Ceres was utterly flabbergasted. A profound sense of disbelief washed over her ethereal form, leaving her momentarily paralyzed. It hadn't been 24 hours yet since she found herself mysteriously pulled into his immediate vicinity, and now, against all logical explanations, it happened again. The cosmic tether that bound her to his side seemed to be tightening its grip, completely ignoring her own free will.
"Is it because I was thinking of you?" she asked as she floated next to him.
She drifted lazily through the crisp mountain air, her weightless body matching his steady, upward pace. Her voice was nothing more than a soft sigh in the wind, entirely imperceptible to mortal ears. She studied the sharp line of his jaw and the heavy, brooding look in his eyes.
"But I don't think that's the case. Belle and I talked about you in the past and this never happened. So, let's cross that out," she added as if Nikolai was really talking to her.
