The heat rolling off Marcus' body was far from ordinary. It seeped through the thin silk of Emma's nightdress, scorching her skin inch by inch. A faint sting brushed the back of her neck. His canines grazed her there, not breaking skin, only pressing and dragging with a possessive hunger, as though branding her with a mark that belonged solely to him. "Ms. Tibarn… are you still cold now?" His voice, low and rough, carried the same burning intensity as his body. "No… Not anymore." Emma squirmed slightly in his arms. "Marcus, let me go. It's… too hot." The temperature was unbearable; in mere moments, a sheen of sweat had already formed along her back. "You said before that I was too cold," he murmured, his arms tightening around her waist. "Now, you say I'm too hot." His hold pressed her closer, as though he wanted to merge her into his very bones. "Tell me, Ms. Tibarn…" His lips brushed the shell of her ear, his voice a husky whisper, both sinful and reverent. "Do you prefer me when I'm cold… or when I'm warm?" The books said that to make a female accept his touch, he had to ensure she didn't reject his body. He needed to know what kind of warmth it would take for her to like him. Emma's mind was hazy, dulled by the heat that clung to every breath she took. She turned to face him suddenly. "Marcus, are you trying to form a bond with me?" Marcus was in heat—if he truly couldn't control it… Then perhaps bonding now wouldn't be the worst thing. Those words froze him instantly. He wanted to, but he hadn't figured out how to tell her the truth. He didn't want to die anymore. The warmth draining from his body cooled by degrees. He bit his lip, meeting her gaze beneath the moonlight spilling in through the window. "Ms. Tibarn…" Moonlight spilled in from the window. She caught the hesitation written all over his face and softened, giving him a way out. "I understand. You're not ready yet, are you? It's alright. There's no rush. We can talk when you are." He'd seemed so impatient lately, but apparently, his urgency was just in his flirting —not in bonding. That sort of thing couldn't be rushed anyway, and Emma wasn't in a hurry. She shifted a little, putting some distance between them, and then lay back down comfortably. "If you don't want to bond, then let's just sleep." Emma really was sleepy now. His way of flirting was too much for her to handle anyway. The room fell quiet. Only the soft rhythm of their breathing remained. Before long, her breathing evened out into the steady cadence of sleep.Marcus gazed at her in silence, then leaned in to brush a fleeting kiss against her lips. He wanted nothing more than to bond with her. He dreamt about it every night, but how could he tell her that he no longer wanted to die? Should I confess outright? Or find a gentler way to say it first? His silver-white tail slid forward, slipping beneath her nightdress, coiling loosely around her waist… … The next morning, when Emma woke, she found that same tail wrapped snugly around her waist. Marcus was still asleep. His long lashes cast faint shadows under his eyes; his lips were gently pressed together, and in the morning light, his face looked almost unreal, too beautiful to belong to reality. Her mind flickered back to last night, to the way he had whispered, "Which version of me does your body like more?" Seriously, who had taught him to flirt like that? She reached out, trying to lift his tail away.However, the moment she moved, the man beside her murmured something incoherent, stretched an arm, and pulled her straight back into his chest. The tail tightened around her waist, claiming her all over again. "Ms. Tibarn…" he mumbled, his face brushing against her hair before he sank back into sleep. Emma fell silent. Emma stayed still for a few more minutes, waiting until she was sure he was truly asleep. Then, she quietly slipped from his arms, washed up, changed clothes, and left the room. Downstairs, the smell of breakfast filled the air. Edric had already set the table, waiting on the couch when Emma came down the stairs. Cotton Candy was curled up in a corner, sulking again, which was not unusual. Emma was long used to its bouts of quiet gloom. "Emma." Edric stood the moment he saw her, carrying out the dishes from the kitchen. He had made all her favorites for breakfast. He stayed beside her as she ate, then asked softly, "Emma, want to go out for a walk later?"The weather was perfect today. Word was, the city was lively. Edric knew how much she loved crowds. Emma thought for a moment. Then, she replied, "Let's go in the afternoon. I promised Aria I'd bake her some cakes and pastries. I'll do that this morning. Then, we can stop by Cloudspire Medical Center to visit Laura." Edric nodded immediately. "Alright. We can come back late tonight. They say there's a meteor shower tonight. I'll take you to see it, okay?"