He sat in his chamber, robe loose across his shoulders. A gss of deep red rested in his hand. He wasn’t pacing, wasn’t restless. He never was. He simply watched the night from his high window. As if the estate itself whispered its secrets to him.

  He knew where they were. Celeste and the Mistress, the Crown and the Fme. Finally allowing themselves the rare collision they had denied for years. He let them have it—not permission, but tolerance. A one-night reprieve. Nothing more.

  Marisol curled close to Camille. Whispering comfort that was never just comfort. He smirked into his gss. Of course. The serpent does what serpents do.

  And in another chamber, Noa y beside Savina. That one made him pause. Not arm, not anger—but interest. The broken one tending the firebrand. That will burn bright, or burn out. Either way, it bears watching.

  He set the gss aside. Leaned back. Laughed low in his chest.

  “All of them pying their games…” His eyes narrowed, gleaming. “…but I am still the axis.”

  He pressed a button, direct to Anika. “Anika. My Chamber.”

  She came quickly, as he knew she would. Her steps light, her smirk already in pce. Anika slipped through the door. Robe tied loosely, hair damp from her own washing.

  “My lord,” she purred, tilting her head. Then, with that irreverent spark that made her different from the others: “Did the Crown and the Fme forget to invite you tonight?”

  His ugh rolled low and dangerous. Not angered, not amused—somewhere in between. He rose, slow and deliberate. In two steps had her by the wrist. Pulling her flush against him.

  “They know better,” he rumbled.

  Anika’s smirk only widened. Though her breath quickened.

  “But you summoned me all the same.”

  His hand slid from her wrist to her waist. Gripping hard enough to remind her whose presence she stood in. He bent close. His lips grazing her ear.

  “I summon because I choose. And you come because you must.”

  Her shiver betrayed her. She leaned in. Her pyful tone softening into breathless truth.

  “And because I want to.”

  The robes didn’t st long. His fell first, stripped away without ceremony. Hers followed, tugged loose by his hand. The belt yanked with a single pull. Flesh met flesh. Heat against heat.

  He pushed her back into the sheets. His body heavy over hers. His mouth cimed hers with force. Swallowing her gasp.

  “You came running,” he growled against her lips.

  Anika’s smirk broke through her breathlessness.

  “I always do.”

  His hand closed around her jaw. Forcing her eyes to his.

  “Not because I call.”

  Her breath hitched.

  “Because I want.”

  His teeth grazed her throat. Before sinking into a kiss that made her arch.

  “Say it louder.”

  “I want you,” she gasped. Her legs wrapping around his waist. Pulling him in. “God, I want you.”

  He drove into her. The rhythm unyielding. His growl rumbling in her ear.

  “Not God,” he corrected. His voice low, dangerous.

  “Only me.”

  Anika’s nails raked down his back. A sharp cry spilling from her lips.

  “Only you.”

  He kissed her again, harder. His weight grinding her deeper into the sheets. Each thrust punctuated by his words:

  “They search for bance… comfort… whispers…” His pace quickened, relentless.

  “…but you—” his hand slid down her thigh. Gripping hard as he pulled her tighter around him “—you know the truth.”

  Her head tipped back. Mouth open in a cry. “Yes—”

  His voice was iron. Vibrating against her skin.

  “The truth is me. Always me.”

  Anika shuddered beneath him. Clutching at his shoulders. Every sound from her lips proof of surrender and delight. And he gave her nothing of bance or softness. Only himself—absolute, unrestrained. The axis around which all else turned.

  Their bodies finally stilled. Slick with sweat. Breath mingling hot against the sheets. He y heavy for a moment. Then shifted just enough to study her face—not tenderly. But as if confirming what he already knew.

  She was spent, undone, satisfied.

  Anika was the first to break the silence. Her voice teasing though ragged with breath.

  “So… was I just the consotion prize tonight?”

  His smirk curved slow and dangerous. His hand traced her jaw. Thumb pressing lightly at her chin until her eyes met his.

  “Consotion?” he echoed. His voice was low, edged with iron. “No. Choice.”

  Her pyful smile faltered into a shiver. Though her eyes still glittered with mischief.

  “And what a choice.”

  He bent close. Mouth grazing her ear. His words deliberate, heavy.

  “Remember this: I am never left behind. They burn with each other for a night. You burn with me because I call it so.”

  Anika exhaled. Surrendering into the weight of him. Her voice breathless now.

  “Yes...”

  He pressed a hard kiss to her lips. Silencing the rest. When he pulled back, his grin was sharp as steel.

  “Let them have their one night of crowns and fmes. I am the fire they orbit—and the center never sleeps.”

  Anika curled against his chest. Trembling, still smiling faintly. He let her. His arm heavy across her body. But his eyes stayed open. Sharp even in the quiet.

  The axis was never alone.