Aysel's POV The car's interior was warm, but my clothes were soaked, clinging to my skin like a second skin. I sat on his lap, Magnus' scent all around me, a mixture of earthy musk and something darker-dangerous and calming all at once. His arm was around my waist, keeping me close, while he used a towel to gently wipe away the rain that still clung to my face. "I've soaked your car," I murmured, the words coming out slow, heavy with exhaustion. He didn't respond immediately, just continued drying my face with a softness that didn't match his usual edge. "Mm, so, I'll punish you next time," he said, the low growl in his voice vibrating in my chest. "Punish?" I leaned back into his chest, the scent of wet earth and rain mixing with his. "I thought you were away, overseas?" I recalled that Magnus wouldn't be back for another two weeks. Yet, here he was, right beside me. "Yeah," Magnus replied, his voice so calm, almost detached, as though the world was a game he always won. "But when I remembered today was important..." He trailed off, eyes hardening slightly as he looked out into the rain-soaked night. "I couldn't stay away." "Important?" I asked, the word a mere hum of curiosity as I nestled deeper into his warmth. "The future Mrs. Sanchez's birthday." His words were laced with an unexpected tenderness, though there was a flicker of something darker behind them. I felt a pang in my chest at the mention of birthdays. It was a day that held no meaning for anyone else in the world-except for Magnus. I was lost in the scent of him, the scent of the rain, and the warmth that enveloped me like a blanket. But then, as though I was finally waking from a fog, I noticed something beside me-a large, carefully wrapped cake sat on the seat next to us, the soft pink frosting and elegant design unmistakable. "Magnus," I murmured, a touch of disbelief in my voice. "You're aware they say this is a day that shouldn't be celebrated, right? It's a cursed day. They say it's... unlucky." He scoffed, low and filled with dismissive laughter. "Who says that? They're all idiots. If a day brought you into this world, it's the most precious day there is." His fingers tilted my chin up gently, his eyes locking with mine. I could feel the pressure of his gaze-his dominance wrapped in that quiet, yet firm assurance. "Tell me, my Luna... Does it make you happy, celebrating today?" I swallowed, a strange sensation rising in my chest. The warmth from his touch, his words, the bond I couldn't explain... it all wrapped me in a cocoon of safety, and I nodded, though I felt as if my own heartbeat had shifted slightly off track. He smiled, a slow, predatory smile, and reached up to stroke my hair. His touch was rough, but it carried that same hidden tenderness that always seemed to reach deeper than I wanted it to. "Good. Then that's all that matters." I couldn't stop the small, tired sigh that escaped me as I let myself relax into his embrace. It felt safe here. It felt like home, even if it wasn't. Then something shifted in the air. Magnus had that look again-the calculating one. I tilted my head slightly, catching his sharp, amused smirk. "Are you this good to all your partners, Magnus?" His hand gently pinched my cheek, and I found myself caught off guard. "I don't have that many fiancés, Aysel," he replied with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. I blinked slowly, something stirring in my gut. Fiancé. Was this really all just about an agreement, a contract, a match of convenience? The thought left me cold, but then again... I had come to terms with this arrangement long ago. Still, something about it didn't sit right with me. I forced myself to breathe deeper, to ignore the gnawing feeling in my chest, and instead, I leaned further into him, relishing the heat that radiated off his body. Magnus didn't notice my shift in mood-he was already focused on something else, a glint of something unspoken passing through his eyes as he glanced at the cake. Then he looked at me, his eyes narrowing. "You've been quiet... What's on your mind?" I hesitated, staring at the cake. "Shouldn't you be worried about how... Celestine might feel?" The question hung in the air, biting at the edges of my consciousness. Magnus' chuckle was dark, a low rumble that reverberated through his chest and settled in my stomach. "Celestine? She can think whatever she likes. I'm here with you." His hand moved from my face to the back of my neck, his fingers threading through my damp hair, and his voice dropped to a low, possessive tone. "I'm not going anywhere." A shiver ran down my spine at his words, and despite the deep, gnawing ache in my chest, a part of me couldn't stop the instinctive pull toward him. Stay close. Don't let go. When we finally made it to the bathroom, Magnus was still holding me as though I were something delicate, something precious. His grip on me was firm, like he was holding something far more fragile than just a woman. "You want me to help you wash up?" he teased, the words carrying that playful edge I had learned to both fear and crave. I blinked slowly, still half-dazed from the overwhelming emotions of the day. My eyes met his-no words, just an understanding. I pushed him away, almost instinctively, and didn't say anything. I didn't need to.Instead, I simply looked at him, letting the cool air hit my face. Magnus just sighed in response, his fingers grazing my chin before he turned away and stepped out. He knew me too well-knew how to handle me, when to back off. He was back moments later, though, carrying fresh clothes for me, including a nightgown that made me flush once I saw it. I glanced at him with narrowed eyes. "Why did you bring this?" Magnus kept his gaze averted, his voice teasing as always. "What? You like going without, don't you? I don't mind either way." He didn't meet my eyes, though I could sense the tension coiling beneath his words, the barely contained frustration. I huffed, pushing him out of the room, the irritation and embarrassment coloring my face. "Out."