Did he just call me Ms. Tibarn? She stared at the man before her, completely taken aback. "You're my suitor? What's your name?" Wait—wasn't I just sleeping in my room? When did this suitor appear? And how did the security system not make a sound? Her head spun with questions as she watched him, completely bewildered. The man gave a quiet laugh, his slender fingers gently tucking her tousled hair behind her ear. "I'm the one you were thinking about tonight, of course," he said, moving closer until his cool, refreshing scent surrounded her. As he leaned in, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt one clasp at a time. His lips brushed against the edge of her ear, and his voice—gentle and refined—was a striking contrast to the teasing intimacy of his movements. "Ms. Tibarn, aren't you happy to see me?"Emma stared, speechless, as her mind screamed, What a flirt! This level of teasing—this much charm—it had to be something only the Enchanter Clan could pull off! Suspicion flashed in her eyes. "You're… Malrik, aren't you?" Silas froze for a moment. Then, without answering, he tossed his shirt aside and stepped closer again, slipping an arm around her waist until his skin nearly pressed against hers. His voice dropped to a whisper by her ear. "Why would you think I'm from the Enchanter Clan, Ms. Tibarn? Why not Lucien? Or… Silas?" He had been badly injured and could only lie dormant like a withered branch, pretending to be nothing more than a piece of wood. But his consciousness had never truly disappeared—it only drifted in and out of sleep. During those brief moments of awareness, he had overheard Edric and Emma discussing her suitors. That was how he learned that the Beast God had paired him with a huntress—and by a strange twist of fate, that huntress had rescued him while he lay unconscious. He had also heard that Emma was human, and he knew exactly what that meant. Human blood was a sacred treasure to the therian kind—it could even turn a beast into a god. Yet despite knowing how dangerous it was to reveal her secret, she had used her own blood to heal him. Of course, Silas knew her reasons weren't quite what he wished they were. But she still saved me, didn't she? Whatever the reason—it doesn't matter. None of it matters. He looked down at her, deep blue eyes brimming with tenderness and quiet affection. The intensity of his gaze made Emma's heart skip. She blushed and turned her head away, unable to meet his eyes. How does he do that? Just one look and it feels like he's trying to seduce me without even trying! "Ahem." She cleared her throat to hide her fluster before answering his question. "It's pretty simple. I may not have met any of you in person, but I did look up your profiles on the lightcore. "Lucien is the second prince of Aurelia—calm, serious, and barely ever smiles. Definitely not like you. Silas is a commander who barely speaks outside of battle, so he's out too. That only leaves the Enchanter Clan." Emma was confident in her deduction. Someone this smooth and charming could only be an Enchanter. Silas smiled faintly, amused by her certainty. "A good guess, Ms. Tibarn. But don't guess next time." "What do you mean?" she asked suspiciously. "Are you saying I'm wrong? You're not Malrik?" Silas didn't answer. Instead, he pushed her gently back onto the bed. "Do you really think only the Enchanter Clan knows how to seduce, Ms. Tibarn? Personas are for others to see. The real me—the one no one else gets to know—is the one that belongs only to you."He leaned down and captured her lips in a sudden kiss. "Remember this, Ms. Tibarn. I'm Silas. And I'm far better at seducing than any Enchanter alive." Silas? He's Silas?! That… that's completely different from what the lightcore said! Before she could speak, his lips silenced her again. His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her close until there was barely an inch of space between them. Her thin nightdress offered no protection from his warmth; she could feel every line of his body, every breath against her skin. Despite his refined looks, his kiss was anything but gentle—dominant, feverish, leaving her no room to breathe. Emma struggled to push him away several times, but he didn't stop. Desperate, she bit his tongue hard. Silas drew back, pain flickering in his eyes. His gaze was still soft and tender, but beneath that calm surface, there was something dangerous—something that made Emma's pulse race even faster.