If his magic was suppressing the connection on his end… Would Olivia’s mark even appear for him?What if he’s also…
A disbelieving laugh escaped me, just as joy swelled inside my chest so violently it almost hurt.
Mine.
My Flame.
My mate.
For one reckless second, I wanted to run upstairs and wake her up just to show her. To prove her claim on me.
Instead, I snatched my button-down off the hanger and shoved my arms through it as fast as possible.
The last thing we needed right now was more chaos. It wasn't the right time.
Not with Olivia still adjusting. Not with Calix barely holding himself together. Not with all of us already balancing on the edge of something dangerous.
I buttoned the shirt all the way up, sealing the mark beneath the fabric. Hidden, for now.
The second I finished dressing, I grabbed my phone and called Gladis. She answered on the second ring.
“Yes, Mr. Rack?”
“You’ll need to re-set the kitchen,” I said, rubbing a hand over my face. “Extensively.”
A pause.
“How extensive?”
My eyes drifted toward the hallway downstairs where I knew the damage waited.
“Countertops cracked. Refrigerator dented. Blood everywhere.”
Another pause, then, very calmly, “I’m assuming Miss Olivia is settling in?”
Despite myself, a grin tugged at my mouth. “Something like that.”
“Well,” Gladis sighed, sounding entirely unsurprised, “good thing I’m an air and water mage. I can patch all of that up right away. You boys be nice now, you hear me?”Click.
Checking myself in the mirror one last time, I adjusted the collar of my shirt until it sat perfectly flat against my neck and shoulders. My eyes lingered for half a second too long on thefabric hiding the mark beneath it before I gave myself a sharp nod.
Together. Keep it together.
I stepped out of my room and immediately stretched my air magic down the hall toward Calix’s room.
Nothing. No heartbeat. No movement. Empty.
My brows lifted. He wasn't getting away that easy.
I’d told him yesterday he needed to stop hiding in the lab downstairs and actually show his face at FangTech, like the proper CEO he was supposed to be, but honestly? I hadn’t expected him to listen.
Moving toward the staircase, I slowed then stopped completely.
Olivia stood at the bottom.
The sight of her hit me hard enough my hand tightened around the railing.
A charcoal-gray shirt hung loosely off one shoulder in that careless way that made it impossible not to stare. Black jeans hugged her hips and legs like they’d been designed specifically for her body, and her loose braid rested over one shoulder, its red-dipped ends brushing against her chest every time she moved.
