Page 126 of Elemental Becoming

Because Thane Caelum, Fire Warlord, Heir to the Realm, does not move without purpose.

And right now?

He has chosen to stand at my side.

He doesn’t look at the noble. Doesn’t acknowledge the whispers curling around us. He simply places a hand against the small of my back and finds my gaze.

Smoke-gray eyes, focused only on me. In that one simple act, the entire room tilts in our favor.

“You disappeared on me,” Thane murmurs, his voice lowered just for me.

A thrill shudders through me, flashes of that alcove igniting across my skin.

“You had to mingle . . . do Warlord things,” I reply, arching a brow.

His hand tightens slightly at my waist, fingers flexing.

“I decided it could wait.”

My pulse stumbles.

Because everyone is watching. Because he does not care.Because he has made his choice, and he is letting the entire room see it.

“Oh, now this is interesting,” Lyra hums, sipping her wine like this is the best entertainment she’s had all year.

“Ly—” I warn.

“Thane, tell me,” she cuts in shamelessly, “do you enjoy watching all these lords squirm?”

“Immensely,” he replies smoothly, without hesitation.

I groan under my breath.

“Well, you’ve certainly made your point,” Lyra continues, glancing at the nobles who are now shifting uncomfortably, very aware that Thane Caelum does not often linger at someone’s side like this.

“That was the idea,” Thane says casually, taking a sip of his wine.

I shoot him a look. “You’re making them nervous on purpose, aren’t you?”

His mouth curves up at one side.

“Only the ones who think they can manipulate you.”

I stare at them both—Lyra and Thane—watching them sip their wine in perfect, smug synchronicity. A matched set of chaos and cunning.

I exhale sharply, shaking my head. “You two are terrifyingly in sync.”

“Thank you, my friend,” Lyra says sweetly, entirely unapologetic.

Thane merely shrugs.

I should feel overwhelmed by the stares. The whispers. The scrutiny curling through the ballroom around us. But I’m not. Because he is not doing this for them. He’s doing this for me. For us.

Beneath all the whispers and lingering stares, the meaning feels unmistakable.

This is where I stand.

This is who I stand beside.