As she entered the manor, Canary heard someone behind her. When she turned sharply, she saw no one. She shrugged, and then came face to face with Vahem, his gaze cold. He looked strange. She crossed her arms while her lips slowly curved upward.

"Don’t do this to me, Canary." He seemed to be trying to control himself.

"Oh yeah? And why not?" she asked, defiant.

"You want to know why?" He grabbed her by the waist with extreme force and speed, and before Canary realized it, she was against the wall, with Vahem only inches from her lips.

She swallowed hard at his closeness.

"Vahem… it was just a… joke."

"You don’t know how dangerous these ‘jokes’ can be, Canary," he whispered.

Something inside her sparked.

"Why are they so dangerous?"

He gave a humorless laugh, tightening his grip on her waist.

"I’m a male, and for all intents and purposes we are… bonded. We should…" He stopped abruptly, swallowing hard.

"Be mating?" she asked with a sly smile. Vahem flinched, his hands still on her hips.

"Are you enjoying teasing me like this?"

"You have no idea how much." He leaned in even closer, their lips brushing lightly.

"Don’t do this to me, Canary. You have no idea what it does to me." He was serious, no smiles—just a fierce gaze.

"I won’t do it again," she said, staring at his lips.

They were both breathless. Canary felt that something could happen at any second. But Vahem pulled back, trying to compose himself. He shot her a sidelong glance as he walked away. Canary felt her whole body shiver.

                                  —---

Later that night, Canary went downstairs for dinner. But Vahem wasn’t in the dining hall. She felt uncomfortable and lonely, until she heard Merydia’s voice echoing through the corridors.

"Ah… good evening," she said with a smile.

"Hi, good evening! Would you like to have dinner with me? Vahem is apparently running late," Canary said, feeling a knot in her throat.

Merydia glanced at her sideways as she approached and sat beside her.

"He’s not late, he’s just not coming." Canary quickly looked at her.

"Why?" Realizing how fast she had asked, Canary tried to compose herself.

"I mean…"

"You don’t have to explain yourself, Canary," Merydia said with humor.

"It’s not that I just…"

"I know, you just find it strange that he’s not here today," she said ironically, and Canary shrank in her chair.

"But why isn’t he coming?"

"He went to the center of the village, some kind of private meeting," she said, sounding bored. Canary leaned back in her chair, remembering earlier.

"What kind of private meeting?" Merydia quickly glanced at her and laughed awkwardly.

"Oh no… no! Not that kind… of meeting! It’s something with some of the males, I think to talk about the village’s safety, don’t worry."

Her face grew hot.

"Well, why would I worry? Vahem and I only have a… fake relationship! He doesn’t owe me explanations or… whatever." She tried to sound convinced. Merydia gave her a sly smile.

"Why are you smiling at me?" Merydia suddenly burst out laughing, loud and uncontrolled, while Canary’s cheeks turned red.

"Merydia, stop it!" But she only laughed harder.

"I’m sorry… but your face is hilarious! You look like a strawberry, you’re so red." She laughed again, and Canary couldn’t help it—she began laughing with her.

Canary felt so happy; she had never smiled like that before. Laughing with Merydia felt amazing.

When the laughter finally subsided, both were smiling. Merydia held Canary’s hand.

"He isn’t… mating with any other female, Canary. None." For some reason, that made her heart feel lighter.

"But why not? He… he and I have nothing real. He has no obligations to me." Merydia leaned back in her chair.

"When the union of the twin moons happens, the partner only feels… desire for their partner, Canary. For no one else. Even if the bond isn’t real." Canary swallowed hard.

"He’s kind of suffering because of it, he’s practically climbing the walls, it’s disgusting," she said, making a face. But for some reason, Canary smiled.

"I thought… it was beautiful." Merydia shrugged.

"That’s why that night you saw… that thing in Vahem’s mind, it’s basically what he thinks about all the time. Don’t tell him I said this, but I wanted you to know." Canary’s heart raced.

"I can’t give him what he wants, Merydia, I… I can’t." Merydia squeezed her hand.

"Why not?"

"Because it’s not real, we’re not truly together."

Merydia gave her a kind smile.

"Canary, if you both want it, what harm is there? You can have the fantasy of love, but sometimes… love isn’t everything." she said distantly.

"Anyway… it’s up to you."

She gave her a comforting look, and Canary returned it, blushing slightly.

                                 —--

That night, Vahem did not show up in the room. Which made Canary spend the entire night tossing and turning in bed. For some reason... it was as if something was missing there.

In the morning, she got up very early and went down to the dining hall. To her surprise, Vahem was at the table finishing his meal. When he saw her, he suddenly froze.

"Hello."

"Did you sleep out?" she asked, crossing her arms. He leaned back in his chair.

"I had matters to deal with, important things..." Canary frowned.

"Something worrying?"

"No, not yet at least." She approached the table.

"Kyra?"

"Yes, and no! Some males said they saw strange lycans in the area. It could be him. Or... anyone else. Don’t worry." She looked at him.

"I'm not. If he comes in here... he’ll die." Vahem smiled at her determination.

"I was talking to Merydia." Vahem looked at her sharply.

"Yeah? Nothing good ever comes from that." She moved a little closer.

"Do you think about me?" He glanced at her quickly.

"What do you mean?"

"I don’t know... naked, in your arms?" He swallowed hard, staring at her.

"Why... why are you asking me this?"

"Just... just answer the question." He didn’t look away.

"You felt it, didn’t you?"

"I saw it, actually."

"Saw it?"

"Yes... when I touched you." He looked surprised and thrilled.

"That’s not possible, a mind-link! I... I thought that didn’t exist."

He laughed excitedly. "You are very powerful, Canary, you have no idea."

The hairs on her neck stood on end.

"Now that you know... answer me." His eyes turned back to her.

"Why answer a question you already know the answer to?" She moved a little closer.

"Because... I want to hear it from your lips." Their eyes locked.

"Every day, every hour. When I’m with you, or alone! I can barely breathe, and... I feel something every single hour, every time I think of you..." She only wanted to kiss him in that moment.

"I can’t describe what I feel, Canary, I..."

"Then show me." Her gaze met his with lightning speed. He understood instantly, standing in front of her.

"I don’t need to love you, to have you." She said, touching his face. He laughed mischievously as he placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer. Their lips were almost touching, when—

"VAHEM! VAHEM, QUICK!"

Merydia screamed from outside the manor. They quickly pulled away and rushed outside. Merydia’s face was bleeding.

"Merydia, what happened?"

"He’s in, Vahem, he’s in!" she said, pointing to the gates.

Vahem and Canary immediately looked over. Her heart raced—Kyra had invaded the village.