Page 45 of Bloom in Darkness

Astra swallows and drags in a rough breath. “Getting there.”

“All right.” Caelan nods once. “Take your time.”

Sabine lets out a sharp laugh. “This little domestic scene doesn’t change his contract.”

Caelan’s expression hardens. “No. But you should know better than to put your hands on an Omega while the Valla protecting him is already half-feral.”

Astra shifts against me, and Caelan catches it immediately.

Sabine folds her arms. “This is my club. You have no authority here.”

Caelan’s gaze stays level. “I’m aware. Tell your people to stop escalating and I’ll gladly get out.”

He gives her a small nod. “Gladly. But if you keep using Astra’s contract as leverage, I can have someone looking through every debt, investor, and ownership agreement attached to this building by Monday. I don’t have to want your club to make your week unpleasant.”

Her scent sharpens. “You think you can threaten me in my own business?”

“I’m telling you what happens if you keep pushing.”

Silas’s expression hardens. “Leave me out of this.”

Caelan turns toward him. “Then stop making it worse.”

“I’m trying to protect Astra.”

Caelan’s brows draw together. “From what?”

Silas looks past him at me. “From men who think scenting him and fucking him gives them some claim.”

The growl starts in my chest again, but Astra’s hand tightens over my arm before it gets far.

Astra leans more firmly against my chest, his hands finally steady. “They asked me. You don’t. That’s the difference.” His eyes stay on Silas.

I lower my face to Astra’s hair and breathe once against his temple. Caelan’s eyes meet mine over his head, checking me without saying anything.

Then Sabine claps her hands once.

“Enough.”

Caelan looks back at her.

She points toward him. “You are no longer welcome in this establishment.” Her voice is cold now, final. “You don’t rent rooms, you don’t sit at my bar, and you don’t stroll onto my floor like you own it.”

Caelan gives her a small nod. “Fine.”

Her attention snaps to me.

“Bryn. You are on very thin ice.” Her voice has gone measured again. “The only reason you still have a job tonight is because you do it better than half the security staff I’ve ever hired.”

I hold her gaze. “Then we understand each other.”

“And Astra. Don’t think tonight means you’re off the hook. Not even close.”

Astra goes still beside me, but when he answers his voice is steady. “Wasn’t expecting it to.”

My arms tighten around him again while Sabine watches the movement without trying to touch him this time. “Get out of my hallway.”

Caelan glances at Astra. “You done for the night?”