He thrust up again. Ground against me. Found that spot behind my ear with his mouth—the one that always undid me.
"Come for me, Lumi."
The tension snapped.
I cried out against his neck, my whole body shaking as the orgasm tore through me. He held me through it, arms tight, hips still rocking gently to pull every last wave from my body.
When I finally stilled, he was smiling.
"There." His hand stroked down my spine. "Better?"
I couldn't form words. Just nodded against his shoulder.
He nuzzled into my hair. I felt his satisfaction pulse through the bond—warm, proud, content.
"I did that," he murmured. Almost to himself.
I laughed weakly. "Your ego is showing."
"Absolutely." He pressed a kiss to my hair. "I love taking care of you."
We stayed like that. His arms around me. My weight against his chest. The bond humming between us, calm and steady.
The frustration hadn't disappeared. But it was quieter now. Manageable.
"We'll figure it out," Neal said softly. "Whatever's happening, whatever's missing from the records. We'll find the answers."
I walked back to the library to meet Silas in our study room.
He was waiting in his usual chair.
He looked older today. The lines on his face deeper, his silver hair loose around his shoulders. But his eyes were sharp as ever.
"Lumi." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."
I sat.
"Rae tells me you've been asking questions."
"Lots of questions. No answers."
He nodded slowly. "I'm not surprised."
"What does that mean?"
He took his time responding. Choosing his words with the care of someone who knew what they cost.
"Some knowledge was deliberately removed," he said finally. "Entire categories of classification. Records that should exist. Theories that should have been preserved." He met my eyes. "Erased."
My stomach dropped.
"Erased by who?"
I leaned forward. "Silas. Please. Something is happening to me and no one can explain it because someone destroyed all the evidence. I need to understand."
He looked at me for a long moment. I could see him weighing things. Loyalties I didn't understand, secrets older than I was.
"What categories?" I pressed. "At least tell me that much. What was erased?"
