The Shadow Nexus Online

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Chapter 10: A Night of Surprises

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, gently nudging Rio from his slumber. His body felt warm and oddly… heavy.

As his senses slowly returned, he realized why.

Retina was asleep on top of him, her breathing steady and calm. On his other side, Iris was curled up, her head resting on his arm as if guarding him even in her sleep.

Rio's face turned crimson.

"Uh… how did this happen?" he whispered, barely moving.

He tried to shift slightly, hoping not to wake them, but the slightest movement made Retina stir, her body pressing closer.

"Why does this feel so… awkward?" Rio thought, his heart pounding as he struggled to stay still.

After what felt like an eternity, he managed to slip out without waking them. By the time they sat down for breakfast, Rio had regained some composure. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meat filled the air, making his stomach growl.

"This is really good," Rio mumbled between bites.

Retina smiled softly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "We'll need the energy for today. I have a feeling things will get… interesting."

After finishing their meal, Rio decided to take a bath to relax his tired muscles. The private bath in their room was a welcome luxury. He sank into the warm water, sighing as the heat soothed his body.

"Ah… this feels nice," he murmured, letting his head rest against the edge of the tub.

His peace, however, was short-lived.

The door creaked open.

Rio's eyes flew open just in time to see Retina walk in casually, followed closely by Iris, who padded in silently and sat near the edge of the bath.

"Wait—why are you here?!" Rio nearly jumped, instinctively covering himself.

Retina's lips curled into a playful smile. "Well… we thought we'd keep you company."

Iris tilted her head, letting out a low whimper, her tail wagging slightly as if amused by Rio's flustered state.

"Y-You could have at least knocked!" Rio's face was turning redder by the second.

Retina, unfazed, stepped into the bath, her expression calm and relaxed. "Ah… the water is nice."

Rio's thoughts raced as he struggled to process the situation. His heart was pounding, his mind caught between embarrassment and sheer panic.

"I'm not ready for this…" he thought, desperately trying to stay calm.

Iris, oblivious to Rio's internal turmoil, dipped her paws into the water, her presence adding an oddly peaceful atmosphere to the moment.

As Retina leaned back, enjoying the warmth, Rio couldn't help but think that this adventure was going to be far more unpredictable than he had ever imagined.

To be continued…

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