Maxon tilts his head to the side like a confused puppy. “You feel it, don’t you? The calm that takes over when we are near?”
I drop my eyes to the floor to hide the truth in my face. I do feel that, but I also feel my pulse race and butterflies swarm my stomach. And the way the world falls away when our eyes lock, like a moment frozen in time.
Maxon steps closer, his finger going under my chin, tipping my head back. “You do feel it, don’t you?”
My eyes search his, and I open my mouth to answer, his gaze dropping to my lips. The way his eyes flare sends a scorching swell of hot fire through my veins, and I suddenly wish he would kiss me.
Unable to form the word, I take a small step back, needing some space. My eyes slowly roam over his face and I tilt my head, studying the vine-like tattoos on his face.
“Why the tattoos?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me. I need to change the subject.
Maxon contemplates the question, his attention unwavering.
“They aren’t tattoos. When I was young, I had recurring dreams of this mysterious pattern, as if it held some deep significance. I later drew it, and over time, it appeared on my face. I adorn my chambers with the same markings. I later learned that the patterns etched into the surface were actually a powerful protection rune. Beyond its surface meaning, the symbol also serves as a symbol of my mating.”
That piece of information is so unexpected that it makes my eyebrows lift. Maxon smirks, sending a rush of butterflies swirling in my stomach.
“After the markings had formed completely, an oracle informed me that it was one half of my mate mark, and that when I find my mate and we link souls, she too will have the other half of the tattoo appear on her face to match mine.”
“What do you mean, mate? Like I think I know with what I’ve read in romance books, but–”
My words are abruptly cut off, silenced by the intensity of Maxon’s presence as he takes a step closer, his eyes piercing mine, burning with a fiery energy. The air crackles with tension, the silence amplifying the weight of his stare.
“Mate is our other half, the missing piece of the puzzle we must find. It's not predetermined or fate, simply souls being reunited.”
“How do you reunite the souls?” I whisper hoarsely, trying to ignore the way my pulse is racing.
Maxon’s lips turn up and he smirks down at me. “It happens over time. Mating is a dance of souls, where the gentle movement of bodies intertwining, echoes with the sweet symphony of twohearts beating in unison. In this sacred union, the sensation of becoming one, transcends the physical as their souls merge and intertwine, creating an ethereal bond that is beyond words.”
“Oh,” I whisper, trying my best to ignore the rush of warmth that spreads through me and settles in my lower stomach. So much for changing the subject.
My throat tightens as I swallow, and Maxon's attention is drawn to the balcony where the curtains sway. His pointed ears immediately catch my attention, adorned with multiple piercings that glimmer in the light, I’m tempted to reach out and touch them. Then, as if in a daze, I reach up and run the tip of my finger over the top of Maxon’s ear. His head snaps to me, making me jump in surprise, and I go to lower my hand, but he clasps my wrist tightly.
“We have very sensitive ears,” he growls, sending a shiver down my spine, but not in fear. I feel a fluttering sensation in the pit of my stomach, causing my thighs to involuntarily tenseup. I quickly swallow, my tongue gliding over my lips. Maxon’s intense gaze fixates on my mouth, and a deep, rumbling growl escapes from the depths of his throat.
The sudden sound of a sharp rap on the wooden door causes my heart to race and my body to jolt with surprise. Maxon loosens his grip on my wrist, allowing me to swiftly pivot and hasten toward a nearby chair. The presence of Maxon in my life is a perilous mix, a constant threat to both my emotional well-being and physical health.
“Enter,” Maxon calls, his voice sounding gruff.
Zaria and Raiden step into the room, followed by Nix. Zaria takes me in and then fixes her gaze on Maxon with a sharp intensity.
“What did you do?” she accuses.
“Me?”
“Yes, look at her,” Zaria replies, her arm flying in my direction.
I frown at her, but my expression softens as Nix lands on my skirt, her weight barely noticeable as she looks up at me with her large, sapphire eyes. “She does look a little flush.”
“That’s enough.” I stand, making Nix take flight. “I’m perfectly fine, thank you.”
Raiden's massive arms are crossed, and his eyes shift from Maxon to me. I don’t like the way he looks at me, his silver eyes taking in every detail.
“So, we have a breach?” he asks slowly.
"Yes," Maxon says as he walks over to us, and I make a conscious effort to avoid meeting his gaze. “There is a passage that leads to the garden.”
“Zaria, who told you to use this room?”
