Sage asked. The statement was neutral, but as she thought about it, she couldn't help but feel a slight, unwelcome prickle of something she refused to name.

It wasn't jealousy. Well, she was a bit Jealous of Daphne, but she didn't let it grow. What she felt the most now, was… a possessive annoyance.

A quiet reminder that unlike other women in his life, that she didn't have a problem with because they offered him something different she couldn't, Daphne was a different kind, she was a direct rival to her, because they both possessed genius level intellect.

"Yes, I guess so," Zaeryn replied, his hands tracing the curve of her back, content for now to just hold her and let the chaos of the last few minutes settle.

Not long after, they were getting looks from bystanders, watching them kiss in the hallway, so they decided to return into Sage's office.

The doors hissed shut, sealing them in a cocoon of quiet after the chaotic energy of the tour. The moment the lock clicked, Sage spun around, a slow, predatory smile spreading across her face.

She backed up against the cool metal of a workstation.

"So," she purred, her violet eyes glittering with amusement. "A princess. You really don't aim low, do you?"

Zaeryn's grin was immediate, his hands coming to rest on her hips. "Hey, I'm just an innocent bystander. She's the one who collided with me."

"Mmhmm," Sage hummed, unconvinced. She placed a hand flat on his chest, right over his heart, her expression turning more analytical, "Babe, Valerie was clearly intrigued by you. But the moment you learned who she was, your entire demeanor shifted. You went from charming anomaly to... polite statue. Why the sudden change?"

Zaeryn's smile tightened slightly. "Just showing the proper respect for royalty. It's called protocol."

Sage let out a soft scoff, her eyes narrowing. "Protocol? You don't do protocol, Zaeryn. You do disruption. You went from flirting with her to practically hiding behind me. That's not respect; that's evasion. So, I'll ask again. What are you so afraid she'll find out?"

The directness of the question, stripped of all teasing, left him with no room to maneuver. The grin fell from his face. He let out a long sigh, the sound heavy in the quiet of the office.

"It's... complicated, Sage."

He owed her the truth. She deserved to know everything, especially after she'd built a device that could literally save his life. But saying the words out loud, 'The princess you just met is my cousin'—felt like lighting a fuse on a bomb he didn't know how to defuse. Not here. Not now. He needed to first prepare himself mentally to reveal it.

He took a breath, letting the lie, or rather, the lesser truth—settle into place. "You're right to be suspicious," he said, his voice low. "I pulled back because I was afraid. Imagine if she found out about my... abilities?"

Sage's analytical gaze softened slightly, a flicker of understanding in her violet eyes.

"Your secret is already out, Zaeryn. Or it will be soon," she reminded him gently. "You're enrolled in the Lyceum. A male wielding Vitae isn't the kind of thing that stays under wraps for long."

"I know," he said, the words barely a whisper. "But still..."

'…that's not the secret I'm really afraid of, ' he finished silently.

Without another word, he took her hand and led her to the plush console chair, pulling her down to sit with him. She settled between his legs, leaning back until her body melted against his chest, a perfect, familiar fit.

His arms wrapped around her waist instinctively, his chin coming to rest atop her head, burying his face in silvery hair that smelled of sweet lavender and sharp ozone.

For a long moment, they just stayed there, soaking in the stillness and enjoying each other's company.

"So, the Aegis Division, huh?" Zaeryn's voice was a low murmur against her hair.

Sage hummed, a soft, contented sound, tilting her head back to look at him. "I know. I can hardly believe it myself. They didn't tell me until today, when Princess Valerie showed up."

"Isn't that far from here?" He tightened his embrace, his voice laced with a quiet disappointment. "Does that mean... We won't get to see each other everyday?"

The question hung in the air, simple and honest. Sage's heart warmed at his words. She twisted in his lap to face him, her hands coming up to cup his jaw.

"Yeah, unfortunately," she said softly. "It's a few hours' travel from here to the Capital Sector." Her thumb traced the line of his cheek. "But we'll still see each other. A lot. I'll just have to get creative with my travel schedule." A slow, wicked smile touched her lips. "And you'll just have to make our time together worth the trip."

He grinned, his own hands sliding up to her hips. "I think I can manage that." His expression turned serious again, "When are you starting?" he asked.

"The day after tomorrow," she answered, her voice a low purr. "But I doubt you'll be lonely. You'll have Ravena to keep you company. Honestly, you're going to be so busy managing all your new admirers, you won't even have time to miss me."

Zaeryn kissed her hair. "I'll always miss you," he murmured against the silvery strands. "That's part of the bond isn't it? The connection is real. I'll miss all of my bonds."

Sage tilted her head back to look at him, her violet eyes curious and analytical. "So the attachment is a feature, not a bug. That makes sense."

"Yeah."

A slow, teasing smile touched her lips as she settled back against his chest. "So… who do you miss the most?"

Zaeryn didn't miss a beat. He leaned his head down, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

"Whoever I'm not with at the moment," he murmured, his answer smooth and practiced.

Sage let out a short, appreciative laugh, tilting her head back to look at him. "A diplomat's answer. Very smooth. You're learning."

She shifted in his lap, her tone turning more direct, her violet eyes holding a serious but teasing curiosity. "So, Ravena. Did you two make up? Give me the data. Was the synchronization successful?"

Zaeryn laughed at her clinical phrasing. "Yes. And the synchronization was... very successful. She's a fast learner."

"I'll bet. She's eager to take my place in your life, " Sage processed that for a moment, a thoughtful look on her face as if logging a new entry. They stayed like that in silence for sometime, until she said, "I guess, when I'm gone, that leaves you with Daphne as your only girlfriend who can help you with the science stuff, like creating a Vitae harmonizer."

"I guess." He responded. Although he doubted, Daphne would be interested in helping him to that extent, where she even thinks about him, and creates something to help him like Sage just did.

Not that he expected her help or needed it.

But since they were bonded, maybe she actually might. He didn't know. Frankly, things had moved so fast with Daphne, just two days, and they had gone from strangers to bonded, without even knowing each other well enough for him to trust her the way he did Sage.

"You should come with me sometimes," Sage's voice brought him back from his thoughts. "I know for a fact, Valerie wants to see you again."

Zaeryn was quick to turn that idea down, "Yeah, no."

Sage's eyebrow raised, surprised by that. "Why?"

Zaeryn let out a long sigh, the sound heavy in the quiet of the office. He pulled back slightly, just enough to meet her gaze, his own expression turning serious.

"There's something I need to tell you," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Something about me that I haven't told you yet."

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