Marcus stared at the mirror where two strands of hair clung side by side. His jaw tightened, lips pressed thin. "If that cub turns out to be mine," he muttered, voice dripping with disdain, "I'm dropping him off in Frostveil the day he's born." Marcus raising a cub? Might as well throw the poor thing to the wolves. "Over my dead body." Emma's tone was sharp enough to cut glass. No way she'd abandon her cub in some frozen wasteland. She warned, "If the cub's yours, you're going to take care of him, even if it breaks you." "Ms. Tibarn…" Marcus' face crumpled in mock misery, his tone sweet and pitiful. Emma didn't even glance at him. Her eyes stayed on the mirror. Seconds bled into a full minute. The two hairs refused to move. Marcus frowned. "Did Kieran ever mention how long this twining thing is supposed to take?" No response.The silence stretched thin, every tick of the clock louder than the last. A full minute passed—still nothing. Emma's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't make sense." Their hair lay there—separate, untouched. Only two explanations existed: either Kieran's artifact was broken, or the cub inside her wasn't Marcus'. She thought, If it isn't his, then whose is it?Could it possibly… come from her? Then she asked, "Marcus, bring Kieran here. Keep Cotton Candy out of this." He gave a curt nod, spared the mirror one last look, and left. Moments later, he returned with Kieran in tow. Kieran panted, "Ms. Tibarn, what happened? You called me so suddenly." He'd been working near the artificial lake when Marcus appeared, said nothing, and dragged him up.Emma pointed to the mirror. "These are mine and Marcus'. They didn't twine." Kieran stared at the glass, confusion flickering across his face. He mused, Corvin said she'd bonded with him, Edric, and Marcus. So if the cub isn't any of theirs… what the hell does that mean? Marcus' tone dropped cold. "Kieran, you sure this thing of yours isn't junk?" "Impossible." Kieran's reply came fast, steady. "Only our Merfolk Palace and the Drakonid own this mirror. It's never been wrong. Not once." Emma frowned. "Could it only recognize people from the Aquadome?" After all, it was made there. "No," Kieran replied. "Many outsiders have used it in the Aquadome. It's never failed." He hesitated, his expression turning cautious. "Ms. Tibarn, if it didn't react, there's only one explanation. The cub isn't from any of the three." "That's impossible." Emma's head shook before he even finished. "I only bonded with them—and Lucien's beast mark is the only other one I carry. There's no one else.""Unless Corvin guessed it right," Marcus cut in, eyes darkening. "Could that rabbit be the father?" "I don't have his beast mark," Emma shot back. No way could it be Cotton Candy's. Marcus' gaze sharpened. "If he really is a therian, maybe he found a way to hide it. He could've masked the beast mark on you." He moved for the door. "Ms. Tibarn, stay here. I'll end him right now." "Stop!" Emma caught his wrist before he could move. "Marcus, think. What if it's not him? We still don't even know what he is. If you start a fight with him, you could end up hurt." She wasn't afraid of Cotton Candy. Her concern was Marcus. He was strong—nearly invincible—and his twisted rebound ability made him even more reckless. Still, accidents didn't ask permission. Because she cared, the worry never stopped. Her lightcore buzzed just then—a call from Silas. "Marcus, wait. Let me take this first." She tightened her grip on his hand to keep him from bolting, answering the call with her free one. No one needed more chaos right now. Silas' figure appeared in a shimmering projection, uniform pressed, expression weary. He began, "Emma, I'm sorry. This was the first safe chance I had to reach you." His gaze shifted—first to her hand still locked around Marcus', then to Kieran behind them. "What's happening over there?" His tone grew firm. "Did something go wrong?" Emma looked from Marcus to Silas, then said it plainly, "Silas, I'm pregnant." No hesitation or pretense. "What?" Silas froze, his eyes widening. His usually composed expression hardened as his gaze landed on Marcus and Kieran—sharp enough to draw blood.