Another month bled away outside the Haven while its inner chambers still tasted of rose-gold lust.
Ash stood at the heart of the Greater Chamber, ten snow-white tails edged in soft rose-pink drifting behind him like living ribbons of dawn, matching fox ears flicking lazily atop hair that looked spun from moonlight and blushing petals.
He wore a loose, open-front crimson jacket the color of fresh-spilled blood over a black silk shirt, sleeves rolled high, collar low enough to reveal the slow pulse of rose-gold runes beneath warm light-brown skin.
Nia and Vaeloria lingered closest, cheeks flushed crimson, eyes soft and glassy from ten straight months of being utterly, gloriously ruined.
Seris kept drifting nearer without noticing, pupils blown wide, breath shallow.
Thalion simply stared, mouth open, words lost somewhere between awe and terror.
"Your Majesty…" Thalion finally rasped, voice cracking like dry parchment. "The tails…?"
