The next morning dawned crisp and bright, the sky a vast expanse of pale blue streaked with wispy clouds.
Mika soared high above the world, riding one of Yelena's flying swords.
The blade hummed beneath him, cutting through the air at breathtaking speed, wind whipping through his hair as he balanced effortlessly atop it.
Mountains and endless forests blurred far below, but his mind wasn't on the scenery.
A wide, deeply satisfied smile stretched across his face, one that hadn't been there yesterday.
Yesterday, he had been depressed, frustrated, almost defeated.
Fauna's unwavering view of him as her 'little boy' had weighed on him like a chain. No matter what he tried, her body and mind remained impervious, treating his touch like that of a child.
It had made him question himself, his manhood, his worth.
But last night had changed everything.
Now, that weight was gone.
He felt reborn.
The reason was simple: Fauna's body had finally reacted.
Not just reacted—exploded.
