Mirala froze.
The word hung in the air between them like a blade suspended mid-fall.
Her amber eyes went wide—not with arousal, not with excitement, but with genuine shock. Her mouth opened slightly, lips parting as if to respond, but no sound came out immediately.
Behind Tianlong, the atmosphere shifted.
Akane's nine tails rose slowly, fanning out like a crimson peacock display. Her golden fox eyes narrowed to slits, locking onto Mirala with predatory focus.
Yu Xiang's violet gaze sharpened, her butterfly aura rippling invisibly through the room. Her lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile—more like the expression of someone watching a mouse realize it had wandered into a snake's den.
Sabrina's arms uncrossed. Her hands dropped to her sides, fingers flexing once. Her tiger ears swiveled forward, tracking every micro-movement Mirala made.
