Free Web NovelChapter 16: Chapter 16 Games of Seduction
Elara’s POV
The unexpected gesture left me completely stunned. I mumbled a hasty thanks and reached up to grab the ring from the service slot.
"Thanks. I’ll... find some way to pay you back."
Finnian’s entire attitude shifted in an instant. He straightened up, his tail going wild—clear proof his mood had just flipped completely.
"Don’t worry about it. Wasn’t doing anything with it anyway."
Finnian gazed at me, his expression growing tender. It looked as though he was silently thanking me, grateful for giving him a reason to keep living.
For now, let this little ship be the thing that carries you out to see the world.
I thanked him politely, but something seemed strange—especially how that fox kept staring at me!
Sure, this furry guy seemed sweet, but that piercing gaze was too intense for me to deal with.
Inside, I was completely freaking out. I’m technically married here, people! Okay, so they’re system cases with expiration dates, but still—quit staring at me with those "I’m ready to follow you home" eyes!!!
——
Kaelen and Julian shared a look across the corridor.
"You see that? Finnian’s making his move on our mate."
"Kaelen, Finnian’s even more shameless than you!"
Dorian’s fur stood on end. He whipped around to face Barrett, eyes full of contempt. Weren’t those two supposed to be the official mates? What was this situation? Were they just going to stand by and watch some fox make his play?
"Old man, do something!!!"
Barrett, the massive wolf, dragged a claw across the floor. "Hmph. One mark for the sneaky rabbit, one for the smooth-talking fox."
Dorian let out a cold snort. "Pathetic. A high-ranking general and you can’t even compete?"
"Take notes from the fox—he actually offers her something valuable. His motives couldn’t be more transparent, could they?"
In Chamber Seven, Silas simply listened to the chaos from next door. A faint smile crossed his face as he reached up and casually unfastened the top two buttons of his shirt.
A pack of beasts so far gone they couldn’t maintain human shape, still attempting to charm his mate? Not a chance.
——
Elara’s POV
When I walked into Chamber Seven, my eyes went wide the moment I entered. Holy—
Had the dangerous lop rabbit completely snapped after bouncing back from his breakdown?
My ears burned red. I kept my composure while setting out the food, but I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering to Silas’s now-unbuttoned collar...
So fair... Oh god. His Adam’s apple shifted. This view was perfect—I could glimpse his collarbone. That whole "barely concealed, just enough to tempt" vibe. I took a quiet breath, terrified I might actually get a nosebleed.
Another quick peek. The dangerous lop rabbit with a collar would be absolutely devastating. Actually, a chain necklace would work just as well.
Elara, pull yourself together! This isn’t one of your destined mates—he’s spoken for!
The little devil on my shoulder: What’s the harm in looking?
So I snuck another glance from the corner of my eye...
The little angel on my other shoulder: I know you shouldn’t, but honestly, can you fault yourself when this rabbit’s being this tempting?
Absurd. The two sides of my mind, usually battling, were suddenly in complete harmony.
"Thank you, Ms. Sterling."
The gratitude held dual meaning. I suspected he kept his appreciation understated since I had decided to keep my abilities hidden.
Silas’s smile widened, his words offering thanks while his gaze lingered on my flushed ears. Noticing my reaction, his grin grew even broader. He’d read the situation correctly again.
"No problem."
As I spoke, I set the milkshake on the service slot. At that exact moment, Silas reached forward. Our fingers made contact. I flinched. His hand was ice-cold.
"Sorry about that." Silas gave a nod, his smile reaching his eyes. I must have appeared rattled again, which he seemed to find adorable.
"It’s okay!"
That day, I found myself practically fleeing once more. This guy’s going to kill me.
——
The instant Elara departed, the room erupted. freewёbnoνel.com
"Finnian, what the hell was that supposed to be?" Barrett was first to confront him, his voice cutting. Did the fox not realize she was his mate?
Finnian could tell Barrett was furious. None of them could exit their rooms currently, so a real contest wasn’t an option. With that in mind, he responded evenly. "It was simply a thank-you present."
The response?
Kaelen said, "Right. Just a thank-you present..."
Julian chimed in, "Really thoughtful. An entire aircraft..."
Dorian grumbled, "No big deal. Wasn’t using it anyway..."
Alistair’ tail thrashed wildly, his menacing stare making Finnian deeply uneasy. What was their problem? Had they lost their minds?
It was somewhat understandable for Barrett to be upset, fine. But why were the rest getting involved? He’d offered a gift to his own mate—who exactly was he offending?
Silas next door handled things much better. More refined.
And Silas?
The rabbit delicately inhaled the scent from his fingertips, a barely contained smile playing at his mouth. His mate... smelled divine.
——
Elara’s POV
Once I left the room, my heart was racing. Dear god, that dangerous lop rabbit was absolutely lethal. In both my lifetimes, I’d never encountered a man that gorgeous.
Face. Physique. Everything.
Such a waste... Too bad he was hopeless—the type who cracked and went rogue, syringes and everything.
I shook my head, attempting to physically shake his image from my thoughts.
After lunch, I had no tasks. I walked outside the treatment center. The sunlight felt pleasant, just slightly too bright. I pulled out some sunglasses and put them on.
Unit 007, the patrol robot, spotted me leaving and immediately rolled over to say hello.
The patrol bots were more sophisticated than the medical ones inside. They had high-grade core processors, making them—apart from their looks—virtually human in their thinking and consciousness.
"Hello, Ms. Sterling. How are you adjusting to your work?"
I stopped. This really is an advanced society—even the robots have personality.
