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The leonai pays him no mind, its eyes fixed on the prize in my hands. I crouch down, and it claims the meat with a surprising gentleness before retreating a few steps to tear into it.

“It’s a leonai,” I say, glancing up at Kato with a grin I can no longer suppress.

“I can see that,” he snaps, his voice an octave higher than usual. “Why is it in the kitchen?”

“Because he was hungry.”

He gapes at me. “You’ve been feeding it? This is why the meat’s been disappearing?”

I shrug, standing and brushing my hands off on my trousers. “He was injured. I couldn’t leave him to starve.”

After the first time I left the meat outside, I’d done the same the following night, each time moving the food a little closer to the tower. Eventually, he had started lingering after eating. Only yesterday had he trusted me enough to let me get close to his wounded leg. I’d expected the injury to be worse, but it was already healing—far faster than I’d thought possible.

Kato points an accusatory finger at the leonai. “That’s the one that poisoned you after it was snacking on moonflower, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I’m fairly certain he’s stayed close to the tower, so I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.” I smile at the leonai as he finishes his meal and lies down on the tiled floor, licking his chops with a long, pink tongue. “I should name him. What do you think of ‘Ares’?”

Kato snorts. “Ares?”

The leonai’s ears flick, its half-lidded eyes sliding to Kato. Then, with a soft chuff, it lowers its head back to the floor, its body relaxing once more.

Warmth blooms in my chest. “See? He likes it.”

Before Kato can respond, another voice speaks, curling through the room in a way that makes my breath catch.

“I’ve been gone for a week, and I come back to a leonai in the kitchen.”

My heart stumbles, and I turn slowly, the world narrowing to the figure leaning casually against the doorway as if the past week hadn’t stretched endlessly in his absence.

Lyxander is bathed in the soft glow of light from the moon and oil lamp, his hair tousled from the wind. His arms are crossed over his chest, his posture relaxed, but his eyes—those lightning-struck eyes—are locked on me.

I don’t know what to say. My throat feels tight, my thoughts scattered. Finally, I manage, “You’re back.”

His lips curve into the faintest hint of a smile. “I am.”

“I was…” The words falter, and I hate the way they feel so unsteady. I cross my arms over my chest, as if shielding myself from the weight of what I almost admitted. That I was worried about him. That I’d grown accustomed to his presence. That his absence stirred something deeper—a quiet echo of the loneliness I’ve tried so hard to bury.

He pushes off the doorframe and starts toward me.

“That’s my cue to leave,” Kato mutters before he slips off the table and heads toward the hall. He pauses long enough to shoot me a knowing look—a sharp, teasing grin—before darting away.

Lyxander stops a few paces from me. “You were…” he starts.

I clear my throat. “Honestly contemplating cutting off my hand after a week with this damned bargain mark.”

He chuckles. “You’ve been busy, apparently.”

“You could say that. Cynna’s been dragging me out of bed at ungodly hours. At first I thought it was some kind of revenge, but I’m starting to think she simply enjoys watching people suffer.”

“She does. It’s one of her favorite pastimes.”

“I’ll be sure to thank her for the experience,” I say dryly. “As for the rest of your kin, they’ve been…entertaining. Though I’m not sure Kato’s idea of ‘help’ is entirely helpful. He’s been betting on my sparring matches with Cynna.”

That earns a low, rich laugh. “Sounds about right. Did you win?”

“Not as often as I’d like,” I admit, though a smirk tugs at my lips. “But I’m pretty sure I’ve made him lose a few drachma, so I’ll call it a win.”

He glances toward the doorway. “They’ve been trying to get you to emerge?”