He’d likely decided that her safety mattered more, that he had no right to drag her into the chaos of his unchecked magic, and had sacrificed his happiness for her protection.
The thought softened the anger festering within her. But it didn’t make his silence any less maddening.
Because that same bond he’d dismissed could’ve helped him. It hadalreadyhelped him. She understood now why she’d been able to touch him that day, back when his Gift had spiralled out of control and she’d sent his magic beyond the gates, freezing everything in its path.
As his soulmate, she could help him regain control of his Gift… but only after she’d given him an earful.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
ALENA
Alena hurried through the damp forest, the crisp morning air biting at her skin. A stubborn chill clung to the shadows, reluctant to release its grip until the sun rose higher. She wrapped her arms across her chest, muttering a curse for leaving her cloak behind. The trees parted ahead, and the sound of rushing water grew stronger.
Stepping into a clearing, she drew a sharp breath. Sunlight touched the fine veil rising from a waterfall, casting the scene in a golden glow. Water spilled in a graceful tumble over rocks, and a cool dampness clung to the air, carrying the scent of fresh water and moss.
And there, on a rocky ledge beneath the cascade, was Leukos.
The sight of him struck her, scattering her thoughts into disarray. He’d discarded the sleeves of his tunic, letting the top half hang around his waist. Water poured over his shoulders, rivulets cascading down the taut, sculpted lines of his bare chest and stomach. His midnight hair clung to his face in damp strands, accentuating the sharp angles of his cheekbones and jawline.
He was beautiful in a way that seemed almost unreal, a living embodiment of power and grace.
“Leukos!” she called, but the gushing waters swallowed her voice.
His eyes remained shut, brow furrowed in concentration.
She crossed the clearing, sandals crunching over damp earth and pebbles, until her focus snagged on the Mark etched into his skin. The once-small design on his thigh had spread, now covering his side in intricate, ice-blue swirls. They shimmered like frost under moonlight, tracing the curve of his hip, curling over the taut muscles of his ribs, and spiralling up to his shoulder blade—a striking display of the power he held.
She hauled herself onto the slick rock, mist beading along her skin and dampening her clothes. Her hands pressed to the slippery stone for balance, guiding each step until she reached the ledge where Leukos stood.
The steady rush of the waterfall filled her ears, its cascade tumbling over him. Stars be cursed—how did he stand beneath it so effortlessly? She spotted his bare feet planted on the uneven ledge, and with a resigned sigh, kicked off her sandals, the cool rock biting into her soles.
Spray drenched the stone at the fall’s edge, coating the rock in a treacherous sheen that sent her feet sliding. She caught herself with a gasp and clutched the outcrop so tight her knuckles blanched.
Leukos jolted and spun to face her. “Alena! What are you doing?”
Ignoring his shout, she pressed on. With trembling fingers, she passed behind the curtain of water, its spray clinging to her hair and slicking her skin.
“Don’t come nearer!” Leukos barked, the sharp edge of fear unmistakable in his voice. He turned fully towards her,his hands twitching as though to reach out, but then stopped himself.
Alena’s heart hammered against her ribs. “I’m fine!” she called over the gushing water.
He stepped out from beneath the spray, and taking a final, defiant step, she closed the distance between them with a triumphant smile.
“You could’ve broken your neck,” he ground out. His broad shoulders tensed, each breath drawn tight with restraint, as if holding himself back was its own battle. Droplets traced the hard planes of his chest and ridges of his abdomen, catching the dim light like molten silver.
Alena’s pulse stammered, heat rising to her cheeks despite the cool mist clinging to her skin. Goosebumps prickled her arms. “It was worth the risk.”
Leukos’ jaw tightened. “What are you talking about? Godsdamnit, Alena, why do you keep putting yourself in danger for me time and time again?”
“Because you’re my soulmate!” The words tore from her in a rush of raw emotion. They echoed through the small space, ricocheting off the cliff at her back.
Leukos went still. The waterfall’s roar dulled, the world narrowing to the midnight depths of his gaze locked on hers.
He didn’t deny it. He didn’t pull away. Instead, his expression softened, layers of resistance falling away to reveal a quiet, resigned acceptance.
He’d known all along.
The visions, the dreams, the longing that had gnawed at her daily. He’d felt it, too.
