Lynn's consciousness sank into a golden glow, then suddenly rose.
The air around him no longer held the North's biting chill, mingled with pine needles and snow.
Instead, it carried a warm fragrance woven from costly spices, rich wine, and a woman's warm skin.
He "saw" a pair of well-kept hands with distinct knuckles holding a gold cup set with rubies.
Inside the cup, red liquid gently swirled.
"Jaime? I'm talking to you... would you stop drifting off?"
A languid, sultry voice sounded beside his ear, carrying a hint of petulant complaint.
Lynn's "gaze" slowly shifted.
An exquisitely beautiful face came into view.
Cersei Lannister.
The most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms.
She wore only a silk nightgown as thin as a cicada's wing, her waterfall of golden hair spilling loosely over her shoulders.
A few stray locks fell playfully across the breathtaking expanse of pale skin at her chest, rising and falling with her breath.
This was King's Landing, the Red Keep, Jaime Lannister's bedroom.
And he, Lynn...
Was controlling Jaime's body at that very moment.
His mental power stood at an impressive 25 points, making his Skinchanger ability far more potent than he had imagined, despite being only at the beginner level.
He could not only share another person's senses, but even briefly control their body when their mental defenses were at their weakest, producing the effect he was experiencing now.
"Nothing, sister."
Lynn tried to imitate Jaime's tone, his voice carrying Jaime's habitual nonchalance.
Lynn drained the wine in the cup.
"I was just wondering whether those fools in the North are still shivering in the ice and snow."
Lynn set down the cup and reached out to draw Cersei into his arms.
The sensation of her smooth, tender skin passed clearly into Lynn's consciousness through