Morning came slow and silvery over the Montreve-Léclair estate, light slipping past enchanted curtains and spilling over velvet and bone-white sheets.

Marius stirred at the faint sensation of something soft poking at his cheek. Once. Twice. A third time, with more dramatic flair.

"Stop that," he muttered, eyes still closed.

A soft, delighted giggle answered him.

"Mon cœur, if you don't open your eyes this instant, I'll have no choice but to start undressing you instead."

Marius cracked one crimson eye open. Calix was leaning over him, hair perfectly styled as always, shirt already half-unbuttoned despite the early hour. His gloved hand hovered midair, clearly prepared for another poke.

"You're insufferable," Marius murmured, voice rough with sleep.

"And you," Calix purred, "are radiant when half-conscious. The color in your cheeks, the sleep in your eyes... mmm, I could bottle this look and call it 'Exhaustion: by Léclair.' Limited edition. Only one in existence."

Marius sighed and sat up slowly, stretching lean arms above his head. "Don't be ridiculous."

Calix gasped, delighted, and leaned in to press a kiss just beneath Marius's jaw. "Ah, so cruel in the morning. I adore it."

Their marital banter was cut short by a soft knock. A moment later, the door creaked open to reveal Vester, their ever-nervous head butler. The dhampir man looked even paler than usual, which was saying something.

"Masters," Vester said carefully, fingers twisting against the lapels of his uniform, "apologies for the intrusion, but... it appears the young pet is unwell. Quite unwell. Fevered. Possibly delirious. None of the staff know how to manage human ailments..."

He trailed off as Marius immediately rose, his calm expression cracking with concern.

Calix blinked. "Oh! Wait for me, mon ange!"

They stormed down the hall, past startled servants and flickering sconces, until they reached the pet's room. Marius was the first to enter, swiftly kneeling beside the bed.

"Here?" he murmured, brushing the pet's sweat-damp hair from his forehead. The moment his hand touched skin, he recoiled. "He's burning up."

"Don't just stand there," Calix said sharply, already at the door summoning one of their night-creature messengers. "Fetch a doctor. A human one. From the village clinic." His voice dipped threateningly. "Bring them safely. Don't kidnap them this time."

The creature scurried off.

Calix leaned close, eyes scanned every inch of the pet's face, concern layered beneath the usual mischief. Across him, Marius fussed with the blankets, trying to cool the heat without exposing them to a draft.

"Do you know anything about human illness?" Calix asked under his breath.

"Our last pet was healthy."

Calix scoffed. "True, our last pet never got sick. She died of heartbreak, not influenza."

Marius's expression darkened. "That's not helpful."

"Well, you're the scholar. Do any of your books cover... this?"

"I'll look."

Before either of them could dart toward the library, the pet stirred—just a little, but made both vampires freeze. Their eyes locked on the figure immediately.

"Shh, shh," Calix murmured, cupping the pet's face. "There you are, mon trésor. You're alright."

Marius's hand brushed the pet's forehead again, softer this time. "Just focus on resting. We'll handle everything else."