Lucky was no longer the dog Cassian remembered. If the beast had leapt on him with her full weight, his spine would have shattered like glass beneath the force. The creature skidded to a stop instead, claws scraping faintly against the floor, and lowered her massive paws onto Cassian's chest with surprising gentleness. Her tail whipped back and forth with the power of a flag snapping in the wind. Cassian blinked at the sight, struggling to take in the animal towering over him. The dog was enormous now, his pale body closer in shape to a wild hog than the shepherd-sized pet Cassian once knew. "This is ... Lucky?" His voice trembled between disbelief and recognition. The last time he had seen the dog, Lucky had been ordinary in size, no larger than any shepherd dog. Now, in only a few short months, she had grown into a giant. Cassian knew the animal was mutated, yet even with that knowledge, the sheer speed and size were staggering. Before he could steady his thoughts, something else appeared. A thick-bodied rabbit hopped into view from behind Lucky, its fur twitching as it moved. The animal's eyes burned with an unsettling red glow, its muscles coiled with strength. Cassian's brow lifted. "And this one is ... " Natalie's lips curved faintly. "This is my new pet. His name is Baron." She raised her hand and gestured toward the couch. Sitting calmly there was a huge cock, as in rooster, its feathers sleek and gleaming under the light. "And that one is Cash." Cassian's lips twitched as if the absurdity of it all was too much. "What is this? Are you running a whole petting zoo out of your living room?" As he stepped closer, Cash the cock shifted sideways, moving with a dignified air to make space for him. Cassian reached down, stroking the rooster's feathers with curiosity. "This bird isn't just handsome. He's sharp too. And that rabbit ... that thing looks healthier than most people." Baron bristled at the remark. His body bunched, and he bounded forward in protest, but before he could get close, Lucky swung out a massive paw and sent him stumbling back. A low, violent rumble ripped from Lucky's chest, her growls vibrating through the room. Her body trembled with force as she barked again, each sound carrying the command to stay away. Her message was clear. Back off. This man is not to be touched. Satisfied after scolding Baron, Lucky jumped onto the couch, shoving Cash aside without hesitation, then curled himself against Cassian's side like an overgrown child seeking comfort. Cassian ran his hand over the dog's fur, then glanced at Natalie. "You're sure you're feeling alright? No aches, no fever?" Natalie shook her head. "I'm fine." Relief loosened the tight knot in Cassian's chest. Noticing the sweat on his brow, Natalie rose from her chair and walked to the fridge. "You're burning up. Let me get you something refreshing. It'll cool you down." She searched through the fridge as she asked, "How did you even find my place? I only told you the building. I never said which apartment." Cassian leaned back into the couch with casual ease. "It wasn't hard. I just looked for the woman in this building with the highest kill count." Natalie frowned as she set the glass in his hands. "The highest kill count? You make it sound like I'm some kind of serial killer."Cassian took a sip, then met her eyes without hesitation. "Every time I run into you, you're taking someone out. I'm just stating facts." Natalie stilled, her lips pressed together. She couldn't argue with that. Cassian's mouth curved faintly. "I heard the neighbors call you the psycho." Natalie shot him a scowl, ready to snap back, but the words froze when she took a good look at him. He lounged deep in her couch, his eyes sharp as steel, carrying an aura of absolute command. And yet he was dressed in silk pajamas. The sight jolted her, and at once she understood what had felt strange since the moment he arrived. What kind of man of his stature would show up in public dressed like that? She wanted to laugh at how ridiculous he looked, but the thought struck her hard. Cassian had climbed into a helicopter wearing nothing but sleepwear, flown across a city on fire with plague, then rushed to her side without stopping to change. Her chest tightened. A heat burned in her throat. Cassian caught her stare and shifted uncomfortably. "What are you looking at me for?" Natalie lowered her lashes. "Just checking if your shoes made it through the run." Cassian straightened instantly, self-conscious under her gaze. He knew Natalie was strong. With her weapons, no thief or thug could so much as scratch her. But this wasn't about men with knives. This was a plague. Roderick told him the death toll was climbing by the hour.Cassian had been sitting in front of the television when the news broke, and he hadn't even bothered to change before racing to the helicopter. For the first time, he cursed the machine for not flying faster. Natalie lifted her gaze, something stirring within her. A memory of the banquet came back, memory of the question she never asked. "Cassian." His eyes softened. "Yeah?" "Do you like me?" His stare deepened, and the weight in his chest finally broke. "Yes." The word wasn't enough. He spoke again, his voice steadier. "Natalie, I like you very much." He liked her in ways words could never hold. He liked the image of her standing fearless with a chainsaw on a ship's deck. He liked the merciless way she cut down her enemies. He liked the steady way she could lie without blinking. He liked her for more reasons than he could count. Natalie wasn't surprised. He had never been subtle. But hearing it out loud left her adrift, not knowing what to say. She could ask when it started. Or why. Or what he wanted from her now.But she knew the truth. If she couldn't give him what he wanted, what use was there in asking? Cassian was extraordinary. He was sharp, magnetic, capable, and kind in ways no one else had been. If she had met him before the world collapsed, she would have thrown herself into it without hesitation and lived a love worthy of stories. But the world was no longer the same. Natalie carried too many secrets. She couldn't let herself fall into anything as binding as love. With friends, she could keep her walls. With a lover, nothing could stay hidden.