KY’RN
The feel of her body, the taste of her blood, the sound of her soft moans—they had all become imprinted in my mind. Every fiber of my being screamed for her, to claim her, to make her mine in every sense of the word.
The sensations of the night played over in my mind, and I reveled in the satisfaction of knowing I had brought Isla to the heights of pleasure.
Even though I had denied my own desires, the mere thought of her beneath me, of her taste, her soft moans in my ears, filled me with a heady intoxication. Each drop of her blood I had tasted left me craving more, making me wonder just how it would taste when she truly became mine.
My mate.
My thoughts drifted toward fantasies of us together, away from prying eyes and the confinement of this tank. In the depths of the vast ocean or in a secluded vacation pod, I pictured us entwined, exploring one another, letting the hours melt away into days, lost in each other’s embrace.
Drawing from my reverie, I carefully laid a sleeping Isla on the edge of the tank. Her dress, heavy with water, I wrung out and placed beside her.
I cradled her face gently, feeling the warmth of her skin against my palm as she leaned into my touch.
“Are you okay?”I asked, my voice a soft rumble filled with concern. The need to reassure her, to make her feel safe and cherished, surged within me.
Her gaze met mine, shimmering with unspoken emotions.“More than all right,”she whispered, a sense of wonder lacing her words.“All of this feels like a dream. I keep thinking I’ll wake up, and you’ll be gone. This will be gone.”
My hand trailed down from her cheek to her neck, fingers tracing the outline of the mark I had just left there, feeling the heat of her pulse beneath my fingertips. The mark burned against her moonlight skin like a beacon, a symbol of our bond, a symbol of my claim and devotion.
Isla’s reaction was immediate; her eyelids fluttered closed, and a soft moan escaped her lips, revealing the depth of her sensitivity to my touch. There was a vulnerability in that sound, a raw honesty that resonated within my soul.
“This is real, Isla,”I assured her, my voice firm yet gentle.“I am real, and so is our connection.”My eyes held hers, willing her to see the truth in them. “You’re not dreaming. Everything that’s happened, our connection—it’s all real. And it’s too late to deny it.”
I saw a flicker of something in her eyes—recognition, perhaps, or acceptance. Slowly, she nodded, a small smile curving her lips.
“I am yours, Isla,”I continued, my heart swelling with emotion.“And you are mine. Forever.”
The words were a vow—a promise to cherish and protect her, to be by her side through whatever the future might hold.
“I wish…”A faint smile spread across Isla’s lips as she let out a contented sigh.
Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she drifted off into a peaceful slumber, as her head lolled softly to the side, a serene expression painting her features.
Gently, I removed my hand from her delicate face, careful not to disturb her peaceful rest. As I gazed upon her, I found myself lost in thought, pondering the whirlwind of emotions and events that had brought us to this moment.
My heart swelled with a mix of pride and concern, knowing the challenges we would face together in our deeply intertwined relationship.
Watching her sleep, I pondered over her thoughts, her dreams. Was she finally at peace?
Had I gone too far?
The intensity of our connection, the depth of our bond—it was overwhelming, yet so right. But a part of me questioned if I had gone too far.
Her pleas had resonated deep within me, her desire to escape the weight of her past, to immerse herself fully in the here and now with me. How could I have denied her that solace? Her trust in me was absolute, her surrender complete.
Yet, a part of me questioned whether I had pushed the boundaries of our bond. The intensity of my desire for her, to claim her, to make her irrevocably mine, had been overwhelming. In that brief moment, it felt as though nothing else mattered but the fulfillment of our mutual longing.
But now, in the quiet aftermath, as I watched her sleep so soundly, a sense of responsibility settled over me. I vowed silently to always be there for her, to protect her, to provide her with the love and care she deserved. She had entrusted her heart to me, and I would guard it with my life.
If only we had more time… I cursed the Fates and the Will of the Stars for bringing us together in this manner.
Why couldn’t our paths cross in another way? Why hadn’t I carried her to the Atlantis, where she might be nursed back to health in the security of the IPA’s base?
The rhythm of her breathing, the slight flush on her face, the peace that surrounded her, all held me captivated. My own body, however, was still in turmoil, a whirl of desires and primal urges. The very essence of me wanted to mate, to claim. Every cell in my being cried out for her.
My body responded immediately to those thoughts, my blavs twitching from the hunger that raged within.
