The five days passed in the blink of an eye.
Rory returned once more to the Central District.
The mont she stepped off the starrail, she spotted Lola Brandon waiting outside.
"Rory—you’re finally back!" Lola rushed forward the instant she saw her, throwing her arms around her in a tight embrace.
"I missed you so much. Did you miss ?"
Rory smiled, taking her hand. "Of course I missed you. I brought you a lot of gifts from the water domain this ti."
She had prepared gifts not only for Lola, but also for the Empress Matriarch—and for Gina as well.
"I knew it—Rory loves best." Lola clung to her arm, unwilling to let go.
The group soon returned to the villa. Rory invited Lola to stay for dinner.
The mont Vincent heard this, he imdiately arranged for Jasper and Yuel to prepare the al.
At the sa ti, he had a room prepared for Paros, then quietly returned to his own quarters.
With Lola monopolizing Rory’s attention, Xarion and Nix found no chance to get close.
Instead, Nix went to entertain Lola’s companions, while Xarion lazily lounged nearby, contributing little more than his presence.
Lola, having not seen Rory for so long, had endless things to say.
She leaned against Rory, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
"Rory, you have no idea... while you were away from the Central District, sothing huge happened."
Rory’s curiosity piqued.
"What happened?"
Lola glanced around carefully, making sure no one was nearby before speaking even more softly.
"The Central District... discovered a human female."
Rory froze, shock flashing across her face. "What did you say? A human female?"
Lola nodded.
"This hasn’t been officially announced yet—and the information isn’t fully confird. I only overheard it."
"Right now, only my mother, the leader of the Golden-Winged Roc Clan, and a few high-ranking officials in the Empire know about it."
"They’re not even sure yet if she’s truly human—that’s why it’s being kept secret. My mother hasn’t told anyone... not even my older brother."
After speaking, Lola quickly glanced toward Vincent’s direction, confirming he wasn’t nearby.
Then she leaned closer, whispering, "Rory, I’m only telling you this—just pretend you never heard it. Don’t tell my brother. If he finds out and asks my mother, and she traces it back to ... I’ll be dead."
Rory nodded, her expression steady, though her thoughts were already racing. "I understand. I won’t tell anyone."
A human female? How could such a thing suddenly appear?
She lowered her voice, asking Lola, "Did the firebird clan say who she is? Or where she is now?"
Lola shook her head. "My mother didn’t say who she is. I only heard that she was discovered by the Golden-Winged Roc Clan—and that she’s currently staying with them."
She leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper.
"And I heard... that their young clan leader, Sylas Ruan, is already her partner. Since forming that bond, he’s advanced incredibly fast—he’s already reached Rank Ten, and he’s about to break through to Rank Eleven."
Rory frowned slightly at that—but at the sa ti, a quiet sense of relief settled in her chest.
At least... this human female had nothing to do with her.
She asked, puzzled, "I thought Sylas Ruan was with Mindy Lane?"
How long had it even been? And now he had already bonded with soone else?
Lola blinked. "Rory, you didn’t know? Mindy Lane is dead."
Rory froze.
"Dead?"
She hadn’t heard even a whisper of this.
"How did she die?" she asked.
Lola replied, "They say she was killed by mutated beasts while out hunting. All her partners and followers died with her."
She paused, then added quietly, "My mother said Sylas Ruan survived only because he never beca her follower. And... I also heard that he t that human female in the very sa forest where Mindy Lane died."
Rory hadn’t expected that the mont she returned, she’d be t with such explosive news.
The information was tightly sealed.
Only a handful of high-ranking figures in the Central District, along with mbers of the Firebird Clan and the Golden-Winged Roc Clan, knew about it.
If not for Lola, she wouldn’t have learned of it this soon.
After finishing that topic, Lola casually picked up one of the snacks Rory had made, nibbling on it with a satisfied smile.
Then she leaned closer again, her tone turning playful.
"Rory, my brother locked himself in his room the mont he got back. He’s building his nest, isn’t he? You two are about to formally bond, right?"
She knew Vincent and Rory hadn’t completed the official bonding ceremony yet.
"Hmph, my brother is useless—taking this long to finally bond with you."
Rory stuffed a small cookie into her mouth, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"You dare say that to his face?"
Lola bit into her cookie and imdiately shook her head.
No way.
If she said that to her brother’s face, he’d definitely beat her to death.
***
Vincent didn’t co out of his room until dinner.
When he did, he looked utterly radiant—refreshed, composed, and impossibly pleased.
The mont his eyes found Rory, the smile in them never faded.
Lola clicked her tongue silently to herself.
Look at him—so hopeless.
His anticipation for the bonding ceremony was practically written all over his face.
Still, she didn’t tease him. She was far too busy eating.
The food at Rory’s place was just too good.
Especially the sea beasts—rich, fragrant, irresistible. No matter how much she ate, it never felt like enough.
By the ti dinner ended, it was already late.
Rory suggested that Lola stay the night.
The guest rooms in the front wing of the estate had always been kept ready—cleaned daily and spotless.
Lola happily agreed.
That way, she could enjoy another delicious breakfast in the morning.
Her partners were of exactly the sa mind.
Once everything was arranged and Lola and her companions were settled, Vincent seized the mont while no one was around.
Without a word, he lifted Rory into his arms and carried her straight to his room.
The room had changed completely.
Where there had once been a simple bed, there now stood a vast and sacred nest.
It had been ticulously woven from countless crimson firebird feathers.
Along its edges, several softly glowing gemstones were embedded, casting a dreamlike radiance—warm, gentle, almost holy.
The air itself carried a clean, crisp scent—the sa faint fragrance that always clung to Vincent.
Still holding her, he walked slowly toward the nest.
Lowering his gaze, his long lashes casting shadows across his face, his voice softened—low and intimate.
"Rory..."
It ca out slightly hoarse.
"Will you... stay in my nest tonight?"
Rory t his eyes, then nodded without hesitation.
"...Yes."
The mont the word left her lips, Vincent gently laid her into the soft, feathered nest.
Behind him, his wings unfurled in a sudden, sweeping motion.
Fla-colored feathers spread wide—and from their roots, glowing patterns ignited, racing outward until every plu shimred with radiant light, like the most brilliant sunset brought to life.
A wave of warmth filled the room, yet under his control, it was perfectly tempered: comforting, never burning.
The entire chamber glowed in the reflection of those magnificent wings.
Lying within the nest, Rory looked up at him—montarily spellbound.
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