "What if I'm not strong enough?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What if in the end, I break... and drag everyone down with me?"

Eros sighed, releasing her face to take her hands with more force. "Being strong doesn't mean never falling, Kiara. It means getting back up again and again, even when everything seems lost. And you're not alone in this. You never have been."

Kiara closed her eyes, feeling Eros's words penetrate her being. But the anguish still hurt, a shadow looming over her. "I'm afraid of losing myself," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Of not knowing who I am without all this, without the expectations everyone has of me."

Eros watched her in silence for a moment, then leaned towards her, his forehead gently touching hers. "You'll never lose who you are, Kiara," he murmured. "You are so much more than what others expect of you. You are strength, you are light, you are everything you need to be."

Kiara took a deep breath, feeling a small spark of hope ignite in her chest. Not everything was clear, not everything was resolved, but Eros's words, so firm and full of conviction, were a refuge in the storm. Maybe she didn't have all the answers, but at least for now, she wasn't alone. And that was enough.

Suddenly, Eros pulled back a little, his eyes now focused on Kiara with a thoughtful expression. "I've noticed Luke is here too. How did everyone react to seeing him?" he asked, curious but also a bit uneasy.

Kiara let out a bitter laugh, almost inaudible. "Some are killing him with their looks," she said, shrugging. "But the gods still have no idea." Her words mixed with a shadow of irony, as if a bad joke were about to unfold.

Eros furrowed his brow, confused. "What do you mean by that?"

Kiara looked at him for a moment, her eyes shining with a playful spark, though her emotions were still a mess inside her. "They're from that time, Eros," she explained slowly. "When Luke stole grandpa's thing. No one has talked about it yet... and it's obvious the gods have no clue what's happened."

Eros stood silent for a moment, processing her words, but the revelation hit him immediately. His eyes widened as if struck by a direct lightning bolt. "That means Apollo doesn't know that..." His voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Kiara smiled with palpable malice. "We're just getting started, dear. Dad has no idea what we are or what we've done behind his back."

Eros groaned, grabbed a pillow, and slapped it over his face, covering himself completely. Kiara couldn't help but laugh as she climbed into Eros's lap and tried to take the pillow away. "He doesn't even know we're friends?" the god asked, his voice muffled by the pillow.

Amid her laughter, Kiara kept fighting for the pillow. "He just found out... and your version of the past took an epic beating."

Eros removed the pillow, looking at her in surprise and a touch of offense. "What? My version of the past?"

Kiara smiled again and settled further in his lap. "I was here, but disappeared before they arrived... I guess it'd be weird to have two versions of someone in the same place."

He looked at her seriously. "And you're saying Apollo hit me?" he gasped, offended.

Kiara smiled again, nodding mischievously. "Yeah, right in front of everyone."

Eros stared at her, offended, but when he saw the way she was teasing him, he slapped her bottom with some force. Kiara let out a surprised, amused yelp. "Hey!" she exclaimed, but her smile still lit up her face.

The god looked at her suddenly, as if something in the way she was positioned made him react. His hands, as if to take control of the situation, slowly slid down her hips, squeezing with the softness of a familiar touch.

Kiara's playful smile vanished instantly, replaced by a serious and cold look. "Don't even think about it," she said, her voice low.

But Eros, with a conspiratorial grin, didn't let the emotional distance between them grow. "Oh, come on," he insisted, mischief gleaming in his eyes. "You left me alone for a month... the least you could do is make it up to me." His movement was almost imperceptible, but just enough to make her feel even closer to him, their bodies almost merging.

Kiara watched him, unwavering, but her gaze fell, unwillingly, on his lips, betraying herself.

Eros noticed the change in her demeanor, a smug smile forming on his face. "You want it too, don't you?" he murmured, and before she could move more, he leaned towards her, bringing his lips near hers with the promise of the inevitable.

However, before the kiss could be shared, a voice interrupted, breaking the palpable tension in the air. "You don't waste any time, huh?" Luke said, from the doorway. He was leaning with his arms crossed, but his mischievous smile was clear despite the seriousness in his gaze.

With one swift movement, Kiara jumped off Eros's lap, assuming an upright posture as she looked at Luke, embarrassment flooding her. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and her voice came out shaky, clearly overwhelmed by the situation. "Luke... I... this wasn't... you know..."

Luke's laugh interrupted her words, and before she could feel more embarrassed, Eros joined in the laughter. Both enjoyed the visible confusion in Kiara.

Kiara glared at them, narrowing her eyes, a grunt escaping her lips. "Stop laughing," she ordered. Though both fell silent, their smiles stayed on their faces.

Luke walked calmly to the bed and flopped down next to Eros. With a nonchalant gesture, he nodded his head in greeting. "Did you calm down yet?" he asked, his tone playful.

Eros, who had been completely focused on Kiara, felt a slight flush on his cheeks. He looked at Luke with annoyance. "Idiot," he murmured, but his voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, and his attempt to sound annoyed couldn't mask the small smile that escaped.

Luke, never missing an opportunity to tease, gave him a lopsided grin and then turned to Kiara, who was watching them in silence. Her expression was enigmatic, but Luke quickly broke the ice. "What's up, Kie?" he asked, a playful tone in his voice. "Did your fantasies come true?"

Without hesitation, Kiara quickly moved and, with an agile motion, grabbed a pillow and slammed it straight into Luke's face. The hit was firm, and although Luke seemed surprised by her speed, his laughter soon erupted. Kiara, breathing unevenly, looked at both of them with a defiant expression.

Luke's laughter faded slowly, leaving a heavy silence between the three of them. Calmly, his gaze moved from Eros to Kiara before breaking the silence with a question that sounded far too casual for the weight it carried.

"So, are you two together in the future?"

Kiara tensed immediately. Her body seemed to want to sink into the mattress as her eyes avoided Luke, focusing on an undefined point. Eros, on the other hand, looked at Kiara in confusion, but when she shook her head, he only responded with a soft, almost affirming sound that barely broke the atmosphere.

Luke looked at him sideways, his jaw clenched. "Subtle as always," he commented, but his tone lacked real annoyance. Then he turned toward Kiara, his expression softening when he noticed how still and absent she seemed.

"Kiara," he called firmly, but not harshly. She barely reacted, her breathing too slow, too contained. Luke tilted his head, watching her intently. "Why are you acting like this is going to break me?"

Kiara finally raised her gaze, and for a moment, Luke saw what she had been hiding. There was exhaustion in her eyes, a weight that shouldn't have been there. "I..." she began, but her voice cracked. She lowered her head, her hands nervously playing with the edge of the blanket. "I don't know."

Luke sighed, the sound heavy but patient. "You overthink too much, Kie," he said gently, as if trying to remind her of something important. "This isn't your fault, understand? I'm not going to judge you for something I always knew could happen."

Eros, who had remained silent until then, slightly raised his head, observing Kiara seriously. He didn't speak immediately, as if waiting for his moment. Finally, he broke the silence in a firm but careful voice.

"Luke is right," he said, looking at Kiara with something rare in him: a kind of gentleness that he only showed when the situation called for it. "You're acting like it's the end of the world."

Kiara didn't answer. Her shoulders shrugged a little, as if their words were just starting to filter in.

Luke leaned forward. "Kie, look at me," he asked calmly. She did, albeit slowly. "I'm not mad. I couldn't be. I just want to know what's going on with you. You seem... not yourself."

Kiara swallowed hard and blinked several times, trying to keep her expression firm, but in the end, guilt betrayed her. "It's just all too much," she admitted quietly. "I didn't want it to end like this. I didn't want it to..." She paused, not knowing how to continue.

Eros took over, his tone lighter, as if he wanted to gently pull her out of the dark place. "Kiara," he said, leaning slightly towards her. "You've got both of us, right? No matter what happens in the future, you'll never be alone."

Luke shot Eros a quick look, as if measuring his words, but didn't say anything. Instead, he added with a more relaxed tone, almost teasing, but full of warmth. "Even if it's unbearable, he's right."

Eros looked at him with a mischievous smile, raising an eyebrow. "Thanks for admitting it."

Luke scoffed but returned his gaze to Kiara. "See? You don't have to carry all this by yourself. And you don't have to hide how you feel."

Kiara let out a long sigh, saying nothing. Slowly, she crawled across the bed, settling herself right in the middle of the two. The silence that followed was calm, comfortable, as if they'd finally found a space where words weren't needed.

But, as always, Eros couldn't stay quiet for long.

"So... are you still going to make it up to me?" he asked suddenly, breaking the peace with that unmistakable cheeky tone of his.

Luke let out a low chuckle, shaking his head in feigned disappointment. "Unbelievable," he murmured, as if the situation was too much to handle.

Kiara turned toward Eros, glaring at him, her patience clearly worn thin. "Asshole!" she snapped, punching him in the chest.

"What did I do now?!" the god complained, rubbing the spot where she'd hit him, as if it actually hurt.

"You ruined the moment," she accused, deliberately turning her back on him and facing Luke instead.

Eros huffed, clearly offended, and shot a pointed look at Luke, who didn't even bother hiding the mix of amusement and smug satisfaction on his face.

"Asshole," Luke said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Eros stared at him, affronted, leaning back slightly as though the very idea was outrageous. "Just because you're Kiara's epic love doesn't mean I'll let you get away with such disrespect."

Luke burst into genuine laughter, leaning slightly forward as he threw an arm around Kiara's shoulders, pulling her closer. "You're so dramatic," he teased, grinning at Eros with deliberate cheekiness.

Eros rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, but the faint smile tugging at his lips betrayed him. Kiara, sandwiched between the two, sighed, though she couldn't stop a small smile from forming either.

A brief, comfortable silence fell over the room until Luke broke it with a calmness so casual it was instantly suspicious.

"So, how do you plan to deal with Apollo?"

The question landed like a bucket of cold water. Both Kiara and Eros froze, turning simultaneously to stare at Luke.

"What do you mean?" Kiara asked, her furrowed brow betraying the growing worry behind her words.

Luke looked at her with mock pity, tilting his head as though about to drop a bombshell. "Eros kissed you in front of Klaus."

Eros scoffed, utterly unbothered. "And?"

Luke turned toward him slowly, looking at him with the kind of exaggerated exhaustion one might use with a clueless child. "And? Are you stupid? You just made him even angrier. When Klaus wakes up, the first thing he'll do is run straight to Apollo and tell him everything."

Eros snorted again, this time with a dismissive smirk. "How childish. Running to the husband because he can't handle things by himself."

Kiara shot him an exasperated look. "Remember, they're not from the future, Eros. They still hate you as if breathing depended on it."

The god tilted his head toward her, his smile full of provocation. "They don't need to breathe, Kie. They're immortal."

Luke groaned, clearly fed up, and rolled his eyes before leaning into Kiara, resting his head against the crook of her neck with a heavy sigh.

"I don't get how you like this idiot," he muttered against her, his voice muffled but clear.

Kiara let out a brief, tired laugh as Eros stared at Luke, feigning indignation. "Hey!" the god protested, crossing his arms.

Luke didn't even bother lifting his head, his grin barely contained. "Shut up."

Hey there!

Here's a new chapter—one that's a bit... complicated. Honestly, I don't even know what to say about it, but I hope it doesn't leave you with too many questions (or confuse you even more).

To start, I decided to bring in the Eros from the future because... well, I felt like it. But honestly, I needed someone who knew everything Kiara's been through, and who better than our favorite winged god? Psyche... well, she's just a filler, lol.

There was a lot of chaos in this chapter, and a few not-so-secret secrets were revealed.

Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what you thought of the chapter.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT! PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! <3