Idir carried Nina through the night sky for a long while before finally descending onto a stretch of massive stone.

Under the bright, silvery glow of the moon, he wrapped an arm around her waist and stood perfectly still, his gaze fixed on her as if the rest of the world had fallen away.

Something in his mind was shifting. The blurred face lingering in his thoughts was becoming clearer—sharper.

He kept staring.

And staring.

After a long moment with no change, Nina began to feel a little self-conscious under his unblinking gaze.

She lifted a hand and waved it lightly in front of him. "Idir... do you still remember me?"

A trace of confusion flickered in his eyes. "Nina...?"

He didn’t know who Nina was.

And yet, instinct told him she mattered—more than anything.

Nina nodded gently. "Yes. Nina. Do you remember now?"

She hoped he would. The Idir from before, at least, had listened to her. That was far better than this cold, unpredictable version of him.

"Nina..."

He repeated her name slowly, over and over, as if testing its weight on his tongue. Fragments of memory flickered through his mind.

Suddenly, his arms tightened around her, pulling her firmly against his chest. "Nina."

Her breath caught. "You... remember me?"

"You are Nina," he murmured near her ear.

Nina let out a quiet breath of relief. At least he remembered her.

"Then... do you remember the others?" she asked carefully.

"There are no others," Idir said flatly.

Nina sighed inwardly. So it was like before—he remembered only her.

Then she would have to find a way to get him back to the Barbarian City first. Before she could speak, however, something seemed to occur to him.

He loosened his hold slightly, leaned down, and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Then, without another word, he lifted her into his arms and launched back into the sky.

"Let’s go."

"Go where?" Nina asked, puzzled.

Idir’s gaze swept across the land below, as though searching for something. "A tribe."

Nina blinked, bewildered. A tribe? What for?

After flying for a while, Idir spotted one below and descended.

They landed within the settlement.

"Why are we here?" Nina asked, confusion growing. "What are we doing in a tribe?"

Idir didn’t answer. He simply took her hand and led her forward.

After a moment, he stopped in front of a hut.

His voice turned cold. "The male inside—come out."

"Huh? Who is it, barging in at this hour?" an irritated voice answered from within.

Footsteps followed. The curtain was pushed aside, and a male stepped out, yawning.

The moment his eyes fell on Nina, they lit up instantly. His entire demeanor shifted, turning eager and ingratiating. "Such a beautiful female—what can I do for you?"

Nina blinked, caught off guard. She had no idea what Idir intended either.

Before she could speak, Idir’s expression darkened.

In an instant, he lunged forward and seized the male by the throat, lifting him effortlessly. "Try looking at her again."

His voice was cold, laced with killing intent. He hated the way this male looked at Nina.

The man clawed at Idir’s grip, struggling to breathe. "I—I won’t...!"

Nina quickly grabbed Idir’s arm. "Idir, let him go. Didn’t you come to ask him something?"

She glanced at the male, puzzled. Did Idir know him?

He released him.

The man staggered back, clutching his throat and coughing violently, scrambling to put distance between himself and Idir.

He turned to run, but in the next instant, Idir restrained him again with terrifying ease.

The male froze, fear flooding his face. "Y-you... what do you want from me?"

He didn’t dare try escaping again. Someone this strong—there was no getting away.

"Where is your tribe’s shaman?" Idir asked coldly.

"Sh-shaman?" The male looked utterly confused. "Our tribe... doesn’t have one."

Idir frowned.

No shaman?

A violent agitation surged in Idir’s chest.

How could there be no shaman?

If there was no shaman... then how was he supposed to bond with Nina?

The male, sensing the dangerous fury radiating from him, began to tremble. "I—I’m not lying to you. Our tribe really doesn’t have a shaman. If you don’t believe me, you—you can ask the others."

He watched Idir cautiously, terrified that the slightest displeasure might cost him his life.

Nina grew even more puzzled.

Why was Idir looking for a shaman? Could it be that he somehow knew he was cursed—and wanted to break it?

He had hardly left her side these days, and Odian had only briefly mentioned the curse. As for the details, she herself didn’t fully understand them.

Idir frowned and went on to question several others in the tribe.

The answer was always the same.

No shaman.

"How can there be none?" Irritation gnawed at him, restlessness building. "Then where is there a shaman?"

The beastfolk shrank back, wary and afraid. "Th-there should be one in the Barbarian City..."

"Where is that? Is it far?" Idir pressed.

They hurriedly pointed out the direction. "Over there—not too close. It’ll take about a day to reach."

At the mention of distance, Idir’s mood darkened further. Killing intent churned faintly beneath the surface, as though he needed something—anything—to vent it on.

So far?

A whole day?

But he wanted to bond with Nina now.

Sensing the shift in him, Nina quickly pulled him away, afraid he might lash out at the innocent.

She led him to a secluded spot. "Idir... why are you looking for a shaman?"

His voice was low. "To have them mark us."

He took her hand. "Let’s go to the Barbarian City."

Nina froze for a moment.

So that was why?

Even now... he still wanted to bond with her?

But she couldn’t let that happen while he wasn’t in his right mind.

Maybe... she shouldn’t let him return to the city just yet.

She tightened her grip on him. "Let’s go tomorrow. I’m tired—we should find somewhere to rest first."

She needed time to think.

Idir glanced at her, as if considering taking her back to the tribe, but she stopped him immediately. "Let’s find a cave instead."

If they returned to the tribe, who knew what kind of bloodshed might follow?

A cave would be safer.

Idir didn’t argue. He led her away and soon found one.

Inside, he laid out animal hides before pulling her down to sit with him. "Will it be alright to sleep here tonight?"

Nina nodded. "It’s fine."

She lay down, preparing to rest.

Idir wrapped his arms around her.

Slowly, heat began to rise in his body, a restless hunger stirring deep within him.

He buried his face near her neck, his breathing growing uneven. "Nina..."

Unable to resist, he pressed his lips against her skin. The cool touch of his kisses trailed upward, lingering—until they found her lips.

Nina opened her eyes but didn’t push him away.

She had grown used to this over the past few days.

The kiss stretched on, deepening, until at last his lips parted from hers.

Just as she thought he might finally stop, he shifted, pressing her down beneath him.

Tonight, his breath burned hotter than before. His gaze was darker, something turbulent and consuming flickering within it. His hand moved along the graceful curve of her body, no longer restrained.

His eyes locked onto hers, like a predator fixing on its prey.

"Nina... let’s mate."

The desire in his voice was raw, almost overwhelming.

He wanted her.

Desperately.

Nina caught the intensity in his eyes and felt a flicker of alarm.

He was more serious tonight—far more than before.

"Idir, I told you... we can’t do that right now," she said.

"When did you say that?" he retorted, dissatisfaction flashing across his face as he nipped lightly at her. "I’m going to mate with you today."

He didn’t remember.

And if he didn’t remember, then to him, it had never been said.

Nina sighed inwardly.

Why had he reverted like this again?

"Idir, I don’t want this while you’re not fully yourself. Do you understand?" she said gently.

"I’m perfectly myself," he insisted, sealing her lips with his once more, his tone domineering and unyielding. "Nina... don’t refuse me."

He didn’t want to hear any rejection.