Back at the tower, the hum was a constant companion, a reminder that the Spark was never truly dormant. Mei Lin sat cross-legged on Adrian's office couch, a cup of instant noodles steaming in her hands. The fight had left them bruised but alive, and the quiet was a fragile gift.
"You're eating that garbage again?" Adrian asked, leaning against his desk, his tie loosened and sleeves rolled up.
She grinned, slurping a noodle. "It's comfort food. You should try it."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'll pass."
"Suit yourself, rich boy." She patted the couch beside her. "Sit. You're making me nervous hovering like that."
He hesitated, then sat, closer than necessary. The hum pulsed, warm and soft, and Mei Lin felt her cheeks heat. "So," she said, keeping her tone light, "your mom's got you engaged to some heiress. How's that going?"
He groaned, rubbing his temples. "It's not happening. Lydia's nice, but she's not…"
"Not what?" she prompted, her voice teasing but her eyes searching.
He met her gaze, his expression unguarded. "Not you."
The hum flared, a wave of warmth that stole her breath. She set the noodles down, her heart pounding. "Careful, Adrian. That's the second compliment this week."
He smiled, a slow, dangerous smile that made her stomach flip. "Maybe I'm getting soft."
"Or maybe you're finally waking up," she said, leaning closer.
The door burst open, Vivian storming in with a tablet. "We've got a hit. The tattoo you described—it's linked to a group called the Order of the Spiral. They were tied to Elena Grey."
Mei Lin's humor faded. "A cult?"
"Not quite," Vivian said. "More like a shadow organization. They funded Lupus after the Li family pulled out."
Adrian stood, his expression grim. "Then they're the ones waking the Spark."
Mei Lin's hand brushed his, a silent promise. "We'll stop them."
He nodded, his fingers lingering on hers. "Together."