**Chapter 233: The Fire Beneath His Skin**

In the vast expanse of interstellar space, meteor showers were a rare spectacle, unlike anything Emma had ever witnessed on Earth.

She had spent countless hours watching recordings on her lightcore, each meteor a vibrant splash of color, streaking through the galaxy in a breathtaking dance of light.

It was nothing short of enchanting, a cosmic ballet that filled her with wonder.

“Is it true? There’s a meteor shower tonight?” she asked with a spark of excitement in her voice. “I absolutely have to see it!”

Her face lit up with a radiant smile as she turned toward the kitchen, eager to begin preparing the cakes and pastries she had promised Aria. In her enthusiasm, she even decided to whip up an extra batch for Her Majesty, carefully packing them away, ready to be sent to Aurelia in a delightful surprise.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Marcus lay in bed, stirring restlessly. He reached out beside him, his hand brushing against only the cool, unwelcoming sheets.

“Ms. Tibarn?” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Opening his eyes, he was met with an empty space beside him, a stark reminder of her absence.

Damn it. When had she woken up?

He hadn’t even noticed her departure. He hadn’t been there to greet her with a morning smile or a gentle touch.

Sitting up abruptly, he threw off the covers, but before he could fully rise, a burning wave of heat surged deep within him.

This was…

Another heat period?

It was utterly impossible. His heat period wasn’t scheduled for another three months. Why was this happening now?

Had he pushed his body temperature down too much last night?

His jaw clenched in frustration. He hastily grabbed a set of clothes from his storage band, hastily dressing before leaving her room, seeking refuge in the crystal coffin for a brief reprieve.

The coffin’s biting chill was the only solace that could momentarily subdue the fever that clawed its way through his body.

Downstairs, Emma had just completed the last batch of pastries. She and Edric were in the living room, folding boxes and tying ribbons with care.

These weren’t just treats; they were gifts, and Emma understood the importance of presentation.

As Marcus descended the stairs, Emma glanced up, her face lighting up with joy. “Marcus, you’re awake! Come help us!”

Just as he was about to retreat back to the safety of his room, her voice reached him like a siren’s call, sharp and enticing, ensnaring the very essence of his being. The clear intention of seeking solace in his crystal coffin dissipated into a haze of confusion.

Reason urged him to maintain distance, but her voice, her scent—it was an irresistible, silken web, wrapping around him tightly.

Against his will, his body moved of its own accord. Step by step, he found himself drawn toward her.

Edric glanced up from his task, a frown creasing his brow as he noticed the intensity of Marcus’ gaze fixed firmly on Emma. That focused stare—wasn’t that a telltale sign of heat?

Emma, however, remained oblivious, completely absorbed in her task of tying the perfect bow, her fingers moving with practiced grace.

Marcus settled onto the seat beside her, or rather, against her. He sat so close that their bodies were nearly touching, his knee and arm boldly pressed against hers without any hint of hesitation.

Through the delicate fabric of their clothes, he could feel the warmth and softness radiating from her body, intensifying the heat that surged within him.

Emma sensed his proximity and paused mid-motion, her brow furrowing in confusion. She turned her head slightly to look at him. “Marcus, why are you sitting so close to me?”

This wasn’t their bedroom, and Edric was right across from them, watching.

Marcus didn’t respond. His gaze fell to the ribbon in her hands, his lashes casting shadows over his eyes. The sweet scent of her skin enveloped him, and the warmth radiating from the point where their arms touched made his heart race.

He fought against the overwhelming urge to pull her into his embrace, struggling to maintain control.

Reaching out, he intended to take the ribbon from her fingers, but his hand betrayed him. Instead of grasping the ribbon, it found its way around her hand.

Her skin felt soft and warm, gently cradled by his cold, larger hand.

Marcus stared, almost entranced, at their hands intertwined, the sight spinning his thoughts into a dizzying whirl.

Something felt off.

Marcus was behaving even more strangely than usual today.

Edric’s expression darkened with suspicion. He set the box aside and spoke quietly, “Marcus… are you in heat?”

Emma blinked in surprise and turned to Edric. “Isn’t he already in heat?”

“What?” Edric’s brows shot up, disbelief etched on his face as he stared at Marcus. “Already?”

If Marcus had been enduring his heat all this time, his ability to withstand it was nothing short of extraordinary. How had he managed to hold out for so long, only to lose control now?

He had honestly never noticed it before.

“I’m not. I wasn’t.”

His voice emerged low and rough, tinged with the strain of restraint.

He frowned, clearly perplexed by her words. “I only started my heat period today, but don’t worry, Ms. Tibarn. I can control it.”

Emma studied him closely, uncertainty flickering in her mind. What exactly was he trying to control? After all, she was right there beside him. Yet, since he claimed he could handle it, she decided to trust his judgment.

Marcus was not like Edric or Silas.

Both Edric and Silas had made their desires to bond with her unmistakably clear. If they were suffering through their heat, she wouldn’t hesitate to take them to bed and help ease their discomfort.

But Marcus was different. His motivations for wanting to bond had always been rooted in a desire for death. Yet now, every action of his screamed that he no longer wanted that end.

Once, he had been desperate to bond, yearning for the release that followed. What had caused this sudden shift?

Emma’s gaze lingered on him, a quiet realization dawning within her.

Perhaps, after everything that had transpired lately, after the comfort and care she had offered him, his body no longer ached so intensely.

That was why, at least for now, he no longer wished for death.

As the meteor shower illuminated the vastness of space, Emma stood on the precipice of a new chapter in her life, one that shimmered with possibilities she had once been too afraid to embrace. The joy she felt in preparing pastries for those she cared about reflected a burgeoning sense of belonging and purpose. Each cake and ribbon tied with love symbolized her willingness to open her heart, not just to her friends but to the complexities of her relationship with Marcus. In this moment, she realized that the warmth radiating between them was more than just physical; it was a connection that transcended their past struggles, a bond forged in shared experiences and mutual growth. The vibrant colors of the meteor shower mirrored her own transformation, illuminating a path forward filled with hope and affection.

For Marcus, the heat coursing through him was no longer a harbinger of despair but a catalyst for change. His instinctual pull toward Emma was a testament to the healing she had inadvertently brought into his life. As he sat beside her, their hands entwined, he understood that his desire for death was slowly being replaced by a yearning for life—her life, their life together. The confusion that once clouded his mind began to dissipate, revealing a clearer vision of what it meant to truly connect with someone. In that moment of vulnerability, surrounded by the warmth of her presence and the magic of the universe, Marcus found solace in the realization that he no longer had to navigate his pain alone. Together, they stood on the brink of a future, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, united by the fire beneath their skin and the promise of a life they were both learning to live.