diff --git a/crates/obscura-render/src/dom.rs b/crates/obscura-render/src/dom.rs
index 3e00c6a..93e5a29 100644
--- a/crates/obscura-render/src/dom.rs
+++ b/crates/obscura-render/src/dom.rs
@@ -12325,6 +12325,75 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn inline_horizontal_edges_advance_adjacent_content_but_margins_stay_outside_rect() {
+        let tree = parse_html(
+            r#"<style>
+                html,body,p { margin:0 }
+                p { font:16px/20px monospace; white-space:nowrap }
+                #token {
+                    margin-left:3px; padding:0 4px;
+                    border-left:2px solid; border-right:2px solid;
+                    margin-right:5px
+                }
+            </style>
+            <p id="decorated"><span id="token">aa</span><span id="after">bb</span></p>
+            <p id="plain-host"><span id="plain">aa</span><span id="plain-after">bb</span></p>"#,
+        );
+        let laid = layout_dom(&tree, (400.0, 100.0));
+        let rect = |id: &str| -> Rect { laid.rects[&tree.get_element_by_id(id).unwrap()] };
+        let local_x = |id: &str, host: &str| rect(id).x - rect(host).x;
+
+        assert!((rect("token").width - rect("plain").width - 12.0).abs() < 0.01);
+        assert!((local_x("token", "decorated") - local_x("plain", "plain-host") - 3.0).abs() < 0.01);
+        assert!((local_x("after", "decorated") - local_x("plain-after", "plain-host") - 20.0).abs() < 0.01);
+        assert!((rect("after").x - (rect("token").x + rect("token").width) - 5.0).abs() < 0.01);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn inline_edges_participate_in_wrapping_and_slice_only_outer_continuation_sides() {
+        let tree = parse_html(
+            r#"<style>
+                html,body,p { margin:0 }
+                p { width:70px; font:16px/20px monospace }
+                #token { padding:0 10px; border-left:2px solid; border-right:2px solid }
+            </style>
+            <p><span id="token">aaaa aaaa aaaa</span></p>"#,
+        );
+        let laid = layout_dom(&tree, (200.0, 100.0));
+        let token = tree.get_element_by_id("token").unwrap();
+        let fragments = &laid.inline_fragments[&token];
+
+        assert_eq!(fragments.len(), 3, "{fragments:?}");
+        assert!((fragments[0].width - fragments[1].width - 12.0).abs() < 0.01, "{fragments:?}");
+        assert!(fragments[2].width > fragments[1].width, "last continuation owns its end side: {fragments:?}");
+        assert!(fragments.iter().all(|fragment| fragment.width <= 70.01));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn empty_decorated_inline_has_a_box_and_advances_following_text() {
+        let tree = parse_html(
+            r#"<style>
+                html,body,p { margin:0 }
+                p { font:16px/20px monospace; white-space:nowrap }
+                #empty {
+                    margin:0 3px; padding:2px 5px; border:1px solid;
+                    border-left-width:2px; border-right-width:2px
+                }
+            </style>
+            <p id="decorated">x<span id="empty"></span><span id="after">y</span></p>
+            <p id="plain-host">x<span id="plain-after">y</span></p>"#,
+        );
+        let laid = layout_dom(&tree, (300.0, 100.0));
+        let rect = |id: &str| -> Rect { laid.rects[&tree.get_element_by_id(id).unwrap()] };
+
+        assert!((rect("empty").width - 14.0).abs() < 0.01, "{:?}", rect("empty"));
+        assert!((rect("empty").height - laid.text_engine.inline_font_box_height(&laid.styles[&tree.get_element_by_id("empty").unwrap()]) - 6.0).abs() < 0.01);
+        let decorated_after = rect("after").x - rect("decorated").x;
+        let plain_after = rect("plain-after").x - rect("plain-host").x;
+        assert!((decorated_after - plain_after - 20.0).abs() < 0.01);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn inline_provenance_maps_repeated_multibyte_text_across_hard_breaks() {
         let tree = parse_html(
diff --git a/crates/obscura-render/src/inline.rs b/crates/obscura-render/src/inline.rs
index a820550..db2e3f6 100644
--- a/crates/obscura-render/src/inline.rs
+++ b/crates/obscura-render/src/inline.rs
@@ -433,6 +433,8 @@ pub struct InlineItem {
     /// with no nested inline owner, keeping that path allocation-free.
     owner_text: Option<String>,
     owner_ranges: Vec<OwnerTextRange>,
+    owner_boxes: Vec<InlineOwnerBox>,
+    boundary_events: Vec<InlineBoundaryEvent>,
     /// Nonzero used relative-position offsets, projected onto text ranges.
     /// Empty for ordinary IFCs and for nested inlines that remain at their
     /// normal-flow position, so paint pays no provenance cost on that path.
@@ -446,6 +448,51 @@ struct OwnerTextRange {
     end: usize,
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default)]
+struct InlineEdge {
+    margin: f32,
+    border: f32,
+    padding: f32,
+}
+
+impl InlineEdge {
+    fn advance(self) -> f32 {
+        self.margin + self.border + self.padding
+    }
+
+    fn border_padding(self) -> f32 {
+        self.border + self.padding
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
+struct InlineOwnerBox {
+    owner: NodeId,
+    start: usize,
+    end: usize,
+    start_edge: InlineEdge,
+    end_edge: InlineEdge,
+    start_event: usize,
+    end_event: usize,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
+struct InlineBoundaryEvent {
+    owner: NodeId,
+    position: usize,
+    is_start: bool,
+    edge: InlineEdge,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
+struct ActiveInlineOwner {
+    owner: NodeId,
+    start: usize,
+    start_edge: InlineEdge,
+    end_edge: InlineEdge,
+    start_event: usize,
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
 struct RelativeOwnerTextRange {
     start: usize,
@@ -1001,6 +1048,8 @@ impl TextEngine {
             spans,
             collector.clip_fills,
             collector.owner_ranges,
+            collector.owner_boxes,
+            collector.boundary_events,
         )
     }
 
@@ -1055,6 +1104,8 @@ impl TextEngine {
             spans,
             collector.clip_fills,
             collector.owner_ranges,
+            collector.owner_boxes,
+            collector.boundary_events,
         )
     }
 
@@ -1113,6 +1164,8 @@ impl TextEngine {
             spans,
             collector.clip_fills,
             collector.owner_ranges,
+            collector.owner_boxes,
+            collector.boundary_events,
         )
     }
 
@@ -1126,6 +1179,8 @@ impl TextEngine {
         mut spans: Vec<(String, SpanAttrs)>,
         clip_fills: Vec<ClipTextFill>,
         mut owner_ranges: Vec<OwnerTextRange>,
+        mut owner_boxes: Vec<InlineOwnerBox>,
+        mut boundary_events: Vec<InlineBoundaryEvent>,
     ) -> Option<usize> {
         let white_space = base.white_space.unwrap_or_default();
         let layout_wrap = if spans.iter().any(|(_, attrs)| attrs.has_layout_emergency_breaks()) {
@@ -1154,7 +1209,7 @@ impl TextEngine {
                 }
             }
         }
-        if spans.iter().all(|(text, _)| {
+        if owner_boxes.is_empty() && spans.iter().all(|(text, _)| {
                 text.is_empty()
                     || (matches!(
                         white_space,
@@ -1172,7 +1227,14 @@ impl TextEngine {
             range.end = range.end.min(text_len);
             range.start < range.end
         });
-        let owner_text = (!owner_ranges.is_empty()).then(|| {
+        for owner in &mut owner_boxes {
+            owner.start = owner.start.min(text_len);
+            owner.end = owner.end.min(text_len);
+        }
+        for event in &mut boundary_events {
+            event.position = event.position.min(text_len);
+        }
+        let owner_text = (!owner_boxes.is_empty()).then(|| {
             let mut text = String::with_capacity(text_len);
             for (span, _) in &spans {
                 text.push_str(span);
@@ -1198,6 +1260,11 @@ impl TextEngine {
         }
         let forced_lines =
             forced_breaks + usize::from(forced_breaks > 0 && visible_after_last_break);
+        let forced_lines = if owner_boxes.is_empty() {
+            forced_lines
+        } else {
+            forced_lines.max(1)
+        };
         let forced_min_height = forced_lines as f32 * line_h.max(1.0);
         // cosmic-text asserts (an uncatchable process abort) if font size OR
         // line height is 0. `font-size:0` is a common whitespace-collapse trick
@@ -1298,7 +1365,8 @@ impl TextEngine {
 
         let idx = self.items.len();
         let text_indent = base.text_indent.unwrap_or(Dimension::Px(0.0));
-        let source_buffer = (!matches!(text_indent, Dimension::Px(value) if value == 0.0))
+        let source_buffer = (!matches!(text_indent, Dimension::Px(value) if value == 0.0)
+            || !boundary_events.is_empty())
             .then(|| buffer.clone());
         self.items.push(InlineItem {
             buffer,
@@ -1320,6 +1388,8 @@ impl TextEngine {
             marker: None,
             owner_text,
             owner_ranges,
+            owner_boxes,
+            boundary_events,
             relative_owner_ranges: Vec::new(),
         });
         Some(idx)
@@ -1347,8 +1417,7 @@ impl TextEngine {
         let TextEngine { font_system, items, .. } = self;
         let item = &mut items[idx];
         shape_with_text_indent(font_system, item, width, wrap);
-        let (width, height, clamped) =
-            buffer_size(&item.buffer, item.first_line_offset, item.line_clamp);
+        let (width, height, clamped) = buffer_size(item);
         (
             width,
             if clamped {
@@ -1374,13 +1443,22 @@ impl TextEngine {
         shape_with_text_indent(font_system, item, None, wrap);
         let mut width = 0.0f32;
         let mut height = 0.0f32;
+        let starts = item
+            .owner_text
+            .as_deref()
+            .map(|source| source_line_starts(&item.buffer, source))
+            .unwrap_or_default();
         for (line_index, run) in item.buffer.layout_runs().enumerate() {
             let offset = if line_index == 0 {
                 item.first_line_offset
             } else {
                 0.0
             };
-            width = width.max((run.line_w + offset).max(0.0));
+            let line_start = starts.get(run.line_i).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+            let line_end = line_start + run.text.len();
+            width = width.max(
+                (run.line_w + offset + line_edge_advance(item, line_start, line_end)).max(0.0),
+            );
             height = height.max(run.line_top + run.line_height);
         }
         (width, height.max(item.forced_min_height))
@@ -1540,7 +1618,7 @@ impl TextEngine {
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn has_inline_owners(&self) -> bool {
-        self.items.iter().any(|item| !item.owner_ranges.is_empty())
+        self.items.iter().any(|item| !item.owner_boxes.is_empty())
     }
 
     /// Install cumulative used offsets for relative ordinary-inline owners.
@@ -1588,21 +1666,49 @@ impl TextEngine {
                 } else {
                     0.0
                 };
-                for range in &item.owner_ranges {
-                    let start = range.start.max(line_start);
-                    let end = range.end.min(line_end);
-                    if start >= end {
+                let alignment_shift = line_edge_alignment_shift(item, line_start, line_end);
+                for owner in &item.owner_boxes {
+                    let empty = owner.start == owner.end;
+                    let intersects = if empty {
+                        (owner.start >= line_start && owner.start < line_end)
+                            || (line_end == source.len() && owner.start == line_end)
+                    } else {
+                        owner.start < line_end && owner.end > line_start
+                    };
+                    if !intersects {
                         continue;
                     }
-                    let start = Cursor::new(run.line_i, start - line_start);
-                    let end = Cursor::new(run.line_i, end - line_start);
-                    let Some((x, width)) = run.highlight(start, end) else {
-                        continue;
+                    let first = owner.start >= line_start && owner.start < line_end || empty;
+                    let last = owner.end > line_start && owner.end <= line_end || empty;
+                    let raw_left = if first {
+                        run_cursor_x(&run, owner.start.saturating_sub(line_start))
+                            + line_advance_before_event(
+                                item,
+                                owner.start_event,
+                                line_start,
+                                line_end,
+                            )
+                            + owner.start_edge.margin
+                    } else {
+                        run_cursor_x(&run, 0)
                     };
-                    let x = item.origin.0 + first_line_offset + x;
+                    let raw_right = if last {
+                        run_cursor_x(&run, owner.end.saturating_sub(line_start))
+                            + line_advance_before_event(
+                                item,
+                                owner.end_event,
+                                line_start,
+                                line_end,
+                            )
+                            + owner.end_edge.border_padding()
+                    } else {
+                        run.line_w + line_edge_advance(item, line_start, line_end)
+                    };
+                    let x = item.origin.0 + first_line_offset + alignment_shift + raw_left;
+                    let width = (raw_right - raw_left).max(0.0);
                     let baseline_y = item.origin.1 + run.line_y;
                     if let Some(existing) = out.iter_mut().find(|fragment| {
-                        fragment.owner == range.owner
+                        fragment.owner == owner.owner
                             && fragment.item_index == item_index
                             && fragment.line_index == line_index
                     }) {
@@ -1612,7 +1718,7 @@ impl TextEngine {
                         existing.width = (right - left).max(0.0);
                     } else {
                         out.push(InlineOwnerLineFragment {
-                            owner: range.owner,
+                            owner: owner.owner,
                             item_index,
                             line_index,
                             x,
@@ -1770,8 +1876,10 @@ struct SpanCtx {
 struct Collector {
     last_was_space: bool,
     clip_fills: Vec<ClipTextFill>,
-    owners: Vec<NodeId>,
+    owners: Vec<ActiveInlineOwner>,
     owner_ranges: Vec<OwnerTextRange>,
+    owner_boxes: Vec<InlineOwnerBox>,
+    boundary_events: Vec<InlineBoundaryEvent>,
     text_len: usize,
 }
 
@@ -1782,6 +1890,8 @@ impl Collector {
             clip_fills: Vec::new(),
             owners: Vec::new(),
             owner_ranges: Vec::new(),
+            owner_boxes: Vec::new(),
+            boundary_events: Vec::new(),
             text_len: 0,
         }
     }
@@ -1789,14 +1899,62 @@ impl Collector {
     fn record_text(&mut self, byte_len: usize) {
         let start = self.text_len;
         self.text_len = self.text_len.saturating_add(byte_len);
-        for &owner in &self.owners {
+        for owner in &self.owners {
             self.owner_ranges.push(OwnerTextRange {
-                owner,
+                owner: owner.owner,
                 start,
                 end: self.text_len,
             });
         }
     }
+
+    fn begin_owner(&mut self, owner: NodeId, style: &LayoutStyle) {
+        let start_edge = InlineEdge {
+            margin: style.margin.left,
+            border: style.border.left,
+            padding: style.padding.left,
+        };
+        let end_edge = InlineEdge {
+            margin: style.margin.right,
+            border: style.border.right,
+            padding: style.padding.right,
+        };
+        let start_event = self.boundary_events.len();
+        self.boundary_events.push(InlineBoundaryEvent {
+            owner,
+            position: self.text_len,
+            is_start: true,
+            edge: start_edge,
+        });
+        self.owners.push(ActiveInlineOwner {
+            owner,
+            start: self.text_len,
+            start_edge,
+            end_edge,
+            start_event,
+        });
+    }
+
+    fn end_owner(&mut self, owner: NodeId) {
+        let active = self.owners.pop().expect("balanced inline owner stack");
+        debug_assert_eq!(active.owner, owner);
+        let end_event = self.boundary_events.len();
+        self.boundary_events.push(InlineBoundaryEvent {
+            owner,
+            position: self.text_len,
+            is_start: false,
+            edge: active.end_edge,
+        });
+        self.owner_boxes.push(InlineOwnerBox {
+            owner,
+            start: active.start,
+            end: self.text_len,
+            start_edge: active.start_edge,
+            end_edge: active.end_edge,
+            start_event: active.start_event,
+            end_event,
+        });
+    }
 }
 
 /// DFS the inline subtree, appending whitespace-collapsed text runs. Adjacent
@@ -1966,7 +2124,7 @@ fn collect_node_spans(
                 style.ignores_used_box_sizes() && !style.display_contents
             });
             if owns_inline_fragment {
-                c.owners.push(cid);
+                c.begin_owner(cid, style.expect("inline owner style"));
             }
             let own_clip_fill = style.and_then(clip_text_fill).map(|fill| {
                 let index = c.clip_fills.len();
@@ -2051,8 +2209,7 @@ fn collect_node_spans(
                 loaded_families,
             );
             if owns_inline_fragment {
-                let popped = c.owners.pop();
-                debug_assert_eq!(popped, Some(cid));
+                c.end_owner(cid);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -2109,32 +2266,104 @@ fn push_text(
     out.push((buf, attrs.clone()));
 }
 
+fn boundary_event_on_line(
+    item: &InlineItem,
+    event: &InlineBoundaryEvent,
+    line_start: usize,
+    line_end: usize,
+) -> bool {
+    let source_end = item.owner_text.as_ref().map_or(0, String::len);
+    let empty = item
+        .owner_boxes
+        .iter()
+        .find(|owner| owner.owner == event.owner)
+        .is_some_and(|owner| owner.start == owner.end);
+    if empty {
+        (event.position >= line_start && event.position < line_end)
+            || (line_end == source_end && event.position == line_end)
+    } else if event.is_start {
+        event.position >= line_start && event.position < line_end
+    } else {
+        event.position > line_start && event.position <= line_end
+    }
+}
+
+fn line_edge_advance(item: &InlineItem, line_start: usize, line_end: usize) -> f32 {
+    item.boundary_events
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|event| boundary_event_on_line(item, event, line_start, line_end))
+        .map(|event| event.edge.advance())
+        .sum()
+}
+
+fn line_edge_alignment_shift(item: &InlineItem, line_start: usize, line_end: usize) -> f32 {
+    -line_edge_advance(item, line_start, line_end)
+        * match item.align {
+            Some(Align::Center) => 0.5,
+            Some(Align::End | Align::Right) => 1.0,
+            _ => 0.0,
+        }
+}
+
+fn line_advance_before_event(
+    item: &InlineItem,
+    event_index: usize,
+    line_start: usize,
+    line_end: usize,
+) -> f32 {
+    item.boundary_events[..event_index]
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|event| boundary_event_on_line(item, event, line_start, line_end))
+        .map(|event| event.edge.advance())
+        .sum()
+}
+
+fn line_advance_before_text(
+    item: &InlineItem,
+    global_position: usize,
+    line_start: usize,
+    line_end: usize,
+) -> f32 {
+    item.boundary_events
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|event| {
+            boundary_event_on_line(item, event, line_start, line_end)
+                && event.position <= global_position
+        })
+        .map(|event| event.edge.advance())
+        .sum()
+}
+
 /// Total shaped size of a buffer: widest line, and the bottom of the last line.
-fn buffer_size(
-    buffer: &Buffer,
-    first_line_offset: f32,
-    line_clamp: Option<usize>,
-) -> (f32, f32, bool) {
+fn buffer_size(item: &InlineItem) -> (f32, f32, bool) {
     let mut w = 0.0f32;
     let mut h = 0.0f32;
     let mut nonempty_lines = 0usize;
     let mut clamp_height = None;
-    for (line_index, run) in buffer.layout_runs().enumerate() {
+    let line_starts = item
+        .owner_text
+        .as_deref()
+        .map(|source| source_line_starts(&item.buffer, source))
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+    for (line_index, run) in item.buffer.layout_runs().enumerate() {
         let offset = if line_index == 0 {
-            first_line_offset
+            item.first_line_offset
         } else {
             0.0
         };
-        w = w.max((run.line_w + offset).max(0.0));
+        let line_start = line_starts.get(run.line_i).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+        let line_end = line_start + run.text.len();
+        let edges = line_edge_advance(item, line_start, line_end);
+        w = w.max((run.line_w + offset + edges).max(0.0));
         h = h.max(run.line_top + run.line_height);
         if !run.glyphs.is_empty() {
             nonempty_lines += 1;
-            if line_clamp == Some(nonempty_lines) {
+            if item.line_clamp == Some(nonempty_lines) {
                 clamp_height = Some(run.line_top + run.line_height);
             }
         }
     }
-    let clamped = line_clamp.is_some_and(|limit| nonempty_lines > limit);
+    let clamped = item.line_clamp.is_some_and(|limit| nonempty_lines > limit);
     (
         w.ceil(),
         if clamped { clamp_height.unwrap_or(h) } else { h },
@@ -2170,6 +2399,20 @@ fn source_line_starts(buffer: &Buffer, source: &str) -> Vec<usize> {
     starts
 }
 
+fn run_cursor_x(run: &cosmic_text::LayoutRun<'_>, byte: usize) -> f32 {
+    let cursor = Cursor::new(run.line_i, byte.min(run.text.len()));
+    if let Some((x, _)) = run.highlight(cursor, cursor) {
+        return x;
+    }
+    if byte == 0 {
+        run.glyphs.first().map_or(0.0, |glyph| glyph.x)
+    } else {
+        run.glyphs
+            .last()
+            .map_or(run.line_w, |glyph| glyph.x + glyph.w)
+    }
+}
+
 fn glyph_relative_offset(
     ranges: &[RelativeOwnerTextRange],
     line_start: usize,
@@ -2197,13 +2440,14 @@ fn used_text_indent(value: Dimension, width: Option<f32>) -> f32 {
     if indent.is_finite() { indent } else { 0.0 }
 }
 
-/// Shape one IFC with a first-line-only indent.
+/// Shape one IFC with first-line indent and ordinary-inline boundary advances.
 ///
-/// cosmic-text accepts one wrap width for every visual line. To retain the
-/// browser model, first probe the pristine paragraph at `width - indent`, take
-/// its first wrap boundary, split there, and reshape the tail at the full
-/// content width. The synthetic split lives only in the working clone, so
-/// repeated intrinsic/final Taffy measurements never accumulate hard breaks.
+/// The pristine buffer remains one shaping stream across DOM owners. For a
+/// definite width we probe cosmic-text's own UAX/CSS wrap boundary, subtract
+/// the ordered margin/border/padding events that fall on that candidate line,
+/// and monotonically retry if those edges force an earlier break. Only final
+/// visual-line boundaries split BufferLines, so ligatures and kerning are not
+/// broken merely because an inline element starts or ends.
 fn shape_with_text_indent(
     font_system: &mut FontSystem,
     item: &mut InlineItem,
@@ -2228,34 +2472,113 @@ fn shape_with_text_indent(
     item.buffer = source.clone();
     item.buffer.set_wrap(font_system, wrap);
 
-    let mut first_break = None;
-    if let Some(full_width) = width {
+    if let (Some(full_width), Some(source_text)) = (width, item.owner_text.as_deref()) {
+        let metrics = item.buffer.metrics();
+        let mono = item.buffer.monospace_width();
+        let tab_width = item.buffer.tab_width();
+        let mut line_index = 0usize;
+        while line_index < item.buffer.lines.len() {
+            let starts = source_line_starts(&item.buffer, source_text);
+            let global_start = starts.get(line_index).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+            let first_indent = if line_index == 0 { indent } else { 0.0 };
+            let base_available = (full_width - first_indent).max(0.0);
+            // Negative inline margins can admit content that would not fit in
+            // the text-only probe. Begin at the widest possible candidate and
+            // retain the same monotonic-decrease convergence used for positive
+            // padding/border advances.
+            let line_source_end = global_start + item.buffer.lines[line_index].text().len();
+            let negative_edges = item
+                .boundary_events
+                .iter()
+                .filter(|event| {
+                    event.position >= global_start && event.position <= line_source_end
+                })
+                .map(|event| event.edge.advance().min(0.0))
+                .sum::<f32>();
+            let mut available = (base_available - negative_edges).max(0.0);
+            let mut split = None;
+
+            for _ in 0..=item.boundary_events.len() {
+                let (candidate, line_width) = {
+                    let line = &mut item.buffer.lines[line_index];
+                    let layouts = line.layout(
+                        font_system,
+                        metrics.font_size,
+                        Some(available),
+                        wrap,
+                        mono,
+                        tab_width,
+                    );
+                    let Some(first) = layouts.first() else {
+                        break;
+                    };
+                    (
+                        first.glyphs.iter().map(|glyph| glyph.end).max(),
+                        first.w,
+                    )
+                };
+                let Some(candidate) = candidate else {
+                    break;
+                };
+                let candidate_end = global_start.saturating_add(candidate);
+                let edges = line_edge_advance(item, global_start, candidate_end);
+                let required_available = (base_available - edges).max(0.0);
+                split = Some(candidate);
+                if line_width + edges <= base_available + 0.01
+                    || required_available + 0.01 >= available
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+                available = required_available;
+                item.buffer.lines[line_index].reset_layout();
+            }
+
+            let Some(mut split) = split else {
+                line_index += 1;
+                continue;
+            };
+            let text = item.buffer.lines[line_index].text();
+            while split < text.len() {
+                let Some(ch) = text[split..].chars().next() else {
+                    break;
+                };
+                if !ch.is_whitespace() {
+                    break;
+                }
+                split += ch.len_utf8();
+            }
+            if split > 0 && split < text.len() {
+                let tail = item.buffer.lines[line_index].split_off(split);
+                item.buffer.lines.insert(line_index + 1, tail);
+            }
+            line_index += 1;
+        }
+    } else if let Some(full_width) = width {
         item.buffer
             .set_size(font_system, Some((full_width - indent).max(0.0)), None);
         item.buffer.shape_until_scroll(font_system, false);
-        first_break = item
+        let first_break = item
             .buffer
             .layout_runs()
             .next()
             .and_then(|run| run.glyphs.iter().map(|glyph| glyph.end).max());
-    }
-
-    item.buffer = source.clone();
-    item.buffer.set_wrap(font_system, wrap);
-    if let (Some(mut split), Some(first_line)) =
-        (first_break, item.buffer.lines.first())
-    {
-        let text = first_line.text();
-        while split < text.len() {
-            let Some(ch) = text[split..].chars().next() else { break };
-            if !ch.is_whitespace() {
-                break;
+        item.buffer = source.clone();
+        item.buffer.set_wrap(font_system, wrap);
+        if let (Some(mut split), Some(first_line)) = (first_break, item.buffer.lines.first()) {
+            let text = first_line.text();
+            while split < text.len() {
+                let Some(ch) = text[split..].chars().next() else {
+                    break;
+                };
+                if !ch.is_whitespace() {
+                    break;
+                }
+                split += ch.len_utf8();
+            }
+            if split > 0 && split < text.len() {
+                let tail = item.buffer.lines[0].split_off(split);
+                item.buffer.lines.insert(1, tail);
             }
-            split += ch.len_utf8();
-        }
-        if split > 0 && split < text.len() {
-            let tail = item.buffer.lines[0].split_off(split);
-            item.buffer.lines.insert(1, tail);
         }
     }
     item.buffer
@@ -2451,6 +2774,12 @@ fn inline_child_ok(tree: &DomTree, cid: NodeId, styles: &std::collections::HashM
             if !foldable_inline {
                 return false;
             }
+            if style.margin != crate::Edges::default()
+                || style.padding != crate::Edges::default()
+                || style.border != crate::Edges::default()
+            {
+                *has_text = true;
+            }
             for gc in crate::dom::rendered_children(tree, cid) {
                 if !inline_child_ok(tree, gc, styles, has_text) {
                     return false;
@@ -2572,7 +2901,9 @@ impl TextEngine {
         let line_source_starts = item
             .owner_text
             .as_deref()
-            .filter(|_| !item.relative_owner_ranges.is_empty())
+            .filter(|_| {
+                !item.relative_owner_ranges.is_empty() || !item.boundary_events.is_empty()
+            })
             .map(|source| source_line_starts(&item.buffer, source))
             .unwrap_or_default();
 
@@ -2590,6 +2921,9 @@ impl TextEngine {
                 0.0
             };
             let line_source_start = line_source_starts.get(run.line_i).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+            let line_source_end = line_source_start + run.text.len();
+            let inline_alignment =
+                line_edge_alignment_shift(item, line_source_start, line_source_end);
             let base_y = run.line_y;
             let mut seg: Option<(f32, f32, f32, [u8; 4], (f32, f32))> = None;
             for g in run.glyphs {
@@ -2603,12 +2937,19 @@ impl TextEngine {
                 }) {
                     continue;
                 }
-                let relative = glyph_relative_offset(
+                let mut relative = glyph_relative_offset(
                     &item.relative_owner_ranges,
                     line_source_start,
                     g.start,
                     g.end,
                 );
+                relative.0 += inline_alignment
+                    + line_advance_before_text(
+                        item,
+                        line_source_start + g.start,
+                        line_source_start,
+                        line_source_end,
+                    );
                 let underlined = g.metadata & META_UNDERLINE != 0;
                 if let Some(fill_index) = metadata_fill(g.metadata) {
                     if let Some(bounds) = fill_bounds.get_mut(fill_index) {
@@ -2677,6 +3018,9 @@ impl TextEngine {
                 0.0
             };
             let line_source_start = line_source_starts.get(run.line_i).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+            let line_source_end = line_source_start + run.text.len();
+            let inline_alignment =
+                line_edge_alignment_shift(item, line_source_start, line_source_end);
             for glyph in run.glyphs {
                 if item.marker.is_some_and(|marker| {
                     marker.line_index == line_index
@@ -2684,12 +3028,19 @@ impl TextEngine {
                 }) {
                     continue;
                 }
-                let relative = glyph_relative_offset(
+                let mut relative = glyph_relative_offset(
                     &item.relative_owner_ranges,
                     line_source_start,
                     glyph.start,
                     glyph.end,
                 );
+                relative.0 += inline_alignment
+                    + line_advance_before_text(
+                        item,
+                        line_source_start + glyph.start,
+                        line_source_start,
+                        line_source_end,
+                    );
                 let physical = glyph.physical(
                     (line_offset + relative.0, relative.1),
                     1.0,
diff --git a/crates/obscura-render/src/paint.rs b/crates/obscura-render/src/paint.rs
index 448a17c..46d8273 100644
--- a/crates/obscura-render/src/paint.rs
+++ b/crates/obscura-render/src/paint.rs
@@ -1694,14 +1694,45 @@ fn paint_laid_dom_scrolled(
                 viewport,
             )
         });
+        let has_background_box_paint = !style.background_clip_text
+            && (style.background_color.is_some()
+                || style.background_image.is_some()
+                || style.mask_image.is_some()
+                || style.background_gradient.is_some()
+                || style.background_radial_gradient.is_some()
+                || style.background_conic_gradient.is_some()
+                || !style.background_gradient_layers.is_empty());
+        let has_inline_box_paint = style.box_shadow.is_some()
+            || has_background_box_paint
+            || style.border != crate::Edges::default();
+        let inline_pieces = (style.ignores_used_box_sizes() && has_inline_box_paint)
+            .then(|| laid.inline_fragments.get(&nid))
+            .flatten();
+        let paints_inline_fragments = inline_pieces.is_some();
+        if let Some(pieces) = inline_pieces {
+            paint_inline_fragment_decorations(
+                &mut pixmap,
+                pieces,
+                (ox, oy),
+                &rect,
+                style,
+                clip,
+                root_font_size,
+                viewport,
+                base_url,
+                image_cache,
+            );
+        }
 
         // Outset box-shadow paints behind this element's own background/border.
         // Geometry comes from the full (translate-adjusted) border box; the
         // ancestor overflow clip is reapplied inside so the shadow is clipped by
         // an ancestor exactly as the box itself is.
+        if !paints_inline_fragments {
         if let Some(shadow) = style.box_shadow {
             paint_box_shadow(&mut pixmap, &shadow, &rect, style.border_model.radii, clip);
         }
+        }
 
         // Box path (rounded if border-radius), reused for gradient/color fill.
         let radius = style.border_model.radii.resolve(rect.width, rect.height);
@@ -1725,7 +1756,7 @@ fn paint_laid_dom_scrolled(
         // without this it paints white. Takes precedence over a solid color.
         // `background-clip: text` clips the background to the glyphs, so it must
         // not paint as a box here; the text paint path fills the glyphs instead.
-        if style.mask_image.is_none() && !style.background_clip_text {
+        if !paints_inline_fragments && style.mask_image.is_none() && !style.background_clip_text {
             if let Some(bg) = style.background_color {
                 if let Some(path) = bg_path() {
                     let mut paint = Paint::default();
@@ -1792,6 +1823,7 @@ fn paint_laid_dom_scrolled(
         }
         }
 
+        if !paints_inline_fragments {
         if let Some(mask_url) = &style.mask_image {
             let fill = style.background_color.or(style.color).unwrap_or([0, 0, 0, 255]);
             paint_mask(
@@ -1847,6 +1879,7 @@ fn paint_laid_dom_scrolled(
                 }
             }
         }
+        }
         let positioned_pseudo_containing_block = {
             let mut ancestor = Some(nid);
             let mut found = None;
@@ -1903,12 +1936,14 @@ fn paint_laid_dom_scrolled(
             );
         }
 
-        paint_css_border(
-            &mut pixmap,
-            &rect,
-            style,
-            clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
-        );
+        if !paints_inline_fragments {
+            paint_css_border(
+                &mut pixmap,
+                &rect,
+                style,
+                clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
+            );
+        }
         paint_css_outline(
             &mut pixmap,
             &rect,
@@ -2224,6 +2259,224 @@ fn paint_laid_dom_scrolled(
     Some(pixmap)
 }
 
+/// Paint an ordinary inline's sliced border boxes instead of its multiline
+/// bounding union. Background coordinates stay anchored to the union so
+/// gradients and images remain one joined `box-decoration-break:slice`
+/// decoration, while left/right borders and radii appear only on the first
+/// and last continuation respectively.
+fn paint_inline_fragment_decorations(
+    pixmap: &mut Pixmap,
+    fragments: &[crate::Rect],
+    offset: (f32, f32),
+    union: &crate::Rect,
+    style: &crate::LayoutStyle,
+    clip: Option<crate::Rect>,
+    root_font_size: f32,
+    viewport: (f32, f32),
+    base_url: Option<&str>,
+    image_cache: &mut RenderResourceCache,
+) {
+    let union = crate::Rect {
+        x: union.x,
+        y: union.y,
+        width: union.width,
+        height: union.height,
+    };
+    let mut fragment_style = style.clone();
+    for (index, fragment) in fragments.iter().enumerate() {
+        let fragment = crate::Rect {
+            x: fragment.x + offset.0,
+            y: fragment.y + offset.1,
+            ..*fragment
+        };
+        let visible = match clip {
+            Some(clip) => match fragment.intersect(&clip) {
+                Some(visible) => visible,
+                None => continue,
+            },
+            None => fragment,
+        };
+        let first = index == 0;
+        let last = index + 1 == fragments.len();
+        fragment_style.border.left = style.border.left;
+        fragment_style.border.right = style.border.right;
+        fragment_style.border_model.radii = style.border_model.radii;
+        if !first {
+            fragment_style.border.left = 0.0;
+            fragment_style.border_model.radii.top_left = crate::CornerRadius::default();
+            fragment_style.border_model.radii.bottom_left = crate::CornerRadius::default();
+        }
+        if !last {
+            fragment_style.border.right = 0.0;
+            fragment_style.border_model.radii.top_right = crate::CornerRadius::default();
+            fragment_style.border_model.radii.bottom_right = crate::CornerRadius::default();
+        }
+        let radius = fragment_style
+            .border_model
+            .radii
+            .resolve(fragment.width, fragment.height);
+        let has_radius = !radius.is_zero();
+        let clip_path_mask = fragment_style.clip_path.as_ref().and_then(|polygon| {
+            polygon_clip_mask(
+                pixmap.width(),
+                pixmap.height(),
+                polygon,
+                &fragment,
+                fragment_style.font_size.unwrap_or(16.0),
+                root_font_size,
+                viewport,
+            )
+        });
+        let path = if has_radius {
+            rounded_rect_path_radii(
+                visible.x,
+                visible.y,
+                visible.width,
+                visible.height,
+                radius,
+            )
+        } else {
+            Rect::from_xywh(visible.x, visible.y, visible.width, visible.height).and_then(
+                |rect| {
+                    let mut builder = PathBuilder::new();
+                    builder.push_rect(rect);
+                    builder.finish()
+                },
+            )
+        };
+
+        if let Some(shadow) = fragment_style.box_shadow {
+            paint_box_shadow(
+                pixmap,
+                &shadow,
+                &fragment,
+                fragment_style.border_model.radii,
+                clip,
+            );
+        }
+        if fragment_style.mask_image.is_none() && !fragment_style.background_clip_text {
+            if let (Some(background), Some(path)) = (fragment_style.background_color, path.as_ref()) {
+                let mut paint = Paint::default();
+                paint.set_color(Color::from_rgba8(
+                    background[0],
+                    background[1],
+                    background[2],
+                    background[3],
+                ));
+                paint.anti_alias = has_radius;
+                pixmap.fill_path(
+                    path,
+                    &paint,
+                    FillRule::Winding,
+                    Transform::identity(),
+                    clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
+                );
+            }
+            if !fragment_style.background_gradient_layers.is_empty() {
+                if let Some(path) = path.as_ref() {
+                    paint_background_gradient_layers(
+                        pixmap,
+                        path,
+                        &union,
+                        radius,
+                        &fragment_style,
+                        root_font_size,
+                        viewport,
+                        clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
+                    );
+                }
+            } else {
+                if let (Some((center, stops)), Some(path)) =
+                    (&fragment_style.background_radial_gradient, path.as_ref())
+                {
+                    paint_radial_gradient(
+                        pixmap,
+                        path,
+                        &union,
+                        *center,
+                        stops,
+                        clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
+                    );
+                }
+                if let Some((angle, center, stops)) = &fragment_style.background_conic_gradient {
+                    paint_conic_gradient_sampled(
+                        pixmap,
+                        &fragment,
+                        &union,
+                        radius,
+                        *angle,
+                        *center,
+                        stops,
+                        clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
+                    );
+                }
+                if let (Some((angle, stops)), Some(path)) =
+                    (&fragment_style.background_gradient, path.as_ref())
+                {
+                    paint_linear_gradient(
+                        pixmap,
+                        path,
+                        &union,
+                        *angle,
+                        stops,
+                        clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
+                    );
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if let Some(mask_url) = &fragment_style.mask_image {
+            let fill = fragment_style
+                .background_color
+                .or(fragment_style.color)
+                .unwrap_or([0, 0, 0, 255]);
+            paint_mask(
+                mask_url,
+                base_url,
+                &fragment,
+                radius,
+                fill,
+                fragment_style.background_radial_gradient.as_ref(),
+                fragment_style.background_gradient.as_ref(),
+                fragment_style.background_conic_gradient.as_ref(),
+                fragment_style.mask_size,
+                fragment_style.mask_repeat,
+                clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
+                pixmap,
+                image_cache,
+            );
+        } else if let Some(background_url) = &fragment_style.background_image {
+            if let Some(image_rect) = background_image_rect(
+                background_url,
+                base_url,
+                &union,
+                fragment_style.background_size,
+                fragment_style.background_size_expression.as_deref(),
+                fragment_style.background_size_fit,
+                fragment_style.background_position,
+                fragment_style.font_size.unwrap_or(16.0),
+                root_font_size,
+                viewport,
+                image_cache,
+            ) {
+                paint_image(
+                    background_url,
+                    base_url,
+                    &image_rect,
+                    &visible,
+                    crate::ObjectFit::Fill,
+                    pixmap,
+                    image_cache,
+                    None,
+                    radius,
+                    clip_path_mask.as_ref(),
+                );
+            }
+        }
+        paint_css_border(pixmap, &fragment, &fragment_style, clip_path_mask.as_ref());
+    }
+}
+
 /// Per-capture root-scroll and sticky offsets layered over an immutable
 /// document-space [`DomLayout`]. Keeping these deltas out of the layout avoids
 /// accumulating movement when the same prepared document paints more than one
@@ -4309,6 +4562,28 @@ fn paint_conic_gradient(
     center: (f32, f32),
     stops: &[([u8; 4], Option<f32>)],
     extra_clip: Option<&tiny_skia::Mask>,
+) {
+    paint_conic_gradient_sampled(
+        pixmap,
+        rect,
+        rect,
+        border_radius,
+        angle,
+        center,
+        stops,
+        extra_clip,
+    );
+}
+
+fn paint_conic_gradient_sampled(
+    pixmap: &mut Pixmap,
+    rect: &crate::Rect,
+    sampling_rect: &crate::Rect,
+    border_radius: crate::ResolvedBorderRadii,
+    angle: f32,
+    center: (f32, f32),
+    stops: &[([u8; 4], Option<f32>)],
+    extra_clip: Option<&tiny_skia::Mask>,
 ) {
     if rect.width <= 0.0 || rect.height <= 0.0 || stops.len() < 2 {
         return;
@@ -4322,7 +4597,7 @@ fn paint_conic_gradient(
     for y in 0..height {
         for x in 0..width {
             let color = conic_color_at(
-                rect,
+                sampling_rect,
                 angle,
                 center,
                 &normalized,
@@ -8213,6 +8488,49 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn wrapped_inline_background_and_slice_borders_paint_per_continuation() {
+        let tree = parse_html(
+            r#"<style>
+                html,body,p { margin:0 }
+                p { width:70px; font:16px/24px monospace }
+                #token {
+                    color:transparent; background:#ff0000; padding:0 10px;
+                    border-left:2px solid #0000ff;
+                    border-right:2px solid #0000ff
+                }
+            </style>
+            <p><span id="token">aaaa aaaa aaaa</span></p>"#,
+        );
+        let token = tree.get_element_by_id("token").unwrap();
+        let mut resources = RenderResourceCache::default();
+        let mut prepared = prepare_dom(&tree, (120.0, 100.0), None, &mut resources).unwrap();
+        let fragments = prepared.layout.inline_fragments[&token].clone();
+        assert_eq!(fragments.len(), 3, "{fragments:?}");
+        let pixmap = paint_prepared(&tree, &mut prepared, &mut resources, (0.0, 0.0)).unwrap();
+        let rgb = |x: f32, y: f32| {
+            let pixel = pixmap
+                .pixel(x.floor().max(0.0) as u32, y.floor().max(0.0) as u32)
+                .unwrap();
+            (pixel.red(), pixel.green(), pixel.blue())
+        };
+        let first = fragments[0];
+        let middle = fragments[1];
+        let last = fragments[2];
+        assert_eq!(rgb(first.x + 0.5, first.y + 1.0), (0, 0, 255));
+        assert_eq!(rgb(middle.x + 0.5, middle.y + 1.0), (255, 0, 0));
+        assert_eq!(
+            rgb(last.x + last.width - 0.5, last.y + 1.0),
+            (0, 0, 255)
+        );
+        let gap_y = (first.y + first.height + middle.y) * 0.5;
+        assert_eq!(
+            rgb(5.0, gap_y),
+            (255, 255, 255),
+            "the multiline bounding union must not fill the inter-line gap"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn overflow_clipping_keeps_physical_axes_independent() {
         let tree = parse_html(