Lorien POV Flirting with Auren felt like playing with fire and I was addicted to the burn. Every glance, every charged word between us made me feel alive again. Desired. After being discarded by the man who was supposed to be my soulmate, the simple act of being wanted even if only for my body felt like reclaiming a piece of myself I thought I’d lost. “No. No one hurt me,” I said softly. But Auren didn’t stop. He closed the distance between us until only a foot separated us. His eyes swept over me slowly, the weight of his gaze making goosebumps ripple across my skin. “Were you worried about me, Auren?” I asked, a teasing edge to my tone. He didn’t answer. Instead, he caught my wrist and turned my arm over, his fingers tracing the skin as if searching for hidden bruises. Then he did t

