Karma's knees were marshmallows as she shrunk into Captain Levi's office.

"Uh-oh," Hange said, rushing to Karma's side. She guided her into a chair.

Levi put down his tea cup, clenching the rim. "What happened?"

"I found out what he wants," Karma said. Hange fixed her a cup of tea and took the seat beside her.

"What does he want? Revenge? More power?" Hange leaned in, arm slung across Karma's seat. Karma shook her head.

"No. He wants to 'secure our future.' He says he's going to perfect the world. I don't know exactly what that entails, but it doesn't sound good."

Levi asked the question she'd been dreading. "Whose future?"

She stalled answering with a sip of tea. "Mine and his. He's in love with me, apparently."

She heard Levi curse under his breath.

But Hange flung her arms up like she'd won a prize. "That's great! You can seduce him for information and figure out the deal with Zeke and the euthanasia plan. This is perfect—in fact, I can't think of a more valuable asset than you right now, Karma."

"He also mentioned that whatever they're plotting is already underway. Right now, he's just killing time. I have no idea how long we have," Karma said.

"We better act quick then. Think you could go back now and wrangle some answers?" Hange had that greedy look in her eye, like she was on the brink of discovery.

"Definitely. He wants me to come back anyway…but into his cell."

Hange nodded. "I have no problem with that. I'll take you whenever you're ready."

Levi was still gripping his tea cup with bone-white knuckles. "Did you keep your promise?"

Nevermind. This was the question she'd been dreading.

Karma stared down into her tea instead of answering. He knew what that meant. She heard Levi's chair screech on the floor and the door shut.

"What promise? What's he talking about?" Hange said, looking between Karma and the door.

"He made me promise not to go near Eren."

Hange mouthed a silent, "Oh."

"I have to talk to him."

Karma brisked down the torchlit corridor. Captain Levi was standing at the end of it with his back to her.

"Captain."

He ignored her. She yanked his shoulder to turn him around. It was highly unprofessional, but she didn't care.

Levi met her with indifference.

"Captain, I know you're pissed. But it was the only way he'd agree to tell me anything. It seemed like the right thing to do. And now we have a better idea of what we're dealing with."

Levi didn't answer. He just readjusted his folded arms and tightened his lips.

"I'm sorry—alright. What do you want me to say?"

He closed his eyes and inhaled. "Nothing. You used your judgment and came back unscathed. It's fine."

"But you don't want me to see him again, do you?"

"Hange's plan might work. What I want is of little consequence."

"Not to me."

"Karma…" The way he said her name was almost a groan. His eyes flitted between hers, like he was warring with himself. Finally, he made his decision and steeled his composure. "I'm sorry in advance."

"For what?"

Captain Levi grasped her cheeks and kissed her.

She processed so many sensations that she wasn't sure if the kiss lasted a second or a minute. His green cloak brushed against her stiffened frame. She never realized he wore cologne. The kiss tasted like sweetened black tea with a hint of lemon. His fingers were gentle.

But the most heady sensation was desire.

She'd always admired her Captain. His unparalleled strength and unworldly calm. His quick tongue. The way he held his tea cup. But "admiration" was just a label she'd pasted on the bottle of feelings reserved for him.

This kiss ripped off that label—it shattered the bottle. Its contents spilled out in a riptide, yanking her away from rational thinking and sucking her into the current of desire.

She pulled his hair through her fingers. She explored the shape of his lips with her tongue. She pressed her hips and chest against him.

But Captain Levi pulled away before she was even close to satisfied. Her hands drifted back to her sides. Both of them were breathing hard.

"Don't let him hurt you." He looked like he wanted to say more, but he left the corridor. Karma stared after him, lips still tingling.

"Shit…"

Karma whirled to see Hange just outside the office door. Her stomach sloshed to her shoes.

"How much did you see?" she said.

"Enough to know that you have your work cut out for you. Are you still—?" Hange let the question hang.

"Of course I'm still going. I have to—we need answers."

"Right." Hange nudged her glasses. "I'm sorry about Levi. He likes to complicate things."

"It's my own fault. I kissed him back."

"You like him then?"

"Yeah."

"Do you like Eren too?"

"Yeah."

"Not a bad problem under normal circumstances. Too bad things are anything but normal." Hange gestured toward the stairway. "Ready?"

Karma followed the Commander deep underground into that familiar dank air. Hange heaved open the door. It was thick as a stack of books.

"Hey Eren." Hange swung the keyring around her finger. "I brought you something."

Eren emerged from the shadows and grasped the bars. He stared down at Karma with a sly half-smile that feathered the soles of her feet, itching her toward him.

"Are you gonna tease me again and keep her out of my reach?"

"No. She asked to be let inside with you." Hange shot Eren with a side-eye as she approached the lock. "I don't want any funny business, alright? She's putting a lot of trust in you by coming in there."

"She's in good hands, Commander."

"She better be. One slip up and I'll be inheriting the Founder, got it?"

"Of course."

Hange jimmied the lock and held open the cell, keeping her eye fixed on Eren. Karma entered and the lock thunked into place behind her. She got a strange sensation in her gut, like she might never get back out.

"When are you coming back?" she said to Hange, hoping to negate that eerie feeling. Surely, the Scouts wouldn't leave her in here forever? They'd need her report. And Levi wouldn't let them forget about her. Unless he despised her for what she was about to do.

"How long will you need?" Hange looked between her and Eren.

"I'll keep her for the night," Eren said. Karma could feel him staring down at her from across the cell. Her crown prickled.

"That's an awfully long time." Hange read Karma's expression for signs of distress. But Karma gave her a small nod. "Alright, then. I'll be back first thing in the morning."

Before the stairwell door could fully close, Hange poked her head back in. "Use protection." Then a heavy thud reverberated in the empty space.

"Finally." Eren leaned his shoulder against the bars and drank Karma in.

Her muscles hesitated between leaping into his arms and cowering in the corner, so she stood frozen in place.

"Shy again?" His shoulder bumped the next bar.

"Nervous…" Karma said, watching his slow advance.

"Why?" His teasing smile was enchanting in the dim light. Karma felt herself inch forward.

"I've never done this before."

That much was true. But the other thing clawing at her nerves was knowing that she would be sucked under his spell the moment he reached her.

Not that she didn't trust Eren. He'd never lied to her. But she didn't know his plans or the role he might puppeteer for her. And how could she keep his trust while also feeding information to the Scouts? It was like walking a tightrope.

But she had to do this. The Scouts were depending on her. And despite her confusing feelings towards Captain Levi, she wanted to. She wanted Eren. He was mesmerizing and sexy. He'd perfected his body. He oozed charisma. And he loved her. His words painted candy-sweet fantasies of their future together. He made her feel desired. How could she not want him?

So she took another step.

"We'll take things slow." Eren's voice was a velvet rope that reeled her in until their bodies were a breath apart. She could already feel the warmth of his bare chest.

"Okay—I trust you."

He studied her with the awe of a freshly cracked geode, eyes flitting all over her body, debating where to begin. Then a slow finger grazed the planes of her face, like he was brushing away eyelashes. "Beautiful..." She was a diamond, twirling in his hands to catch the light and tossing rainbows.

Just one finger and her walls were already collapsing.

Karma swallowed down her throbbing heart as Eren bent towards her, enveloping her in his shadow. The tip of his tongue carved the outline of her lips in a smooth oval, making her shudder. He tugged the plump flesh of her lower lip between his teeth.

An ache curled inside her as he toyed with her, keeping his kiss just out of reach, like a mirage in the desert. She fisted his hair and chased his lips, but he continued to evade her.

Kisses dripped down her temples and cheeks and jaw and chin, fueling the ache.

"Eren, please."

She felt his chest vibrate as he laughed. His hot breath misted her mouth. "What? We're taking it slow, my gem."

"It's too slow. Just kiss me, dammit."

"Are you begging?"

"God, yes."

Then he kissed her. He devoured her. His tongue filled her mouth. He cradled her head and pulled her closer. But it wasn't close enough. Even when she wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed herself against him, he was too far.

He moved lower, sampling her body. Karma arched her neck as his nose skimmed her jaw and down her throat.

But he stopped abruptly at her collar.

"Eren, what's wrong?" Every muscle in Karma's body was clenched. He couldn't stop now—she was just starting to lose herself in him.

"Why do your clothes smell like cologne?"

Shit.

Eren would easily see through any lies, so she decided on a partial-truth. "It's Captain Levi's. He tried to kiss me."

"Tried?"

"Yeah, I told him I wanted to get into your cell and he got jealous. That's why Hange brought me down this time. I'm sorry, I should've told you."

Eren's teeth clenched. Karma held her breath, praying he believed her. What would he do if he knew Levi did kiss her? That she kissed him back? Maybe she'd been right to be afraid of him. More than just her mission was in danger now.

But his jaw relaxed. "That bastard. Hope he enjoyed himself because he'll never lay a finger on you again."

"What do you mean—don't kill him!"

Eren stroked her braid. "Don't worry, my gem. That's not part of the plan."

"Which plan? The euthanasia one?"

"No, I'm staging a coup and breaking out of here."

"Wh—How?"

"Some outliers in the Scouts planted a bomb in Zachary's office. When that goes off, I'm using the War Hammer."

"Eren, are you crazy? What's stopping me from telling the Scouts?" Which is exactly what she was going to do the moment Hange returned for her. This was huge—she'd bolt out of the cell right now if she could.

Eren laughed again, sounding more like the Eren she'd known. She loved that familiar sound, but something about the way it echoed around her was ominous. "How can you tattle when you're coming with me?"

Karma parted her lips to protest, but she forgot how because his fingers were raining down her neck and chest. He caressed her breasts, kneading them with his thumbs. The image of him sweeping her away into a glittering future of freedom deepened with every knead.

"When?" she said, breathless.

"Tonight."

"Lucky I'm here then. I'd hate it if you left without me."

"Karma, I would never leave without you." His hands slipped under her shirt and roamed up the bare skin of her back. Her bra loosened. The straps drooped down her shoulders.

"But how did you know I'd be here when the bomb went off?"

"The Yeagerists were instructed to detonate once you were in my possession."

She knew she shouldn't, but she liked that he used that word. Possession. It felt like he was claiming her. And she liked being his.

"The Yeagerists?" she said.

"I agree, it's tacky. But they know I have you, so everything is taken care of."

"So this whole plan relied on me coming into your cell, but what if I never came?"

"Karma." Eren pressed the words into her neck with his lips. "I know how to make you come."

Then he was on his knees. Karma watched, frozen in awe, as he lifted the hem of her shirt and dappled kisses across her belly. His hands gripped the back of her thighs.

The ache clawing her insides raged when her pants hit her ankles. Eren's teeth snapped the elastic of her panties, his sharp eyes holding hers.

"Karma…" He murmured her name into the juts of her hips. "You make me crazy." She felt him squeeze her bum and thighs.

"How crazy?" Karma had abandoned her mission. If Eren was determined to steal her away, then whatever information she weaseled would never make it to the Scouts anyway. She was asking purely for her own curiosity, clenching her lip between her teeth.

"Mmm, you really wanna know?" Eren peeled her panties down an inch, skimming his nose above the waistband.

"Yes." She didn't mean to sound so desperate, but his touch was making her words breathy and dreamy. Her panties slid lower. They puddled her ankles.

"You make me crazy enough to trample the world."

His tongue found a spot that silenced whatever response was forming on hers. She fisted his hair and managed to gasp his name, earning a delicious vibration from his chuckle.

Trample the world. She couldn't fathom what that meant because now his fingers had joined in and were beckoning, feeding that ache.

He proved himself before long.

Eren splayed Karma on the mattress and held her eyes as he unlatched his belt, pulling it through the loops. The metal buckle made a clattering sound as it landed beside her inside out pant legs and folded over bra. His slacks joined the puddles of clothes.

This was the point of no return.

If she went through with this, she was committing herself to Eren. She was agreeing to flee with him and become an active part of his plans. She could no longer waddle along the tight rope—she would be a Yeagerist. The Scouts would be her enemies.

Was it too late to back out? What would Eren do if she shoved him away and screamed for Hange or Levi? Would they be able to hear her? Would they even listen?

Eren was prowling up the mattress, grazing her legs then her torso. The bed croaked as his elbows dug into the padding on either side of her shoulders. His smirk suggested what was to come. She could feel it roll across her belly.

Levi would never forgive her. But why should that bother her? Now that Eren's hips were burrowing into hers, her choice was made—Levi was her enemy.

Nothing mattered anymore but Eren. He was swallowing her in every sense. His arms and chest engulfed her small frame. His legs enclosed her.

The mattress moaned. The bed frame trembled.

And again, she felt like a raw jewel. Eren ground her rough edges away. She shimmered in his polish.

Then his slick chest collapsed on hers. His labored breathing matted strands of hair against her neck. She traced lazy swirls into his back.

"Dammit, Karma." Eren sounded like he was restraining himself from biting her. "I can't get enough of you."

He fell to his side and squeezed her against his chest. His hot lips pressed into every inch of her shoulder and neck. She fell asleep in a daze of wet kisses.