Corvin wrapped his arms tightly around Emma, his fluffy ears brushing against her cheek as he nuzzled closer. Then, he asked, "Ms. Tibarn, while Edric hasn't returned yet, can I sleep in your room? I promise, once he comes back, I'll go back to my room and let him stay with you. I won't fight him for it." He really understood how to play the long game by giving ground to gain ground. Emma could see it now—whether it was Corvin, who looked like a gentle, obedient kitten, or Silas, who seemed polite and refined—both of them were soft on the outside and sharp on the inside. Compared to them, her little snake was the only one who was actually genuine. "Ms. Tibarn, is that okay?" When Emma didn't answer, Corvin's tail brushed against her waist. "I promise, I'll just sleep." It was basically just as believable as "Just the tip, I promise." But Emma didn't refuse him."You can sleep in my room, but you have to shift into your beast form. About this size." She lifted her hand to show the size—about the size he had been as a cub, maybe a little larger. Corvin looked at her, as if something had suddenly clicked. "So, that's what you like." "I don't! Don't go assuming things!" Emma snapped. It was simply because a cat that size was the most comfortable to hug. Also, every night, facing a gorgeous man she could snuggle and kiss at will—who could sleep like a saint?! Emma was honestly afraid one night she'd get overwhelmed and just… defile him. "Ms. Tibarn, you don't need to explain. I get it. I understand everything." Corvin looked like he really understood, which left Emma feeling frustrated and at a loss for words. She tugged the blanket back up over him and wrapped him in it again. "Go put on some clothes. Then, come back to sleep." Corvin looked down at the blanket around him, clearly reluctant to move. "Ms. Tibarn, if I shift, clothes or no clothes make no difference." He had fur anyway, but the truth was, Emma only wanted to send him away so she could go feed Silas blood. "Go put on clothes. You don't need to shift tonight," she said. Corvin instantly lit up, realizing he was allowed to sleep beside her in human form. He leapt off the bed in excitement. His movement was so fast he almost brushed her face. He realized it too and quickly apologized, "Ms. Tibarn, I'm sorry! I'll go change. I'll come back fast—wait for me!" Then, he ran off. As soon as he was gone, Emma jumped out of bed and hurried to the desk. The Divine Tree—Silas—stood quietly in the pot, its two leaves slightly drooping. Emma frowned, wondering if Silas had entered her dream earlier. But since he was injured, that kind of ability might have drained his power, forcing him to leave the dream suddenly and causing his body to wilt. Thinking that was likely, she pricked her finger and let several drops of blood fall onto the small branch. The leaves quickly lifted again. Emma let out a breath of relief. So she was right—Silas must have exhausted his ability while in her dream. She applied a bit of healing salve to seal the small wound on her finger, then placed a Rank 7 beast core into the pot. Edric had given her all the beast cores he had, and she had more than enough to spare now. By the time Corvin came back, fully dressed, Emma had already returned to bed. He walked over to her slowly, leaning down. His clear eyes shone with a softness that was almost tender. And he was, very obviously, being strategic. He had chosen a sleeveless V-neck shirt, the neckline low enough to show his collarbones and a generous expanse of chest. And even then, he still looked dissatisfied, as if wishing he could show off his abs too—so Emma could hold them while sleeping. "Ms. Tibarn, does this look good on me?" "It looks good. It looks great," Emma said. Who taught him to dress like this… seriously! Corvin slipped into bed and immediately pulled Emma against him, guiding her hand to rest on his chest. "Ms. Tibarn, feel free to touch. If you think the shirt is getting in your way, I can take it off." "No. No need." Emma refused quickly. She absolutely could not be tested like this. She would fail instantly. "It's late. Let's sleep," she said, quickly closing her eyes. She felt as if she had stumbled into a den of beautiful men that night. And after all that chaos, she was exhausted. She slept deeply through the night, so deeply that she didn't stir until the next day, when loud banging noises outside—like explosions—woke her. Emma slowly opened her eyes and pushed herself upright.