Chapter 126: Collars And Compromises

The saleswoman’s eyes lit up with the unmistakable draw of commission.

"Ah, excellent choice. Right this way."

She glided toward a locked display case in the corner.

Kane followed reluctantly, dread pooling in his stomach as the woman unlocked a case filled with chokers and necklaces that looked more like instruments of submission than jewelry.

"Our premium collection," she announced proudly. "Each piece is handcrafted with the finest materials."

Cyrus surveyed the display. His gaze settled on a particularly extravagant piece.

It was a wide diamond-studded collar that caught the boutique’s lighting and threw rainbows across the case.

The thing was gorgeous. It was also unmistakably a collar.

"Would these make a sufficient statement?" asked the saleslady.

Kane’s brain short-circuited. Images flashed through his mind—himself wearing that glittering collar, the weight of diamonds against his throat.

"I—what—no—absolutely not!"

The words tumbled out in a strangled rush as heat flooded Kane’s face.

The saleswoman blinked in confusion while Cyrus’s mouth quirked into the faintest hint of a smirk.

"Perhaps something more understated?" the woman suggested diplomatically.

Kane wanted to disappear into the floor.

Cyrus allowed himself another moment to savor Kane’s flustered state before dismissing the collar with a wave of his hand.

The saleswoman’s smile never wavered despite the dismissal of her most expensive piece. She locked the first case and moved to another display.

"Of course. Perhaps something from our executive collection?"

This case held pieces that whispered wealth rather than screaming it. Still obscenely expensive, but without the obvious declarations of ownership.

Cyrus’s attention fixed on a dark platinum pendant set with a single black diamond, suspended on a sleek chain. The stone caught the light with subtle fire, elegant and unmistakably masculine.

"Ah, excellent taste," the saleswoman gushed. "The black diamond is particularly rare, ethically sourced from—"

Kane exhaled slowly, his shoulders dropping as relief flooded through him.

A pendant. Just a normal, if ridiculously expensive, pendant. No collars, no statements about ownership, or—

"We’ll take it."

Kane’s head snapped toward Cyrus so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash.

"Wait, what? Cyrus, I didn’t agree to—"

But Cyrus was already pulling out his black card, sliding it across the counter.

The saleswoman’s eyes gleamed as she processed the payment, clearly emboldened by Cyrus’s willingness to spend without hesitation.

"Would you be interested in our ring collection as well? We have some stunning pieces that would complement the pendant beautifully."

She gestured toward another locked case, this one filled with bands that ranged from simple platinum to elaborate designs set with precious stones.

"And our bracelet selection is quite popular with discerning gentlemen."

Kane felt his pulse spike again. "No," he said quickly, perhaps too quickly. "No rings. Definitely no rings."

Cyrus tilted his head, studying Kane with interest.

"The pendant will be sufficient," Cyrus told the saleswoman smoothly, rescuing Kane from his verbal stumbling.

But his crimson eyes never left Kane’s face, and the slight curve of his lips suggested this conversation was far from over.

The saleswoman packaged the pendant in a velvet case, clearly disappointed at missing additional sales but still pleased with her substantial commission.

Back in the Jaguar, Cyrus took the velvet box and opened it with care.

The black diamond caught the afternoon light streaming through the windshield, casting tiny flecks of fire across the leather interior.

He lifted the pendant, letting the chain pool in his palm as he examined the stone.

"It’s nice, sure. Expensive as hell, but... I don’t need—" Kane’s protest died as Cyrus leaned across the center console.

The pendant dangled between them, and Kane found himself trapped between Cyrus’s body and the passenger seat.

"Hold still."

Cyrus’s voice was low and commanding as he reached around Kane’s neck.

His fingers brushed the sensitive skin at Kane’s nape as he worked the clasp.

Kane’s breath caught. The cool metal settled against his throat, surprisingly heavy, the diamond resting just below his collarbone.

Once the pendant was secured, Cyrus pressed his thumb against the black diamond.

A faint crimson glow seeped into the stone, and Kane felt the air around them vibrate with subtle energy.

The pendant grew warm against his chest, humming with power that resonated through his bones.

"What did you just do?"

Cyrus’s hand dropped, but his eyes remained fixed on the glowing stone.

"I missed knowing where you were." His voice was soft, almost vulnerable. "The karmic bond gave me that once. This will give me something close."

Kane stared at him, speechless.

Part of him wanted to tear the pendant off and throw it back at Cyrus—tagged like property, monitored like some wayward pet who couldn’t be trusted not to wander off.

But another part, a treacherous warmth spreading through his chest, recognized the fear beneath Cyrus’s calm exterior.

The dragon, who’d already lost Kane once, who’d spent centuries alone, is afraid of losing him again.

Cyrus started the engine, his expression returning to its usual composed mask.

Kane sat rigid in the passenger seat, tugging at the chain as if it had suddenly grown too tight.

"I look like I’ve been collared."

Cyrus’s lips curved into the faintest smirk as he pulled into traffic.

"Would you rather I’ve got the real collar?"

Kane groaned, burying his face in his hands.

The memory of that diamond-studded monstrosity from the display case made his cheeks burn all over again. At least the pendant was subtle.

The Jaguar drove through the city streets as afternoon melted into evening.

Kane found himself unconsciously touching the black diamond, feeling the warm pulse of Cyrus’s energy threaded through the stone.

It should have felt invasive, this supernatural tracking device disguised as jewelry.

Instead, it felt oddly comforting.

Traffic thickened as they entered the neon-lit district where upscale restaurants competed for attention with flashing signs and valet stations.

The Jaguar pulled smoothly into Kagura’s parking area, where valets in crisp uniforms waited.

"There," Cyrus said, nodding toward the restaurant’s entrance.

Mochi stood near the ornate doors, resplendent in a flashy black leather jacket.

His dark hair was styled to perfection, and even from this distance, Kane could see the cat spirit practically vibrating with excitement.