Third Person's POV Skylar sometimes wanted to toss out a shameless joke, but with Magnus's shadow hanging over their every move, she always had to think twice, swallow the words, and let them die quietly in her throat. Fortunately, the Shadowbane prince was not truly that petty. Aside from the sinfully handsome club owner, he even had every top performer line up for them- strictly for performance, not a single flirtatious wink allowed. Skylar had never seen so many handsome males in one den, all radiating the solemn discipline presenting ritual dances rather than entertainment. Only the final gift-a gleaming SVIP membership card-and the news that from this night on, Miss Skylar Cross would receive priority treatment and completely free service whenever she visited-managed to soothe her injured pride. Skylar wrapped her arms around Aysel's slender waist, burying her face into the soft, warm curves. "I'm gonna miss you so much," she wailed. Damn it all-Magnus Sanchez was just too damn lucky. Aysel played along, gently patting Skylar's back with a smile. "I'll miss you too. Work hard, okay? Overthrow your father early." Skylar's father was a textbook lovesick fool-middle-aged but forever stuck in the feverish devotion of first love. Her stepmother had been his first sweetheart. They had gone their separate ways, married others, raised children of their own... yet somehow fate tangled them back together. In front of that woman, Skylar's father lost all sense, as though bewitched. Thankfully, he still remembered that Skylar was his real daughter. No matter how her stepmother schemed, he never truly handed all his shares to Skylar's stepbrother. But that was the only thing he ever did right. Back then, if not for Aysel, Skylar would have long been trafficked deep into some mountain den-humiliated, broken, and driven to a death without dignity. If he lost his daughter, that woman and her son would have no shackles left. And since Skylar's father later pretended ignorance and let that pair walk free, Skylar had sworn that for the rest of her life-he was her enemy too. The two best friends talked late into the night, curled together under the same blanket like two wolves sharing warmth before dawn. At sunrise, the plane carried Aysel back to the continent-back to the territory where someone waited restlessly for her return. When the city lights first flickered on that evening, Aysel spotted him at once- that tall, straight silhouette unmistakable even in a sea of bodies. "Magnus!" She bounded toward him like an eager little wolf pup, throwing herself into his arms and nuzzling into his chest, inhaling his familiar Shadowbane scent. Magnus tightened his grip on her waist and lifted her effortlessly. Suspended between earth and sky, they met in a hungry kiss. "Welcome home," he murmured against her mouth. "Muah-muah~" Aysel planted two kisses on his cheeks. "I missed you so much." The corner of Magnus's mouth curved upward. To ache for someone this fiercely-to count every hour, every heartbeat- this was a feeling completely foreign to him. Every second apart, he battled the instinct to tear open portals and drag her back through them. Now, with his little rose once again in his arms, the hollow ache in his chest finally settled. They held each other for a long time before he loosened his grip and took her hand. "Let's go. Home." There were many things they should talk about-Ivy and the Darkmoon Pack's petty moves, progress in Yuna Ward's crash investigation, Sofia's second invitation, Bastien Sanchez urging them to return to the ancestral estate... But none of that mattered after time apart. Their lips met again-soft, seeking, hungry. Tongues entangled, breath shared, scents mingling deeply like two wolves reaffirming their bond. Nothing existed except love and the near-feral longing that needed release. By the time the car reached the villa, Aysel's lips were kissed slightly swollen, and Magnus bore several small teeth marks along his throat where her wolfish affection had landed. Their mouths parted with a thin trail of glimmering warmth between them. Aysel looked up at him with a laugh. "We're home." Magnus pressed his forehead to her chest, breathing her in. "...Get out of the car." As soon as they stepped down, Daron-the massive Shadowbane wolfhound-shot toward them with an excited yelp. Aysel crouched immediately and wrapped her arms around the beast. "Daron! You came to pick me up too!" Chuu~ Aysel pressed the same soft, rosy lips-still warm from Magnus's kisses-onto Daron's furry cheek. Magnus paused. Daron wagged his tail like he'd won the moon's blessing. The Shadowbane Alpha did not wag anything- but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.