Chapter 732 - When the Heart Beats Differently (1)

The plate's ascent smoothed into a steady hum, the Ascensorium Heart now a compliant steward, its bone ribs and mirror vanes quiet under the weight of their victory. Thalatha and Mikhailis, still tangled from their clumsy collision, knelt on the cool stone, armor clinking softly as they steadied themselves. Her forehead rested against his collarbone, her breath uneven, heart pounding in a rhythm that felt both familiar and new. My heart… it's thundering again, like before, but different. Not just want—it's knowing what I want. Him. This. The realization wasn't a shock but a quiet truth, settling in her chest like a stone finding its place in a stream. She lifted her head, meeting Mikhailis's gaze, his eyes soft but searching, checking her for harm in the dim ember glow.