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“And when the woman he loves…” he continued, “…mixes that grounding pain with pleasure?” His grip tightened on her wrist and she felt it everywhere. “Then you have a weapon stronger thananypain.”

She swallowed when her throat threatened to lock up.

“One that can remake him.” His fingertip barely grazed the edge of her jaw. A featherlight touch that brought a slow, steady burn beneath her skin. “Reshape him.” Zero’s gaze locked back on hers. “Into whatever you want.”

She exhaled hard, her lungs forgetting what to do with air.

“And he trusts you to know what that is.”

She wanted to protest at those words. Of reshaping him into whatever she wanted. Instead she focused on understanding what he just taught.

Because Ethan had already given her everything.

His pain.

His control.

His trust.

And she was supposed to figure out what to do with it and how to do it.

Zero shifted, the movement subtle, patient. But when he spoke, it wasn’t patient. “Are you ready, Kitten… to become his salvation?” He pulled her wrist in and moved his masked mouth over it. “This is the hand that will break him,” Zero whispered, eyes raising to hers, now darker above his mask. “You need to be taught how to use it.”

Omnis was suddenly there, a ghost from the shadows. “And that will be tomorrow’s lesson.”

CHAPTER THREE

Assessing

The room smelled of steel and sweat, the muted hum of the servers blending with the sound of fists meeting flesh. The sparring chamber was one of the few places where physicality ruled over logic, where raw instinct was measured in blows instead of algorithms.

Zero twisted out of a feint, pivoting just in time to catch Omnis’ counterstrike on his forearm. The impact sent a dull shock up his bones, but he barely acknowledged it.

“Not bad,” Omnis murmured, pressing forward.

Zero exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders before darting in with a quick, sharp jab that Omnis deflected with practiced ease.

“You were quiet after the lesson,” Omnis noted, eyes calculating as he circled.

Zero didn’t take the bait. He feinted again, testing, watching. “She did what we told her to do.”

Omnis dodged, fluid as ever. “And?”

Zero smirked, but it wasn’t a real one—it was the sharp-edged kind that came with irritation. “And you already know what I think.”

Omnis moved like a shadow, stepping in close before Zero could fully react. He caught Zero’s wrist, twisting just enough to force a retreat.

Zero hissed, breaking free. “Alright. Fine.” He shook out his hand. “She’s not a fast learner. But she gets points for effort.”

Omnis’ brows lifted slightly. “That’s all?”

Zero scoffed. “What do you want me to say?” He feigned another jab, then pivoted fast, aiming a knee at Omnis’ side. The hit landed—barely—before Omnis twisted out of range.

“I want you to tell me why it’s bothering you.”

Zero exhaled hard, pacing a few steps before turning. “It’s not bothering me. It’snotunexpected.” He wiped the back of his wrist over his mouth. “She’s a survivalist.” All predators were. “She adapts.”

Omnis nodded, giving him space to continue.