Chapter 154: Couldn’t Sleep

Evren chuckled, looking between the two women standing in front of him. Amber still had her hands on her hips, her eyes flashing with mock defiance.

Next to her, Zephyra stood straight and calm, her silver-ash hair falling neatly over her shoulders as she smoothed down her sleeves.

"You two just fought through an entire canyon of void monsters," Evren said, shaking his head with a grin. "Your idea of relaxing is working on my shoulders?"

"A bet is a bet, Evren," Amber replied, stepping closer and tapping his chest with one finger. "We both took down two hundred and fourteen monsters, so we both have to pay the winner."

Zephyra gave a quiet nod. "Master Evren carries the weight of the entire guild every day. Your muscles are under constant strain from combat."

"See? Even Zephyra agrees," Amber said, turning him toward the leather sofa. "Sit down, Chairman, and stop arguing."

Evren raised his hands in mock defeat. He slipped off his charcoal jacket and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.

Beyond the wide glass windows, the city lights stretched out like a carpet of gold stars. The penthouse was peaceful, far from the front lines.

Evren sat down on the soft cushions and let out a long breath. The leather was cool against his back, and the room was pleasantly warm after the chilly night air.

Zephyra walked over to the side table and picked up a bottle of herbal massage oil. She poured a few drops into her palms, warming the oil between her hands.

"I will take the left side and upper spine," Zephyra said softly, kneeling beside the sofa. "My shadow training taught me the pressure points for releasing fatigue."

Amber moved behind his right shoulder, pouring oil onto her own palms. She rubbed them briskly until her skin radiated warmth.

"You do your thing," Amber said with a smirk. "I’ll use good old-fashioned strength. Let’s see who makes him relax first."

Evren leaned his head back against the cushion. "Just promise me you won’t use S-Rank physical force. I want my spine in one piece tomorrow."

Both girls laughed, the sound filling the quiet room. Then their hands settled onto his shoulders, and Evren closed his eyes.

Amber’s touch was warm, firm, and gentle. Her thumbs pressed into the knot beside his shoulder blade, working through the tight tissue with steady pressure.

On his other side, Zephyra’s fingers moved with surgical precision. Her touch was cooler, pressing directly into the pressure points along his neck.

A low sigh of relief slipped past Evren’s lips. The contrast between Amber’s warmth and Zephyra’s cool precision sent a wave of comfort through his upper body.

"Hear that?" Amber said triumphantly, working deeper into his shoulder. "That sigh was definitely from my side. My heat is loosening up his shoulder knot."

Zephyra’s violet eyes flickered with quiet amusement. "Master Evren sighed the moment my thumb pressed the nerve cluster below his ear. It was clearly my pressure point."

"No way," Amber argued, leaning in until her hair brushed against his cheek. "He likes the warmth. Tell her, Evren, who is doing a better job?"

Evren kept his eyes shut, a relaxed smile on his face. "If I pick a winner, the loser might double the pressure. I am staying neutral."

"Coward," Amber teased, leaning down so her voice was soft beside his ear. Her hands never stopped moving along his right shoulder.

Zephyra moved her hands down to his upper back, tracing his spine with gentle strokes. "Your mana circuits are dense, Master Evren. It feels solid as forged steel, but there is deep fatigue underneath."

"Managing a conglomerate and clearing rifts doesn’t leave much time for rest," Evren murmured, tilting his head as Zephyra worked the base of his neck.

Amber’s hands slowed down, her expression turning softer. She looked down at his face, watching the tension drain from his jaw. "You never complain, either," she said quietly, her voice losing its playful edge. "Back in Veridia, when you took me in, you worked yourself to the bone every single hour."

Evren opened his eyes and looked up at her. Amber was looking down at him with pure affection.

"You cooked for me, got my medicine, and never asked for anything in return," Amber added softly. "Seeing you work this hard always makes my chest ache."

"I didn’t need to ask," Evren said gently. "Seeing you stand up and smile again was worth more than any amount of money."

Amber’s cheeks flushed pink under the lamp light. She bit her lower lip, resuming her gentle kneading along his collarbone.

Zephyra watched them in silence. She shifted closer, moving her hands down Evren’s left arm to massage his forearm and wrist.

"I used to think people only helped others when they wanted to use them," Zephyra whispered. Her voice was barely louder than the hum of the air conditioner. "In the underground arena, kindness was a weakness that got you killed."

She pressed her thumb into the center of his palm, releasing the tight grip in his hand.

"The moment you bought my contract, you treated me like family," Zephyra continued with quiet gratitude. "You spent twenty million dollars without blinking, just so I could sleep in a warm room. I will spend my life standing by your side."

Evren moved his hands on the sofa, gently reaching out. He caught Amber’s warm right hand with his own, and wrapped his left fingers around Zephyra’s cool hand.

Both girls paused, looking down at him as their fingers intertwined.

"Neither of you owes me anything," Evren said firmly. "You are my family, and having both of you here, safe and smiling, is all I care about."

Amber squeezed his hand tightly, her throat tightening with emotion. Her dark eyes shimmered with quiet joy, and she gave him a radiant smile.

Zephyra lowered her head slightly, her cheeks warming with a faint blush as she gripped his fingers back with loyalty. The three of them stayed like that in the quiet room, listening to the soft hum of the city below.

Eventually, Zephyra stepped back from the sofa and wiped her hands clean on a small towel. She bowed her head slightly toward Evren.

"It is getting late, Master Evren," Zephyra said softly. "You should get some rest before tomorrow’s meetings. I will check the wards and head to my room."

"Thank you, Zephyra," Evren said, smiling at her. "The massage was incredible. My neck hasn’t felt this loose in weeks."

Zephyra’s lips curved into a tiny smile. "Goodnight, Master Evren. Goodnight, Amber."

She gave a small nod and walked down the hallway toward her private suite. Amber stood beside the sofa, watching Zephyra leave before turning back to Evren.

Her dark-brown eyes were bright, lingering on his face with a quiet warmth that made his pulse jump. "You really should take a hot shower," she finally said in a murmur. "You’ve been in armor all day, and the hot water will wash out the rest of the stiffness."

"I think I will," Evren replied, rising from the sofa and stretching his arms over his head. His shoulders felt completely light. "Are you heading to bed too?"

Amber took a half-step back, smoothing the front of her top. Her face was flushed, and she looked down at the floor for a second before meeting his eyes again. "Yeah," she said softly, her voice carrying a little flutter of nervous anticipation. "I’m heading to my room right now. Don’t stay up too late, okay?"

"I won’t," Evren smiled. "Goodnight, Amber."

"Goodnight, Evren," she whispered, turning to walk down the corridor toward her bedroom with light, steady steps.

Evren watched her go, admiring her graceful steps now that her legs were completely healed. Once the room was empty, he turned off the main lights, leaving only the dim ambient strips glowing along the floorboards.

He walked into his master bedroom suite at the end of the penthouse. The suite was spacious, featuring a massive bed, a private balcony, and an adjoining bathroom of white marble.

Evren walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Steam billowed immediately, filling the glass enclosure with warm mist.

He stripped down, tossed his clothes into the hamper, and stepped under the roaring stream of hot water. The heat felt wonderful against his skin.

He closed his eyes as the hot water pounded against his back and neck, washing away the grit and fatigue from the long day. He thought about Calista resting peacefully, finally safe from harm.

He thought about the upcoming guild assembly where he would face Caldwell and the rest. With Amber and Zephyra by his side, he was ready for anything.

After letting the hot water soak into his skin, Evren turned off the shower and stepped onto the heated floor. He grabbed a plush towel and dried off his hair.

He pulled on a comfortable pair of dark lounge pants and a soft cotton shirt, draping the towel loosely over his shoulders. Ready for sleep, he opened the bathroom door and stepped into the bedroom.

He took two steps toward his bed and suddenly froze. Sitting on the edge of the mattress was Amber.

She had changed out of her daytime clothes into an elegant crimson silk sleep dress, with a matching light robe tied loosely around her waist. Her long black hair was loose, tumbling over her shoulders in soft waves.

The amber glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the rosy blush spreading across her cheeks. Her eyes were wide and nervous, but there was a heartfelt determination shining in them.

In her hands, she clutched the edge of the silk bedsheet, her knuckles white against the dark fabric. Evren stood frozen in the middle of the room, his damp towel still resting on his shoulders as his throat went dry.

"Amber?" Evren’s voice came out lower than usual, carrying a slight edge of surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Amber looked up at him, her heart hammering hard against her ribs. She swallowed hard, her voice trembling just a little as she looked right into his eyes.

"I couldn’t sleep," Amber whispered, her fingers gripping the sheet tighter. "I spent the last hour thinking about everything we’ve been through... and how much you mean to me."

She took a slow, trembling breath. "Tonight... I didn’t want to be in an empty room, Evren," she said softly. "I wanted to be with you."