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I can feel it in her silences. The way her eyes linger now, not in fury—but inrecognition.

And maybe something else. But it doesn’t matter. It can’t. Not when she’s already claimed. Not when the others have lines drawn to her heart like they were carved by fate itself, and all I’ve done isdamage.

The restraint it takes to remain still is staggering. Every time her voice touches the room, I feel it low and precise, like it was pitched for me alone. Her magic doesn’t answer mine—but it hums just under the surface of my skin, like it would, if I let it.

And that’s the most dangerous part of all.

Because I’ve always known how to break someone.

But I’ve never known how toneedthem.

A rustle breaks the quiet—a whisper of boots against stone. I don’t turn. I know the gait. The swagger. The barely-concealed arrogance of a man who knows every version of you you never wanted to admit existed.

Elias slides into view with a lopsided grin and a smirk that promises nothing good.

“You look broody,” he says, leaning one shoulder against the pillar beside mine. “Like... tragic hero broody. Like you’re two seconds away from writing ‘To Luna, Love Me Not’ in blood across the wall.”

I grit my teeth. “Shouldn’t you be licking a rune or flirting with a trap?”

“I tried that,” he says breezily. “The trap flirted back. It was awkward.”

“Leave.”

“Oh, come on. Youhaveto talk about it eventually.”

“There is nothing to talk about.”

Elias squints at me, tapping his chin. “Right. So you weren’t staring at her like a cursed king watching his salvation disappear into the mist.”

I don’t answer.

He takes that as a win.

“She did look good, though,” Elias adds, wistful now. “All golden light and ink and chaos. And that mouth…” He whistles. “You’re a stronger man than I am.”

I finally turn my head, jaw sharp enough to cut through him if I had the patience.

“I’m not stronger,” I say. “I’msmarter.”

Elias laughs like I told a joke. “Lucien, you’ve got itbad. Just admit it. The rest of us already have. She’s the kind of problem you want to get lost in.”

“She’s not a problem,” I mutter, before I can stop myself.

Elias stills.

Then—softly—“That’s the first true thing you’ve said all day.”

He doesn’t push after that. Just claps my shoulder like he’s proud of me for finally cracking. When he walks off, it’s quieter. More knowing. I wait until I can’t hear his footsteps anymore before I look back.

Luna is on the far side again. Her head is tilted toward Orin, listening to him explain something—one hand on her hip, the other brushing against a pillar marked in starlight runes. The light curls around her fingers like it wants toworshipher.

And I feel something break in my chest.

Not pain.

Not regret.

Something older.