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Hunter: Thanks for the update.

Ari glances over at the sound of my phone, one eyebrow raised. “Everything okay? That’s a lot of messages.”

“It’s all good,” I say, setting the phone down. “Sofia’s still on schedule. No issues. They’re just chatty as fuck this morning.”

She nods, fingers still moving slowly through Ares’s fur. The big dog lets out a contented huff and presses his head harder into her palm, completely gone for her. Traitor.

I stand and walk over, crouching before the chair, so I’m eye level with her. “Sorry you got stuck with me all night.”

A small smile tugs at her lips. “I like being here with you. It’s better than sitting at home thinking about everything.”

“Like what?”

She shrugs. “I keep running the choreography in my head. And then I start thinking about… everything else.”

“Amber.”

She doesn’t deny it. Just keeps stroking Ares’s ear, eyes distant for a second. None of us has spoken about the fact that Timothy’s wife is the one who kidnapped and nearly killed Arianette. It’s too close for all of us.

I reach out and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “We’ve got eyes everywhere. Sofia’s covered. The house is locked down. And you’re not going anywhere without at least two of us glued to your side.”

“I know.” She leans into my touch for a moment. “Doesn’t stop the what-ifs.”

I straighten up and hold out my hand. “Come here.”

She takes it, letting me pull her carefully off the couch so we don’t wake Ares. The dog grumbles once, then sighs. I tug Ari into my lap as I sit back down at the desk, wrapping my arms around her waist. She melts against me, head resting under my chin.

“Talk to me,” I murmur against her hair. “What’s spinning up there?”

She’s quiet for a few breaths. “I’m scared I’ll freeze on stage. Or that something will happen during the performance. Or that I’ll finally understand the ending of the ballet and then… not be able to finish it.”

I press a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re not going to freeze. You’re going to own that stage. And if anything tries to touch you while you’re up there, they’ll have to go through every Baron in Forsyth first.”

She turns her face into my neck, breathing me in. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

The song playing comes to an end, and I reach for the microphone. Ari is still in my lap, and she leans in, pressing soft kisses along the side of my neck while I pull the mic closer.

“It’s been a long winter, Brothers and Sisters,” I say, voice low and steady into the mic. “But Spring is coming. The days are growing longer. The ground is thawing. And with that comes the time to clean house. Time to look hard at what’s been rotting in the dark. Time to cut away anything holding us back. Anything that doesn’t belong. Keep your eyes open. The season of renewal is here. And some things, some people, won’t make it through the thaw.”

I click the mic off and queue up the next track. Deep, haunting organ music fills the speakers, followed by Jim Morrison’s low, almost spoken voice.

Ari lifts her head, listening. “What is this?”

“The Doors,” I say. “The End.”

“Sounds scary.”

“It’s eleven minutes long.” I raise an eyebrow at her, already knowing what that means.

She doesn’t answer with words. Instead she shifts in my lap, straddling me properly, and kisses me. Slow at first. Then deeper. Her hands slide into my hair, and I grip her hips, pulling her tighter against me. The long song gives us time. Privacy. The station is empty except for Ares still snoring in the chair.

I stand, lifting her with me, and set her on the edge of the desk. She pulls my hoodie off over her head, leaving her in just a thin tank top and the tiny shorts she wore under it. I shove the tank up, mouth finding one of her pierced nipples, sucking hard enough to make her gasp. She likes a little edge, and I give it to her, teeth grazing, tugging gently on the metal until her back arches.

But I don’t lose myself in it. Not like before. Controlling myself is worth it. Feeling her body clenched around mine? Perfection.

I peel her shorts and underwear down, drop to my knees, and bury my face between her thighs. She tastes like warmth and want. I lick her slow and thorough, teasing the piercing in her clit. Her fingers tug at the hair on the back of my neck, hips rolling against my mouth.