TER

LO'S

e you, e

room. Shock pulsed through my veins like a sudden jolt of electricity. Before my brain could fully process

panic. I scrambled backward. My spine hit the wooden headboard hard as I forced myse

rs like silk. She did not look angry. She did not look ashamed. Instead, she tilted her hea

too unnatural for a human. "You always do this every night. I have watched you through the glass for weeks. You touch

e. Of course she had-she was a bird outside my window. But hearing those b

my face. I tried to wipe away the absurdity of the situation in front of me. "A literal feathered creature tha

e downturn of her lips. She stood up from the bed. She was completely unbothered by her lack of clothing

d herself. She suddenly looked small against the large, shadow-filled bedroom. "I didn't mean to offend you. I do not

caught the curve of her collarbone. It showed the complete vulnerability of her existence. She was a blank sl

er. "You've only been human for a day! You've only been inside this apartment for twenty-four hours. And here you are, throwing yourself at me and trying to seduce me! If you a

e shadows on her pale cheeks. She stepped closer.

ropped to an innocent murmur. "But

tion. How was I supposed to explain the complex idea of human sexuality and manipulat

ing like this ever again. Do you hear me? You are a human now, Senorita. You aren't a wild animal anymore. To survive out here, you need some self-respect and

ords like a sponge. Her chest rose and fell

was bad?" she asked. Her voice wa

ression as stern as a schoolmaster's. "In the human world, intimacy isn't just an action. It's a sacred boundary. You can only d

Her deep eyes searched mine as if reading my

She repeated the exact phrase I

walked out of the bedroom. She closed

ling. My heart was still beating fast. She's just like a kid, I thought. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. A hy

rners of my lips. There was something undeniably pure a

ike a physical blow, a

low over my face. "I'm losing my mind. I have to send her out today. I can't k

Outside, the night sky was a deep purple. The wea

w heavily today. The temperatures are dropping below freezing. If she goes out there with no identity, no mone

avy duvet over my shoulders an

se of morality. That's all this is," I murmured to the darkness. I trie