I knew he was there before I saw him.
The bond gave him away—the pulse of him at the edge of my awareness, like sunlight under the skin. Waiting. Awake. Alert.
Nyx stirred. Your boy's sulking.
He's not sulking, I replied, but even I wasn't convinced.
I turned the corner and found him exactly where I'd expected—leaning against the wall outside the harem wing, arms crossed, barefoot. His hair was mussed from sleep, his expression unreadable. He hadn't pulled his hood up. He wasn't pretending to be invisible.
That alone made something in my chest thrum.
"Nine."
He didn't move for a second. Then slowly, he uncrossed his arms, straightened, and looked at me. His eyes were cooler than usual. Not cold. Just…watchful.
He didn't say anything.
I stepped closer.
"You're awake," I murmured.
"I woke up and you were gone," he said quietly. "You didn't tell me where you were going."
"I didn't want to wake you," I said. "You looked peaceful."
He blinked once. "You were with them."
I stopped. "The hybrids?"
He nodded.
"They're scared, Nine. I needed to see them. Make sure they're safe."
"I know," he said. But his tone didn't soften.
I tilted my head, watching him. "You're upset."
He looked away.
"You're…jealous?"
Nyx perked up immediately. Ohhh. This is going to be fun.
Nine's cheeks colored slightly. "No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You're standing barefoot outside a locked wing like a brooding shadow just because I went to check on the other hybrids," I said, stepping in closer, my voice soft. "Nine."
He didn't answer, but his hands curled into the hem of his shirt, twisting it between his fingers.
I placed my hand over his. "They're not you."
He looked at me finally. There was something vulnerable in his gaze. Uncertain. "But they're like me."
"No," I said gently. "They were like you. And maybe that's why I needed to see them. To understand more. But none of them are you. You're mine, Nine."
His breath hitched, and the smallest smile ghosted across his lips. "I didn't like you being in there."
"I know." I reached up and brushed my fingers through his hair. "But I wasn't going to leave without coming back."
He leaned into my touch, lashes lowering. "You smell like sadness."
"I was sad," I admitted. "Still am. But I'm glad I came back to you."
Smooth, Nyx whispered, amused.
Nine stepped into me without warning, tucking his head into the curve of my neck, against the spot where my mating mark had once glowed brightly. His arms slipped around my waist, gentle but firm.
"I didn't like waking up without you."
"You won't have to again," I murmured, holding him close. "Unless you sleep past noon."
"I didn't."
I smiled into his hair. "Noted."
We stood like that for a while, in the corridor, just breathing.
Then, in a soft thread of voice through the bond, Nine whispered, I didn't want you to think any of them mattered more. Even if they're like me. Even if you want to fix them.
I don't think that, I answered immediately. And you're not like them anymore. You're becoming something else. Something freer. Something yours.
He didn't speak again. Just stayed wrapped around me, warm and close and very much mine.
Eventually, I tilted my head back and murmured, "Come on. Let's go home."