His grin stretched wide, all self-satisfaction, arms folded behind his head, completely at ease. The door clicked shut behind the guards, leaving the two of them alone.
"Must you looksomurderous?" he drawled.
Elara’s fists clenched, her fingers itching to grab something—anything—heavy enough to throw at him. He might’ve won the game, but she wasn’t about to make it easy for him. Not a chance.
"Relax," Tristan chuckled, propping himself up on one elbow and patting the bed. “There’s plenty of space for both of us, if you’re feeling tempted.”
Elara’s lip curled in disgust. “Touch me, and I’ll break your nose.”
Tristan’s grin only widened, eyes gleaming with that insufferable, cheeky confidence that made her blood boil. “You’re adorable when you’re angry, you know that? You’ve got this lovely habit of looking like you want to stab me. Which, honestly, is the most fun I’ve had in weeks.”
“Keep talking, and I’ll make good on it.”
Tristan’s brows shot up, but instead of backing down, he looked thoroughly amused—no, worse. He lookedturned on.Ugh.
“Spirited and dangerous—just my type.”
"You're foul."
He sat up, his expression still annoyingly casual, though there was a hint of something darker in his eyes. "And you, darling, are forbidden fruit."
Elara's eyes narrowed, but then the atmosphere shifted, a ripple tearing through the room with a force that nearly knocked her off her feet. The crack of it ricocheted, splitting the air, and before she could steady herself, a rift appeared, dark and swirling in the corner.
"Ah, but it seems we won’t be playing after all," Tristan said, his voice dripping with mock disappointment. "Ivan—always the killjoy—has other plans for you."
Elara’s mouth fell open as the Hunter stepped through the rift, no armor, no mask, nothing but a dark cloak draped over his shoulders. The dim light caught his form, highlighting the broad span of his shoulders against the Void that cloaked around him like a mantle of night. He pushed a hand through his curly hair, brushing it back from his eyes as they scanned the room. Dark and intense, his gaze finally settled on her, stealing her breath.
She looked between the two men. “What the hell is going on?”
Tristan slid off the bed with that easy grace, walking over to the Hunter as if this was all perfectly normal. They clasped hands, murmuring to each other in low tones too quiet for her to catch.
Finally, they turned to her.
“My friend here has some business with you,” Tristan said, his voice light. “Osin announced a tournament to win a night with the Hallowed, and, well, it was the perfect chance to get you alone. Though Ivan couldn’t exactly compete, being alldisgraced,and whatnot, so I did him a favor.”
The Hunter crossed his arms, face unreadable except for the faint trace of wry humor tugging at his lips. “Disgraced is one way to put it. I prefer ‘selectively avoiding unnecessary theatrics.’”
But Elara barely registered the words. Just noise.The perfect setup to get her alone.Tristan had played his part, winning the game to hand her over to the Hunter so he could try again—try to finish placing the seal on her. He must’ve figured out why it hadn’t worked the first time.
Elara took a slow breath, steadying her mind, clearing the chaos in her thoughts. In seconds, she found the Hunter’s pulse—a steady, rhythmic beat under her skin. She latched onto it with lethal focus, and a slow, wicked smile crept across her face as his control slipped. The barest wince tugged at his features, his jaw tightening.
But she saw it. And she savored every second.
Tristan glanced between them, sensing the shift. “Unhand my friend.”
“And why would I dothat?” she said, a trickle of blood dripping from her nose.
“Because” Tristan took a step toward her, voice as smooth as ever, “we’re trying to help you.”
Elara let out a sharp laugh. “You must think I’m an idiot.”
“No, we think you're smart enough to know a good offer when you see one.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Which one is it, help or an offer?”
Tristan gave a casual shrug. “Why can’t it be both?”
Elara braced herself against the wall, tension buzzing through her body, her mind spinning as she weighed her options. The Hunter’s pulse beat fast and uneven under her hold, and the flicker of pain in his eyes was enough to tell her she still had the upper hand—at least for now. Slowly, she let him go, more curious than anything to see what he’d say. The moment she released him, the strain melted from his face.
