"Ten."
Kassian opened his eyes, and for a heartbeat, he let himself simply be a man standing in a forest of light. The Solarium Garden was no longer just a collection of plants; it was a living, breathing extension of his own heightened consciousness. He didn't reach for the resonance link yet. He wanted to feel the primitive, thrumming thrill of the hunt. He took a slow, deep breath, his chest expanding. The scent was there—the unmistakable signature of Vera. It was a chaotic blend of Northern frost, stolen jasmine, and the salt of her skin. But more than that, it was the scent of her excitement. Her heart was racing, her adrenaline a trail of liquid gold in the air.
