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His hands were on her waist—reflex, muscle memory. She leaned into him, reaching for the ties of his pants.

Then—

The door burst open.

Seren

Across the compound, in Astrid's room, Seren was mid-discussion about the upcoming full moon festival when her breath hitched sharply. She doubled over, clutching her chest.

The matemark on her wrist burned white-hot.

The bond twisted violently, as if in pain.

Astrid reached for her, alarmed. "Seren—what is it?"

Her voice was strangled. "Something is wrong? Where is Hagan? Where is he?"

Astrid went pale. "His office."

She hurried to help Seren as she threw up on the floor. Seren shook her hands off and moved towards the door like she was underwater.

In the common area, Veyr turned from his conversation to see Seren burst out of the Lunara's room. Dain who was beside him glanced away; jaw tight with guilt.

Seren didn't wait.

She ran.

The door cracked off the wall as Seren half-fell, half-stumbled into the room—gasping, eyes wide, vision tunnelling.

She saw Lia first—perched on Hagan's lap, shirt rumpled, her bare shoulder exposed. Hagan beneath her, dazed, hands still at her hips. Their bond buzzed violently in her skull, a shriek of wrongness.

His eyes locked onto Seren's—and suddenly, it was like waking from a drugged dream.

"Seren—" he choked.

He shoved Lia off him, rising to his feet so fast the chair clattered backwards. Lia stumbled, startled.

But it was too late.

Seren's fist connected with his jaw in one clean, furious arc.

His head snapped to the side—not from the force, but from the shock. She'd never hit him before. Never looked at him like that. Like he wasn't just a stranger—but something lower.

He barely felt the pain.

But he felt her.

Her silver eyes blazed with loathing, her chest heaving, her eyes burning with something beyond fury.

"Seren—wait—I don't know what came over me—"

But she wasn't looking at him anymore.

Her gaze had fixed on Lia.

Who smirked—just slightly. A flicker, too fast for anyone else to catch.

But Seren saw it.