Moonless midnight. Thief winds howled.
I became shadow itself—pads silent on cedar floors.
SHIIIING.
Silas' blade hung at my nose-tip before I'd crossed the threshold.
"Coincidence!" I chirped. "Pleasant nocturnal—"
His gaze snagged on my bare midriff.
The sword clattered like fallen grace.
I pounced.
Pinned beneath me, he was a masterpiece of unraveling control:
Ears: Crimson tide.
Pupils: Earthquake-shattered jade.
"Wh-what devilry..."
Answer sealed itself—my mouth on his.
Peach tart? Charcoal? Lightning?
Then came the spinning.
WHOMP.
I landed courtyard-side—wrapped in his quilt like human sushi.
VICTORY.
Humming, I caterpillar-crawled to my den. Progress!
Dawn exposed the ultimate betrayal:
SILAS BROOKS: STATUS - VANISHED LIKE WRONGED GHOST
(Personal effects: missing. Pheasant grill: cold.)
ROOOOARRR?!