Chapter 38

Elena's POV

The garden was bathed in moonlight as Magnus and I continued our walk. Everything here seemed deliberate, each plant placed with purpose and tended with loving care.

"Did you plant all of these yourself?" I asked, running my fingers gently over a cluster of white roses.

"Most of them. Gardening has been my sanctuary for decades. Plants don't care about power or status—they respond only to patience and dedication."

There was something in his manner that encouraged trust, a gentle wisdom that made me feel safe enough to ask the question that had been burning inside me since Elder Ambrose's attack.

"Magnus," I began carefully, "this might be offensive, but I need to ask... are you and Dominic human?" I held my breath after the words left my mouth, unsure how he would react. "I mean, there are supernatural beings in this world, aren't there? Sometimes Dominic seems to have abilities that don't feel... natural."

Instead of anger, Magnus's expression turned thoughtful. He guided me to an ornate stone bench nestled between two flowering shrubs and sat beside me.

"Child. That is a family secret. When the time is right, I believe Dominic will tell you himself." He patted my hand reassuringly. "But whether human or supernatural, love remains the universal question that connects all worlds."

I nodded, understanding he wouldn't—or couldn't—reveal more. In his own way, he had confirmed my suspicions without actually saying anything.

"I understand," I said. "Thank you for being honest with me."

"Would you like to see something that might answer different questions? I have albums of Dominic's childhood photos in my study."

"I'd love that."

Magnus's study was warm and inviting, with leather-bound books lining the walls and a large oak desk positioned near a window. He retrieved several photo albums from a cabinet and set them before me on a low table near the fireplace.

"These are my treasures," he said fondly, opening the first album. "Dominic would be mortified if he knew I was showing you these."

The first photo showed a small boy with familiar piercing blue eyes and a mischievous grin, clutching a toy car. I couldn't help but smile at the unguarded joy on his face, so different from the man I knew now.

"He was always serious, even as a child," Magnus explained, turning pages to reveal more snapshots of Dominic growing up—playing in the garden, seated formally at family gatherings, gradually transforming from child to teenager to young man. "But he knew how to be happy once."

As we continued through the albums, I noticed a recurring figure: a pretty girl with long dark hair who appeared in photo after photo alongside Dominic. In one, she leaned against his shoulder at what looked like a school event. In another, they stood together near the very garden where I'd just walked with Magnus.

"Is that Lyra?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice neutral despite the unexpected stab of jealousy the images provoked.

Magnus nodded, studying my reaction. "They grew up together. Our families were close for generations."

I stared at the girl who had once held Dominic's heart, trying to understand what had made her special. What had made her worthy of his love, and what had driven her to betray him?

The photos showed them growing up side by side, their relationship evolving from childhood playmates to teenage sweethearts. In the later pictures, I could see the way Dominic looked at her, with a softness in his eyes I'd never witnessed directed at me.

The jealousy I felt was irrational—I had no claim on Dominic beyond our arrangement, had repeatedly insisted our relationship was purely transactional. Yet seeing tangible evidence of his past happiness with another woman stirred something painful inside me.

I carefully schooled my expression, having learned the value of emotional concealment after months with Dominic. "They look happy together," I observed neutrally.

Magnus closed the album gently. "They were, once. Perhaps that's why the betrayal wounded him so deeply." He sighed, looking suddenly older. "Dominic doesn't let people in easily now. The fact that he's brought you into his life means something significant, whether he admits it or not."

Later, Magnus showed me to a guest room where I would stay the night. "Rest well, child. My home is your home now."

The bedroom was elegant but comfortable, with a large four-poster bed draped in soft linens. After Magnus left, I changed into the nightgown that had been laid out for me and was about to slip under the covers when the door opened.

Dominic stood in the doorway, his silhouette outlined by the hallway light. Without a word, he entered and closed the door behind him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, suddenly conscious of wearing only the thin silk nightgown that had become practically transparent in the moonlight.

"This was my childhood room," he replied, "And you're in my bed.Though I'd much rather be inside you than just sharing this mattress."

He wore only pajama bottoms that did nothing to conceal his growing arousal. His muscled chest gleamed in the moonlight as he approached and sat beside me, the mattress dipping under his weight.

"Your grandfather gave me this room," I said weakly as he reached out and boldly cupped my breast through the thin silk.

"Smart man," Dominic growled, his thumb deliberately circling my nipple. "He knows what I need."

I gasped as he pinched the hardened peak, sending shocks of pleasure straight to my core. I felt myself growing wet instantly.

"I can smell how much you want me," he said, his voice rough with desire. "Your body betrays you every time." His free hand pushed my nightgown up my thighs and moved deliberately between them. "So wet already," he murmured appreciatively, his fingers stroking my center through my underwear. "Always so ready for me."

"Did you enjoy your talk with him?" he asked, pressing harder against the damp fabric.

"Yes," I panted, unable to think clearly as his fingers slipped beneath the elastic. "He showed me your childhood photos."

Dominic paused momentarily, then pushed a finger inside me, making me arch off the bed. "Let's not talk about the past," he said, adding a second finger and curling them exactly where he knew I was most sensitive. "I'd rather focus on making you scream my name right now."

I bit my lip to suppress a moan as his thumb found my clit. "Someone might hear," I protested weakly.

"Let them," he said, leaning down to capture my mouth in a bruising kiss while his fingers continued their relentless rhythm. "I want the whole house to know who you belong to tonight."

I tried to resist the pull, to remember how uncomfortable I'd felt seeing those photos of him with Lyra. But my body had its own memory, its own desires. Despite my mental reservations, I found myself leaning into his touch.

His lips found my neck, trailing kisses up to my ear. "Tell me," he whispered, "do you still want me as much as I want you?"

My body answered before my mind could object, arching into him as his hand slid higher. His mouth captured mine in a kiss that started gentle but quickly blazed into something more demanding, more consuming. I surrendered to the familiar heat building between us, letting it burn away the confusion and jealousy.

We were lost in each other when the sharp sound of breaking glass echoed from somewhere in the house, followed by a heavy thud.

Dominic pulled away instantly, his body tensing. "Grandfather," he said, alarm evident in his voice.