Rex POV
Dinner passes in comfortable silence. She eats slowly, watching me with those golden eyes. Wary but curious.
I pour more wine. She takes it. Our fingers brush.
Heat flares between us. The bond pulling tighter.
For the first time in twelve years, I feel almost human. Almost normal.
Then the dragon stirs.
A warning ripple through my spine. My hand freezes mid-reach for my glass.
'No. Not now.'
The beast coils tighter. Hungry. Demanding.
It wants her. Wants to complete what I started on that table. Wants to claim her fully.
'You can't have her. She'll die.'
The dragon doesn't care. It never cares.
Red bleeds into my vision. Just for a second.
I blink hard. Force it back.
Selene hasn't noticed. She's cutting her food, oblivious.
I have minutes. Maybe less.
"Keanu." My v
