d golden - soft, even, against the vast panes of tempered glass that surrounded the top floor of the Ashmoore Legacy Tower. The horizon gleamed like an empire reborn. But

silk of his charcoal-gray suit clung to him like liquid power. Everything about him was sharp - the

mbers quiete

le, "Ashmoore International no longer bows to the past. We a

e continents nodded. Global partners reached

in that moment of

across the penthouse expanse

fian

ath and rebirth - she had returned to him as flesh and promise. No longer the Flame-Bride.

e was

de even foreign billionaires hold their breath. She spoke rarely in public - her mystique becam

unlit balconies. A hundred kisses before he left for work. Long, rich silences as they read across from each other o

hing inside h

aphina. It wa

was

cy, the divine madness of being more than a man. Now he

as he walked into his marble-li

hone

, sir," came the crisp voice of the oute

. Right -

d he

the match to the very quiet, very dry, very da

floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire city sprawling at his feet like a conquered kingdom. The hum of polished machinery and the quiet chatter of the executive floor echoed dist

and diamonds, courted by the media, and respected by all. Their love, forged in blood and prophecy, now basked under chandeliers and

l fire cou

, his jaw resting on two fingers. Despite the vast power beneath his si

n the door k

he said wit

d in walked his new

was Eva

obsidian, she moved like a whispered promise. A silk blouse of pearl white clung just tightly enough to accentuate the rise

he approached, her lip

the Tokyo delegation has been rescheduled to Friday. The CFO also

the table," K

ary on the smooth wood. He glanced up finally, th

line, i

ave a

qualifications. You graduated top

o something that wa

ike others, Mr. Thorne. I prefer working

he wolf beneath his skin twit

y can be

nger... cl

d in a way that felt designed. Intentional.

ai

pa

eminding him of Seraphina, of honor, of control-but desire

ooked over h

Mr. Th

wly, his eyes pinned on her, e

happens to those

d, stepping closer

get de

hout warning,

not g

not i

ing her into him with a desperate hunger. She moaned softly into his mouth, her finger

p," he growled

di

ice floor. His hands traced the curve of her spine, yanking her skirt upward. S

t betrayal, about the weight of trust-but

nd documents like discarded leaves. The sharp slap of her heel

whispered, vo

r a breath,

lled him

eraphi

al name on Evangeline's lips-

at p

hing hard. His shirt was half-o

rising and falling, her blouse wide open.

owing who he was speaking to-her, him

self with calm precision. Her v

have to a

d

powerful man to forget

oked

smoothed her blouse, and

she turned back to him wit

" she said softly. "Your

closed be

in silence, breath ra

g, the mansion

lattices across the silk bedsheets. Seraphina stood by the window, a cup of tea untouched

ad fe

t n

off. Somet

er scent she didn't recognize. His eyes were evasive, his smile forced. And when he he

adn't sai

ho had once shattered the sky for her... no

tired goodnight. Laid beside her in bed, one arm d

fu

e morning hush, her tea cold,

-

lding like a king-immaculately dressed in a steel-gray suit, his aur

rely

at the edges of his conscience-but bec

li

private

was in love with Seraphina-his mate, his bride-to-be, the woman who had risked her soul to fig

ered his office

louse tight across her chest, her skirt teasing just above her

ne," she said without t

, his tone clipped bu

ir eyes locked. Th

smile. The look in

both

he room slow

see you this early,"

dule," she replied, tilting her head. "U

around, to go to his desk, to focus on the acquisition d

her in tw

st, pulling her flush against him, and she moaned into the kiss, her arms

no stopp

this

areful. He

the skyline as he pressed into her with ravenous need. Her legs wrapped around hi

d. Raw. Un

didn'

O-crumbled in her hands. He lost himself in her skin, her voice, her scent.

is hands were still on her waist. Her head

whispered, but th

" she murmured, s

didn'

e window-staring out at the city as if it might offer penance. But

skirt and began organizing files

methin

d in their shared kitchen, stirring honey int

kn

he de

omething had h

he would not remai

nsion that evening wasn't ju

e calm, her tone pleasant, every gesture measured. The maids hadn't noticed the difference

sn't a

ew the

me, she had

vanilla-not hers-clinging to his skin. The slight scratch on his jaw that hadn't been there in

t dinner, the kind of look someone gives whe

im yet because she didn't wan

y, she m

gator to AlphaTech-just

hair in their shared bedroom, a

tamps. Video stills

t need to. The weight in her chest

r echoed like a gunshot th

nfident, like nothing in the world could ever fall out of place. That ha

at illusion was

his cuffs, his voice cas

inally lift

pau

, so composed, so cold-it sent a

wrong?" he

n the low light. Her fingers closed around

ernoon?" she asked, voic

meeting ran late. Then went ov

aga

nked.

d, louder this time, the swee

ened. "I alre

he folder a

floor between them. He stared down at it

fr

they

Sharp.

n his office. In an elevato

llar. Another showed her adjustin

his face. The guilt was etche

r arms, voice

ed up.

y i

lowed. "It w

iss. A drunken moment. This-" she gestured at the photos, voice cra

anding, tone defensive now. "It was lust. That

u dare bl

t here? Do you know what it's like being Alpha, CEO, building a

closer. "And then you chose to lie to me. To c

id, reaching for her. "Wh

ked his

t tou

pa

r thic

, lethal. "You're lucky I went to

kened. "What

she said. "But women who go aft

rdened. "Don't start th

ped being your employee the moment she d

I didn't cheat on you be

led. "Then why

his mouth.

swer

ence, Seraphina

ed, walking t

you going

breathe. To remember what it fee

nother step, Killian's voic

n't leave l

tear slipping down her

Killian's voice fractured the spa

hina

tone didn't move he

e said, spinning around, her voice seething. "Y

forward. "Sera

ken thing. "Was that before or after she dro

er

is!" she screamed, her hands shaking now. "Lik

linc

rough blood and prophecy. I died for you in the Hollow. I gave you my s

cking. "You don't know what

heaving. "No, but I know wh

le

ked for you. I massaged your shoulders. I sent you messages you never an

shouting, "You want

Tell me the truth you c

like I was losing myself! Every day! Everything was too perfect. Too planned. Too... suffocating. You stopped seei

racked mid-sentence, the hurt sli

ter now, ashamed. "It was control.

ike a man. Like a f**king predator. Is that what you want?

ed to a growl.

You're not afraid of losing me. You're afraid

t her, brea

ly peeling her engagem

ng the ring between them like a dying flame. "No

or her hand-

t tou

tears falling freely

her. It's you. You, Killian. You who looked me in the eyes and said I was your

d down at

stupid girl who believed

ened h

rble floor with a s

stared at it like it was a p

e asked again, but this

ron now. "To remember who I w

there,

th

her profile shadowed in

smiles at you again, I'll end her career with a flick of my hand. If she thi

rough the room li

n she w

to his knees b

ime... he felt like the strongest

the Thorne Estate t

hours ago, yet the glass in his hand remained untouched. His other hand held the engagement ri

was painfu

und of soft foots

ooke

ose cashmere robe, her hair pulled int

aphi

oor behind her, calmly, like she was walkin

waiting for judgmen

wly. "I thou

this was my home, too." Her eyes flicked ov

m again?" he asked, ha

change who you are, Killian. And it won't make

linc

epped

I need you to listen-not justi

eyes never

d. "Not because I'm weak. But because I love you lik

ed to

She raise

n accident. It wasn't a slip. It was a choice. And the man I was going to marry cho

love her. I never loved he

d. "Then what do

ned hi

cont

your burdens like they were mine. And in retur

silence

. she exha

else. And it's not something you

ow fur

gnant, K

into the room li

Twice. His whole

e you. I even rehearsed the words. I imagined the look in y

step forward, s

tely, holding her stomac

e whispered. "I di

uld it have stopped your hands from unzipping her dress?

tight with guilt. "I f**ked up. But I w

ped. "You don't get to sweep ash unde

his sides. "Then wha

"I want to believe you can be the man I loved again.

ofter this time. "Let me tr

hesi

e like breaking

forgiveness. But our c

im alone with the fire in his chest

ushed by the weight of what he'd lo

, every inch of his body rigid with self-loathing and a desperate, fr

phone v

check it

zed again.

nd finally

wn Nu

ed warily

ine. "Killian... it's me. I just want

ed to stone. "Don't.

le

ed in every syllable. "Don't show up at the office. Don't think

lli

me or her again," he snapped, voice razor-sharp. "We ar

ed the

tu

od in the hal

ren't angry

d. Wounded, still. Bu

to eavesdrop,

w she'd call,

w," sh

heir eyes held each othe

me, and his breath caught.

" she said. "What yo

dded

her belly, then reached

. But I see the man I loved a

pped down

d her fa

unded by the cracks they'd created-trying to believe th