Emma turned back and saw Edric's flushed face, tightened with restraint. She took a steadying breath, then leaned in and kissed him. When her soft lips touched his, Edric froze at first. Then his hands tightened around her waist, and he kissed her back with fierce longing. His calloused palms moved along her body, yet he still held himself back, trembling on the edge of losing control. The position was becoming uncomfortable for Emma. She pushed lightly at him. "Edric, this angle isn't working. Why don't we… take it to the bed?" She had never shied away from intimacy. But Edric refused. "No, Emma." His arms tightened around her as he fought the waves of hunger threatening to swallow him whole. "Right now… I'll hurt you." He buried his face in the curve of her neck and breathed slowly—once, twice, three times—before finally letting her go. "Give me a moment. I just need to calm down." Since he couldn't, Emma didn't press him. She climbed out of the tub, wrapped in a towel, and left. If she stayed, Edric would never calm down. Soon, muffled sounds came from the bathroom—strained, controlled, and impossible to ignore. Emma's face burned. She slipped into fresh clothes and quickly left the room. She had promised to give Corvin mental comfort earlier. … Corvin had assumed she wouldn't come, since Edric was with her. When she arrived, he was tinkering with a pile of metal parts, and Coalball held squirming in place. "Coalball, don't move. I need to measure precisely. You're too fat. Your wings and the fake wings Edric made can't possibly lift you. I'm making you mechanical wings that will let you fly. Anywhere you want. A few thousand miles, and it will only cost one Rank 1 beast core."Let me go! Coalball chirped, twisting in annoyance. He was almost healed and didn't need some mechanical wings at all. "Stop moving." Corvin tapped the bird's head. "Move again and I'll pluck you bald." At last, Coalball fell silent. The door was open. Emma stepped inside and, watching Corvin tinkering with parts, asked, "Corvin, are you free? I came to give you mental comfort." Corvin immediately dropped everything, tossed Coalball aside, and nodded quickly. "Yes, Ms. Tibarn. I'm always free." Coalball, thrown carelessly to the floor, flared up, launched himself, and bit his shin. "Chirp!" Ow. That actually hurt. Corvin subtly kicked Coalball away, and when the bird tried to complain, he pinned him in place with his mental power. Absolutely no interruptions allowed. He took Emma to the bed and shifted into his juvenile beast form. "Ms. Tibarn, I'm ready." A tiny pale-blue kitten sat obediently before her, big eyes serious and earnest. Emma almost died from how adorable he looked. She leaned down and touched her fingertip to the kitten's forehead. Her mental power flowed gently into his consciousness. Corvin's consciousness was far less calm than Edric's or Drake's. It was hot, turbulent, pressing. Her power felt singed the moment it touched his. And it was harder—so much harder—to soothe him. Minutes stretched. Half an hour passed. Emma's mental energy thinned until she was almost drained. Corvin's mental consciousness finally cooled a little. The kitten lay on his back, soft belly exposed, gently asleep. Emma pulled her hand away and checked him—breathing steady, ability stable. Only then did she leave his room. …By then, Edric had come out of the bathroom. He wore a deep violet silk robe, leaned against the headboard, eyes half-closed as if resting. His long purple-black tail swept lightly across the pink sheets. The moment Emma entered, his eyes opened. He sat up quickly, his handsome face still tinted red, avoiding her gaze. She definitely heard… earlier. Didn't she? "Edric, all done?" Emma climbed into the bed and hugged his tail without hesitation. "I just finished giving Corvin mental comfort. I'm exhausted. Let's sleep." Knowing he was embarrassed, she didn't mention the bathroom at all. Her eyes closed almost immediately. She was drained. After everything that day, even her eyelids felt too heavy to lift. Emma fell asleep the instant her head touched the pillow. Edric watched her peaceful face, heart twisting with tenderness and guilt. If he had been more careful, she never would have faced such danger that day.