Page 20 of Aries

“What?”

“We have to each touch one side while it’s in rest mode. It uses our combined energy to recharge.”

My pulse quickens. “But the rules about touching…”

“The Manual says as long as theshimmerlingis between our hands, it counts as prescribed contact for its care.” His voice sounds carefully neutral, but I notice the slight flush creeping up the bronze skin of his neck.

Spark bounces between us as if to say “Yes, exactly!” Its color shifts to a warm rose gold that somehow feels… expectant.

“Should we try?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s been exploring for a while. Might be tired.”

Aries nods, and we position ourselves on either side of where Spark is hovering. Following the Manual’s instructions, we each extend a hand, palms facing each other with theshimmerlingbetween them.

The moment Spark makes contact with both our hands, a gentle warmth spreads up my arm, but there’s something else—a tingling awareness that seems to connect directly to Aries through our shared contact with the creature.

The creature’s glow softens to a peaceful blue, and it seems to melt into a perfect sphere of light between our palms.

“This is…” Aries starts, his voice catching slightly as the sensation deepens. Our hands are so close I can feel the heat radiating from his skin, close enough that when he shifts slightly, the air between our palms seems to crackle with electricity.

“Intimate,” I finish quietly, unable to look away from how our hands frameSpark’s peaceful form. The energy flowing between us feels like more than just caring for our companion—it feels like we’re sharing something fundamental, something that makes my breath shallow and my heart race.

The energy flowing between us through theshimmerlingfeels intimate in a way that should probably be uncomfortable, but isn’t.

“I can feel your heartbeat,” Aries murmurs, wonder and something darker threading through his voice. “Through Spark, I can actually feel your pulse.”

My cheeks flush as I realize he’s right—there’s an echo of his life force pulsing through the connection, steady and strong and utterly masculine. “This can’t be what the Committee intended when they gave us a companion creature.” My voice is filled with awe.

“Can it not?” His golden eyes meet mineover Spark’s glowing form. “They said it responds to emotional energy. Maybe it’s showing us what we’re not allowed to acknowledge.”

We stand like that for several minutes, hands not quite touching but connected through our sleeping companion. The intimacy of it is almost overwhelming—I can sense not just his physical presence but something deeper, the warmth of his affection, the careful control he maintains over stronger feelings. When his thumb twitches, just barely, I feel the echo of that movement through our shared connection.

Every tiny shift sends awareness skittering across my skin. When he draws in a slightly deeper breath, I feel it through Spark’s form like a caress. When my own breathing quickens in response, I watch his pupils dilate as he senses the change through our link.

When Spark finally wakes, it shoots straight up toward the ceiling, trailing jubilant sparks of gold and pink. We step apart quickly, both a little flushed.

“That was interesting.” Aries clears his throat and tips his head, one horn tip catching the light. How is it that over the past five years, I’ve managed to ignore how startlingly handsome this male is?

“Yes. Very interesting.” Moving to check the Manual again, I hope he can’t hear my racing heart. “Looks like we’ll need to do that twice a day.”

The thought of repeating that intimate connection makes my stomach flutter. Spark darts between us, its color shifting to the same rose gold from earlier.

“Are you… matchmaking?” I ask it incredulously. The creature manages to project an air of complete innocence while still glowing that telling color.

Aries’ startled laugh joins mine, and Spark spins in obvious delight at our shared amusement. For a moment, the usual tension between us eases into something warmer.

“You know,” he says thoughtfully, “I think we’ve been set up.”

“By the Committee?”

“Maybe. But definitely by this little troublemaker.” He gestures to Spark, who is now performing elaborate loop-de-loops while trailing what looks like crimson hearts. “Pretty sure this ‘reward’ is just another trial in disguise.”

“Probably,” I agree, watching Spark zoom around Aries’ horns again. “But at least it’s a cute one.”

The day develops a new rhythm with Spark’s presence. The creature seems to have appointed itself official tension-breaker, choosing perfectly timed moments to do something ridiculous whenever the atmosphere gets too heavy.

When I get frustrated trying to prepare lunch in the tiny kitchen, Spark creates the illusion of juggling by weaving light patterns around the floating utensils until I laugh.

When Aries tenses during afternoon meditation, it drapes itself across his horns like a glowing scarf until his shoulders relax.

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