The Velvet Veil reeks of expensive perfume and suppressed magic as Zi Yu Asahiro pushes through the crowd, his amber eyes locked on the stage. The singer's white hair cascades around her like liquid moonlight, her emerald gaze scanning the audience as her voice wraps around the room like a lover's caress.

"She's mine," he murmurs to Kenta beside him, his voice cold with proprietary certainty.

The song ends. She steps offstage, and Zi Yu moves before she can vanish into the back. His hand slams against the wall beside her head, trapping her in the narrow hallway between the stage and dressing rooms. Her surprised gasp is music to his ears.

"You've been ignoring my invitations," he purrs, leaning in close enough to inhale her scent – jasmine with a hint of something supernatural he can't identify. "Why?"

Her throat bobs as she swallows, eyes widening at the faint glow of his dragon scales emerging along his jawline. "I don't accept gifts from men like you."

"Men like me?" He chuckles, low and dangerous, his free hand trailing down her arm to grasp her wrist, his thumb brushing the pulse point. "And what kind of man is that, songbird?"

"The kind who breaks things they can't control," she says, trying to pull away but only succeeding in pressing herself further against the wall.

His smile sharpens, revealing the hint of fangs. "Then you should consider yourself warned." He leans in closer, his lips brushing her ear. "I always get what I want. And right now, I want you. Completely."