"What do you think happened? The Dragon Phoenix union completed. Your energies merged. Full cycle. The Resentful Dragon Force is about sixty percent purged from your system. Her Other Shore Flower venom is completely gone. Every last drop. You're stronger than you've ever been in your life, she's going to wake up within hours, and I would strongly suggest you put your shirt on before someone walks in and starts asking questions you don't want to answer."Ethan looked to his left.Serena lay beside him. Her red hair was spread across the pillow like a river of autumn leaves. Her cheeks had color now, a soft flush of pink that had not been there yesterday. Her breathing was deep and even and strong, her chest rising and falling with the steady rhythm of someone truly resting, not trapped, not drowning, just sleeping. There was a faint silver shimmer under her skin that faded as he watched, like moonlight retreating before sunrise.She was still unconscious. But not comatose. The differ

The room went silent. Catherine's smirk melted off her face like ice under a heat lamp. Her eyes narrowed into slits."You'd better learn to close that mouth, boy. You have no idea who you're talking to.""Maybe. But I'm already inside the house, and you're still standing in the doorway needing to be invited.""Oh, I like this kid," the Spirit murmured inside Ethan's head, practically purring. "I like him a lot. Say something else. Make her eye twitch."Victoria pressed her lips together so hard her chin trembled. She was trying not to laugh.Catherine smoothed her coat with both hands, composing herself the way a snake recoils before striking. When she spoke again, the fake sweetness was gone. Her voice was pure business, cold and sharp as a blade."Enjoy your little jokes while you can, boy. Harrison is holding a board meeting next week. Nathan is being nominated for interim president of the Clarke Group. Serena's fifty percent shares will be placed under eldest branch management si