A Tempting Reward

Marcella's lips twitched at the system's smug tone. "Wow. Much appreciated."

The system brushed past her thick sarcasm. "Ms. Vance, you shouldn't worry about money anyway. You now have full authorization to access and use all assets registered under your five new mates."

Marcella pulled up her terminal, glancing at the linked financial tabs. A staggering amount of wealth sat just one tap away. Still, the thought of spending their money made her hesitate. If she ended up deciding they weren't her type and filed for divorce, she would have to pay it all back. Dealing with messy financial entanglements was a headache she did not need. Financial independence was safer. She closed the interface. "I will look into their accounts when I am actually broke."

She polished off the last bite of her dessert, setting the pristine plate aside. Despite the sweets, a hollow space lingered in her stomach. She caught herself peering toward the kitchen, eagerly anticipating whatever Cassian was whipping up for lunch.

"System, why is my appetite suddenly out of control?"

"Ms. Vance, the awakening of your psionic power and ability requires immense energy. Plus, there is zero need to stress about weight gain. With your S-tier physique, your metabolism is flawless. You cannot get fat. Throughout the whole aether beastworld, plump females practically do not exist."

Marcella's eyes sparkled. "Are you telling me I unlocked the ultimate 'eat whatever I want' body?"

"Correct."

Riding a wave of sudden good mood, Marcella clasped her hands behind her back and strolled toward the kitchen. The rich, savory scent of cooking meat and spices hit her instantly.

Cassian stood by the marble counter, expertly chopping vegetables. He spotted her approaching and flashed a warm, inviting smile. "Are you hungry, Ms. Vance?"

She shook her head softly. "No. I just wanted to see what you were making."

He gestured toward the sleek, oversized refrigerator. "Honey-glazed chicken, fish and chips, braised ribs, a garden salad, and mac and cheese. You can take a look inside. If you crave anything else, just say the word."

Five heavy dishes for two people. Marcella quickly waved a hand in dismissal. "That is way too much. We will just waste it."

In this beastworld, real meat and fresh produce cost a small fortune, and she hated throwing away good food.

She turned to leave the kitchen, but the system chimed in again, its voice adopting a cheerful, nagging quality. "Ms. Vance, his cooking skills are exceptional. Are you really not going to reward him?"

Marcella stopped and tilted her head. She observed Cassian's focused profile as he moved around the stove. He was working hard to please her. He did deserve some sort of acknowledgment for his domestic efforts. "System, pull up his contamination levels. I can just perform resonance on him."

The system let out a digital sigh. "Ms. Vance, if you sleep with him tonight as discussed, his contamination level will reset to zero automatically. Using your psionic power on him right now is redundant."

She raised an eyebrow. "I am not sleeping with him right this second."

The system pressed the issue with cold logic. "You depleted seventy percent of your psionic power this morning. You have two 2-Star therians scheduled for this afternoon. Burning more power right now is a terrible strategic move."

She nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

She had no desire to drain herself to the point of passing out just to prove a point.

"Just give him a small physical gift."

Marcella blinked. A physical gift sounded easy enough. It required no energy and would serve as a proper thank you. "Fine. I will find him something small."

The system sounded relieved. At last, she was catching on to basic relationship maintenance.

Marcella hurried up the stairs and slipped into her bedroom. She rummaged through the small collection of personal belongings she had brought from the Vance estate. After ten minutes of digging through various jewelry boxes, her fingers brushed against a small velvet case. She walked back downstairs and headed straight for the dining area, keeping her hands hidden behind her back.

"Cassian."

He turned off the stove and wiped his hands on a clean towel, looking curious. "Yes, Ms. Vance?"

"Lower your head."

He did not ask questions. He simply stepped closer, leaned his tall frame forward, and bowed his head, exposing his strong neck to her.

Marcella brought her hands forward and draped a silver chain around his neck, securing the clasp at his nape. A small, intricately carved fox pendant rested flat against his collarbone. The tiny fox looked sharp, clever, and adorable.

Cassian froze. He reached up, his large fingers gently brushing the cool metal of the pendant. A rush of pure joy flooded his chest. She gave him a necklace. A physical token of her appreciation. Did this mean she actually liked him? Was his position in this household finally secure? The looming fear of divorce that had haunted him since she signed the mating papers vanished in an instant.

It was the very first time she had ever given a mate a gift, and the intimacy of the gesture made her slightly flustered. A faint trace of pink dusted Marcella's cheeks. "You put a lot of effort into making these meals. This is your reward."

Cassian offered her a radiant, boyish grin, his eyes shining with devotion. "Thank you, Ms. Vance."

He gripped the pendant, secretly hoping he could earn more rewards like this. If she was willing to give him jewelry for cooking, maybe he could push his luck further in the future.

They sat down at the dining table and cleared every single plate. True to the system's word, Marcella ate her fill without feeling bloated or sluggish.

After a solid one-hour nap, Marcella returned to the resonance room. She stretched her arms, feeling refreshed and ready for the afternoon shift. At exactly two o'clock, the heavy metal door slid open. The first scheduled 2-Star therian walked in.

"Ms. Vance."

Roland Hayes stared at her. Ever since she hit S-tier status and the news broke, he had obsessively scoured the AetherWeb for her photos. Seeing her in the flesh left him breathless. She was far more stunning than any pixelated image could ever capture.

Marcella had survived the intense, hungry stares of over fifty men that morning. She kept her posture relaxed and professional. "Roland. Take a seat."

As he stepped further into the bright lights of the room, her gaze snapped to the top of his head. A pair of round, fluffy black ears twitched amidst his dark hair. Her fingers immediately curled inward. The sudden, intense urge to reach out and squeeze those fluffy ears hit her like a truck.

Roland caught the fixed direction of her stare. A sly, hopeful glint appeared in his dark eyes. "Ms. Vance, my beast form is a panda. Would you like to touch them?"

Marcella's eyes lit up instantly. Pandas were the ultimate national treasure back in Veridia. She had only ever seen them from behind thick zoo glass, never close enough to actually touch one. She leaned forward slightly, her professional facade cracking. "I really want to. But will touching them mean I have to take responsibility?"

In her old world, touching a national treasure meant dealing with angry zookeepers. Here, touching a therian's beast traits often meant accepting legal or romantic obligations. She needed clear boundaries before she gave in to temptation.

Roland's fuzzy ears drooped flat against his head, making him look incredibly pitiful. He worried his forwardness had ruined her first impression of him. Could he fix this?

He offered a bright, eager smile, leaning closer to close the distance between them. "Ms. Vance, if you wish to pet me, you can do so freely. There will be zero strings attached. I promise. Being touched by you is an honor, Ms. Vance. Please use me as you see fit."

Marcella shot him a sideways glance. He was a very smooth talker, happily leveraging his cute beast traits with lethal precision just to gain her attention.