Ouroboros had become a machine that no longer needed Malerion to push it forward it wanted to move.
And it was moving.
But tonight, that wasn't what occupied his thoughts.
Not entirely.
Because the moment the war room briefing ended, and Dreg, Quill, Doona, Rafe, Liza, Skit, and Bit dispersed into the depth of Sin Rouge's understructure…
…Malerion felt a familiar presence behind him.
Soft footsteps.
Light breath.
A tilt of hips so deliberate it was almost a signature.
Verosika leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a controlled smirk on her lips.
"You really know how to make an entrance," she said, pushing off the frame.
He didn't turn around immediately.
"You were already here," he said.
"Yeah," she replied, stepping closer. "But that room didn't notice me. You did."
She always did that pointed out things without sounding like she was pointing them out.
He met her eyes now, steady.
"Did you need something?"
She clicked her tongue.
"That's one way to start a conversation with a woman who just risked a migraine listening to your entire inner circle debate supply routes."
"…You stayed for that?"
She shrugged.
"I wanted to see you work."
Her tone changed on the last word softened.
Malerion realized something then:
she didn't come out of curiosity.
She came out of attachment.
And Verosika Mayday did not get attached easily.
She walked past him, sat on the edge of the table, crossed her legs.
"So," said, inspecting her nails, "you owe me."
He blinked.
"Owe you… what?"
"A night," she said plainly. "You dragged me to Pride Ring, made my heart do stupid things, and then" gestured to the tactical screens, "you dove into business like a perfect gentleman. Disgusting, So Compensation."
He stared at her.
She smiled wider.
"You're taking me somewhere."
"…Where?"
"That," she said, poking his chest again the same gesture she used when they first began this dance "is your job to decide."
His pulse shifted.
She noticed.
Smirked.
He exhaled once.
"Fine."
THE "NON-DATE" IN LUST RING
Lust Ring never slept, paused,
stopped spinning but Malerion had an eye for quiet corridors, elevated walkways, rooftops with neon reflections bending over them like waterfalls.
Verosika walked beside him, hips swaying, tail flicking, the picture of practiced confidence.
But he knew her too well to be fooled.
She was nervous.
He didn't comment.
She appreciated that.
"You always walk like you know something no one else does," she said eventually.
"I do," he said.
She rolled her eyes.
"You are impossible."
"You like that."
"Shut up."
But she was smiling.
They reached a balcony that overlooked the Lust skyline pink light raining down like glitter, noise softened to a distant hum.
Verosika leaned on the railing.
"You know," she said softly, "I didn't expect you to come back last night."
"I told you I would."
"That's the thing," she said. "Most people lie when they say that. You didn't."
He studied her.
"You're not used to honesty."
"I'm used to honesty when someone wants something from me," she corrected. "Sex. Fame. Power. Validation."
She looked at him.
"You don't want any of that. So I can't read you."
"You don't need to."
"Malerion," she whispered, and for once the teasing edge was gone, "you scare me a little."
"…Why?"
"Because every time I think I understand what you are, you do something that changes the picture."
He stepped closer.
"Does that bother you?"
"It should," she said.
Her tail brushed his leg.
"But it doesn't."
Their faces were inches apart.
She held her breath.
He didn't move not forward or back.
He held perfectly still.
"Malerion..." she murmured, "if you keep looking at me like that"
Her voice cut off when someone cleared their throat from behind.
Rafe.
Of fucking course.
"Boss," Rafe said, trying not to grin, "we have a situation."
Verosika looked heavenward.
"Are you kidding me."
"It's Wrath Ring," Rafe continued. "A faction is requesting negotiations. Or surrender. Hard to tell with Wrath."
Malerion turned back to Verosika.
"Stay here," he said gently.
She grabbed his wrist.
"No."
He paused.
"I go where you go," she said. "Not because I have to. Because I want to."
He didn't pull away.
Rafe raised an eyebrow.
"Uh… boss? Should I… pretend I didn't see that?"
"Yes," both Malerion and Verosika said simultaneously.
Rafe nodded.
"Copy that."
Wrath Ring was chaos contained in stone and iron heat rising through vents, molten cracks under the roads, and war cries echoing between structures.
Tonight was no different.
A mid tier faction stood at the border.
No weapons drawn. No threats.
They simply bowed their heads when Malerion approached.
"We surrender to Ouroboros," their leader said.
No fight, negotiation, bloodshed.
Just fear and respect of something greater.
Verosika watched the exchange quietly, noticing how the faction couldn't look Malerion directly in the eye.
She whispered:
"…You're growing faster than you should."
He answered:
"I know."
"And that doesn't scare you?"
"It should."
He didn't sound afraid.
She swallowed hard.
This man this power was going to change the Rings.
And she was standing beside him.
By choice.
BACK IN SIN ROUGE
Night fell again.
The city glowed.
Ouroboros shifted like a sleeping dragon beneath the surface.
And Verosika sat in Malerion's office, legs crossed, watching him review territory reports.
He didn't look up as he spoke:
"You said earlier that I scare you."
She stiffened.
"Are you… asking about that now?"
"Yes."
She hesitated.
"…You don't scare me because of your power," she said.
"You scare me because of what I feel when I'm around you."
He set the report down.
Slowly.
"And what is that?" he asked.
She met his eyes.
Not flirty, performative.
Just truthful.
"I feel safe."
It hit him harder than any attack.
She continued:
"Nobody in this Ring has ever made me feel safe without wanting something in return."
He stepped toward her.
"Verosika"
She held up a hand.
"Not yet," she whispered. "But maybe soon."
Their eyes locked.
Connection flared.
Not a confession or kiss.
But a promise.
A slow burning one.
And then
Skit burst into the room.
"BOSS! ENVY HUB HAS NEWS"
Verosika groaned into her hands.
Malerion exhaled.
Ouroboros never slept.
But neither did whatever was growing between them.
And that was the most dangerous part of all.