"I'm scared that once we bond... I'll fall even further behind the others." Lucien's voice cracked at the edges. He loosened his hold on Emma and sank to one knee before her. "Emma," he breathed, "I'm not asking you to love me the way you love Edric. I just don't want you to look at me with disgust. After we bond... could you maybe look my way a little more? Spend a little more of your time with me, when you can?" Emma went still. Her heart gave a painful twist as she looked down at him. This was Lucien—the second prince of Aurelia. Known as a war god, he was the commander who ruthlessly defeated armies. Yet he was, kneeling in front of her, his voice barely steady and trembling, fearful that even a single breath too loud might turn her away. The sight cracked something deep inside her. She also knelt, her hair falling like a curtain between them. Her fingertips softly touched his face, feeling the warmth of his skin. Gradually, she lifted his chin and pressed her lips to his—gentle, warm, and filled with silent promise. "You're my first mate, Lucien," she whispered. "The one I trust most. I'd never despise you. I promise to make more time for us." She helped him to his feet, her gaze steady. He was her first bond, her foundation. In this home full of pride and power, how she treated him would shape his place among them all. "Emma..." Lucien's voice barely came out before he pulled her close again, kissing her with desperate restraint. If he could, he'd lock the world away and keep her to himself. Knock, knock, knock. The door shook with a sudden knock. Emma's breath caught, but Lucien's actions continued. His kiss grew more intense, with passion overriding logic. One hand steadied her waist, pressing her close to the door. The other hand cupped her face, thumb tracing her jaw, then tilting her chin upward to capture her lips once more. Knock, knock, knock. The knocking grew more insistent. Their lips parted only for air, their breaths quick and uneven. Emma clutched his collar, her pulse racing so fast it almost hurt. Knock, knock, knock. "Emma, you still awake?" Silas' voice drifted from the hallway. "Lucien..." Emma pushed lightly at his chest, voice unsteady. Lucien took a deep breath and then stepped back. Without saying a word, he picked her up and carried her to the bathroom. "You just got home," he murmured softly but with authority. "You must be tired. Take a bath and then relax. I will ensure no one bothers you." He turned on the bathwater, waited until steam filled the room, then reluctantly stepped out to answer the door. At the doorway, Silas stood with his usual half-smirk. "You still here? I thought you'd left already." Lucien folded his arms. "Please. You knew I was still here. That's why you came." He stepped outside, shutting the door behind him.Before Edric's advancement, none of them could truly bond with Emma. Their competition stayed civilized and measured. Now that Edric had ascended, the rules had changed. He was now able to bond with her tonight. First bonding meant everyone would get their turn. No need for jealousy, at least not yet. After that? It would be open war. "Your Highness, you've got me wrong this time," Silas replied, pulling something from his storage band. "Marcus told me Edric got injured during his advancement. Emma used up a ton of leaves to help stabilize him, so I figured she might be running low on them. I brought some extras for her." He took out a sleek silver box from his storage band, and the lid snapped open to show rows of neatly packed, bright green leaves. Lucien looked at the box briefly. "She's bathing. Don't disturb her. Leave those here." He held out a hand. "And while you're at it, give me another pack." Silas sighed, rummaging through his storage band before tossing Lucien a small, tattered bag. "This is all that's left today. It's yours."Lucien caught it, his jaw tightening. The bag looked like it had been fished out of a trash heap. He lifted it between two fingers. "So Emma gets the deluxe box, and I get the bargain-bin version?" Deep down, he couldn't help thinking, These are his own d*mn leaves, technically. How does he not feel even a little guilty stuffing them into this beat-up bag? Silas looked far too pleased. "Your Highness, I've got mouths to feed. You're lucky I even found a bag. That's me being generous." The thought flickered through his mind. You're seriously comparing yourself to Emma? Using what metric? "If you don't like the bag, hand it over and get your own container," Silas shot back, all innocence. Lucien blinked, stunned. Unbelievable. It's just a ragged old bag, and he actually wants it back? He didn't bother replying. He simply stuffed the shabby thing into his storage band and left. ... Inside the room, steam still hung in the air.Emma stepped out of the bath, toweling herself dry as a comforting warmth spread through her skin. She then climbed into bed, stretching out with a gentle sigh. Finally, no one is hovering. No one is arguing. Just quiet. She picked up her lightcore and opened the "video" she hadn't finished before. The screen lit up with a glow that flickered across her sly smile. Some things, she thought, you really do have to learn in advance. That's the only way to keep control when everything around you spins out of it.