Corvin watched Marcus walk down the hall, then returned his focus to the "technique' message Silas had just sent. His brow furrowed as he looked from the lightcore to himself. That old memory came creeping back—inside that rough little cabin at the Interstellar Hunter Alliance. I once tried to show off in the cabin, but Ms. Tibarn didn't react at all—no smile, not even a blink. Perhaps the problem wasn't the move, but rather me... He sighed quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. Great. Maybe I'm just not packing enough fireworks. What the hell am I supposed to do now? ... Inside the bedroom, Emma had already changed into her pajamas. She slipped under the covers beside Edric, scrolling through her messages until she spotted the link Aria had sent earlier. Volume down to zero. One quick tap. The video started loading.Her eyes widened. Oh my Beast God… what on earth am I watching right now? Is this even legal? Like—seriously? Aria, girl, you're insane. Whenever she finds something wild, she can't keep it to herself. This is way too spicy for a weeknight, Emma thought, feeling both embarrassed and curious. So caught up in the screen, she didn't notice the man next to her stir. Edric's fingers twitched once, then again. His lashes lifted slowly as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The only light came from Emma's screen, the glow brushing across her cheekbones in flashes of blue and gold. His groggy mind took a second to catch up. Then the sound reached him—soft, breathy, the kind of noise that didn't belong in a quiet bedroom. He blinked twice, focus sharpening. Emma's whisper broke the silence. "So he's from the Ophidian male..." A pause."I heard Obsidian is supposed to have two. Is that real?" Her tone was pure curiosity. She'd only ever heard rumors—Edric had never shown her. He stayed still for a moment, fighting the grin that threatened to rise. Then his hand moved steadily, sliding over her waist. His voice came low and rough against her ear. "If you really want to know, Emma. I'll show you." Her lightcore slipped right out of her hand and landed on the bed with a dull thud. The video blared to life, its moans filling the room like some cruel cosmic joke. Emma's blood went hot and cold all at once. Her eyes darted to the dark screen reflection. The heat in her face could've melted steel. "E-Edric... when did you wake up?" She wanted to vanish, crawl under the blanket, and delete her existence. Edric's arm tightened around her, firm yet gentle, his body radiating heat against her back. He picked up the fallen lightcore with one hand, his long fingers tapping the screen until it went dark. The quiet afterward was deafening. His breath grazed her ear. "Right around the time you asked if Obsidian has two." Her pulse jumped. The way he said it—soft, amused, a little dangerous—made her heart twist. The room was dark again. Only their breathing filled the space. Edric's arm stayed wrapped around her, muscles tense beneath the warmth. His chest pressed against her back in a steady rhythm that left her dizzy. "Edric..." Her whisper trembled. The lightcore hit the headboard with a soft clack as his hand drifted lower, settling on her hip. He rested his chin in the curve of her shoulder, nose brushing against her ear. His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Emma. I advanced." Her body stilled. He had waited for this—for her—for so long. "We can bond now." Those words sank deep. Her heartbeat thudded against his arm, too fast and loud. His breath warmed her neck, his scent—cool, sharp, addicting—wrapped around her senses. His lips brushed her earlobe, a feather-light touch that made her toes curl. "Emma..." His voice cracked on her name, strained with the effort to hold back. His hand slid up her side, fingertips trailing slow fire along her spine through the thin fabric. Every inch he covered left her breathless. Her fingers clenched in his shirt without thought. He caught her hand easily, weaving their fingers together, his grip unyielding yet tender. His breath fanned down her throat as his lips traced along her collarbone, leaving behind a faint red mark—something private, something claiming. Her back arched involuntarily. Her pulse thundered like it was trying to escape. Edric pressed his forehead against hers, his voice wrecked and low. "Emma... I've waited so d*mn long for this." His hand slid up, tugging lightly at the hem of her top. His palm met her bare skin, hot and electric. Her breath hitched, eyes fluttering shut as the tension between them snapped tight. His mouth hovered over hers, so close she could feel every shaky exhale. He didn't rush. He wanted her to feel it—the pause, the pull, the promise. "Edric..." Emma's voice trembled, soft and wanting, his name falling from her lips like a secret she could no longer keep.