The heat inside me had become a constant hum, low and insistent, threading through every muscle, every nerve. It was not the wild storm of the first cycles. This was something steadier. Something I could feel, measure, even manipulate if I chose to. And I did choose to.Thorne stood near the hearth, leaning against the stone. His eyes never left me, green and sharp, assessing, calculating. I could feel his focus like pressure against my skin. Aurelius remained close to the doorway, rigid, observing every small movement. His amber gaze was like fire, bright and precise, tracking me as if he could see inside my body. Cassian stayed at my side, steady and silent, hand resting lightly on my thigh. He was the constant, the anchor, the silent judge of every decision I made.I shifted slightly on the furs, testing the boundaries of their patience, of my own body. It was a small movement. Just a tilt of my hips, a fraction of a breath, enough to draw their attention without declaring anything
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