“Again,” Nyx said, his voice steady despite the burn in his muscles. The sparring ring still glowed faintly with starlight, remnants of his previous attempt to merge shadow and light magic.

With a thought, the shadows surged around him, twisting into the form of a sleek, black panther. It moved with fluid grace, its eyes glowing with an amber intensity. It stalked toward the sparring dummy, its body rippling with power before it morphed once again into a jagged blade, slicing cleanly through the wood with a sharp crack. Nyx flicked his wrist, dissolving the construct back into mist. But before he could catch his breath, he felt your presence—the unmistakable warmth, electric and magnetic, drawing his attention like a pull he could never resist.

He didn’t need to turn; your presence was enough to make him move.

You stood at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed, watching him with a mix of admiration and exasperation. Moonlight brushed over your features, catching the dark waves of your hair, but it was the quiet intensity in your gaze that made his chest tighten. His fiancée. His mate.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard,” you murmured, a note of concern slipping through your calm exterior.

Nyx wiped his brow, offering you a grin despite the strain in his body. “You make it sound like that’s a bad thing.”

You sighed, your eyes softening as you took a step closer, your presence commanding in a way words never could. “It is when you’re about to collapse just to make a point.”

Nyx smiled, his heart lightening as your hand reached for his. Your cool fingers brushed against his fevered skin, and he could feel his shadows stir around you, curling toward you as if they too recognized you as part of him. You weren’t just his mate—you were his perfect match.