At first, Emma thought Marcus was only pretending to nap on the couch. She poked him several times, but he didn't react at all. Only then did she realize he was really asleep. She nudged him gently. "Marcus, why are you sleeping here? Aren't you going back to your room? Didn't Corvin help you decorate it?" Marcus opened his eyes, calm and clear, without any trace of drowsiness. Slowly, he sat up on the couch. "I was waiting for you to comfort me." He had waited so they could return to his room together when she comforted him. She remembered—she'd been asleep for three days and still hadn't comforted him. "Then let's go to your room now. I'll comfort you first," she said. There is still some time before the elders of the Merfolks arrive. Silas said, "Then I'll help Lucien prepare lunch." Marcus immediately stood up and walked toward Emma."Ms. Tibarn, let's go." Emma nodded and walked ahead toward his room. She noticed Marcus, in his heat period, seemed livelier than usual. … At the doorway of his room, Emma reached out to open the door and froze. She blinked a few times, then turned back to look at Marcus. "You… like this kind of style?" So this is a male in heat? The change is unreal. The room had changed from a shadowed inferno to what looked like a secret garden of desire. Dim purple lighting. Semi-transparent black gauze drapes over the bed. An enormous full-length mirror. A suggestive-looking chair beside it. And beside that chair—a row of small, unspeakable toys.There wasn't a single normal thing in the whole room. Marcus flushed. I had Corvin decorate for Ms. Tibarn. But is this really her style? Now I can't even go in. "Ms. Tibarn… do you want to go in?" he asked hesitantly. Maybe I should just move to my old room with the ice crystal coffin. After we bond, I can sleep in her room. If she doesn't want me on the bed, I'll sleep on the floor. This room may be better unused. Emma's mouth twitched. It was his own room, after all—she couldn't exactly criticize his preferences. "Let's just go in," she said. She walked in first. The room smelled faintly of incense, an unusual scent she couldn't quite identify, though not unpleasant. Marcus closed the door and sat down on the bed. The black silk sheets were cool and smooth, teasing the senses. A few small items sat on the bedside table. Marcus picked up a purple tie hanging on the bed's headboard, covered his eyes with it, and lay down obediently. "Ms. Tibarn, I'm ready." Isn't this how it works? Maybe she'll like it. Emma stared at the blindfolded man, stunned. Isn't this just soothing? Why the blindfold? This room, this atmosphere… and now a handsome man lying on the bed, blindfolded with a tie… Emma almost lost her cool. She pinched her thigh. Calm down! He's in heat; maybe this helps him feel better. Emma forced herself to stay focused. She pressed her fingertip to the center of his brow, channeling her mental power into his mind. The mental power flowed into his mindscape. Without Emma's command, it morphed into a horned serpent dragon, surging through his inner realm as it devoured the ice thorns embedded in his mind.There were even more ice spikes than before, but she managed to consume them all. A large section of his mental landscape had already been cleared, and the rough, punctured surface slowly began to heal. When she finished, Emma withdrew her mental power and looked down at Marcus. He lay perfectly still on the bed, blindfolded, behaving so well it was almost endearing. "Marcus, I've finished soothing you. How do you feel?" "Much lighter," he answered honestly. At some point, a fluffy tail had wrapped itself around Emma's waist. Marcus' voice came again, low and raspy, mingled with the sound of fabric brushing against skin. "Ms. Tibarn…" Adam's apple bobbed. "Can you kiss me?" Emma thought about how hard this period must be for him—and decided not to refuse. She reached out and brushed her fingertips over the tie covering his eyes. His breath, cool and uneven, fell against her wrist. He really has it rough. I need to bond soon. Leaning down, Emma pressed a light kiss to his lips. Instantly, Marcus' tail tightened around her waist, almost painfully. His voice trembled with restraint. "Ms. Tibarn… could you kiss me again?"