Xavier shot me a brief sidelong glance but stayed quiet, continuing to pile an absurd amount of food onto my plate without care.
“Great,” I grumbled, and Xavier poked me in the ribs as he set my plate in front of me. Did he think I would eat all of this? The plate was piled so high with various meats and pastries that theynearly fell off the edge of the plate. Xavier started digging into his food pile, and I chuckled softly.
As I glanced around the table, my eyes landed on Jaxon. He watched us, but his expression was different—his eyes were clearer and softer, and there was a genuine smile on his lips. It took me by surprise, and I tilted my head, staring back at him. For the first time, I didn't experience the usual pang of guilt or longing when I looked at him. The weight of our past was lighter, and I was able to breathe more freely as we stared at each other. Understanding passing between us.
I grinned at him, and he winked, causing an immediate reaction from Xavier, who let out a loud snarl that had me jumping from my seat.
Jaxon let out a barking laugh as Xavier’s dark eyes flashed between the two of us. An honest, hearty laugh filled the room and widened my grin even further.
Xavier stood, but I put my hand on his arm, my smile seeming to ease the tension as he slowly lowered back into his seat, still glaring at his brother. Jaxon lowered his gaze but continued to laugh, and everyone stifled their own laughter at the situation.
We were leaving for Mirronian today, and as I looked around at my friends—at Dedra's bemused smile and Gunnar's relaxed posture—a wave of warmth and contentment washed over me. So much had changed in such a short time, yet despite the chaos and confusion, I felt more at peace than I had in years.
Something inside me hummed in quiet affirmation as if to say,“This—this was where I was meant to be.”
Chapter 38
Xavier
At my request, Gunnar returned with us to Mirronian for the meeting with the witches, which was now only a few days away. We had told Zara about the amulet and how he couldn't heal her magic without Morgana's presence, which was precisely why he would be there when she arrived.
Gunnar lent us his carriages for the journey back, which he spelled, letting us travel much faster than we had on our journey here.
We weren’t far from my castle now, and I found myself nestled between Zara’s thighs. I couldn’t get enough of her—the way her cheeks flushed when she looked at me, the way her eyes sparkled… it was maddening. She cried out my name through her pants of pleasure, and I purred in delight at the sound.
Looking up at her, I licked my lips and lunged forward, crashing my mouth onto hers. She smiled against my lips as we kissed, and I had to be inside her. Now.
I tore my lips away from hers, making her gasp from the sudden loss. I grabbed her by the hips and flipped her so that herbackside was to me. She looked over her shoulders in surprise, and I smirked as I ran my hands up the back of her thighs.
Mine.
My hand went between her thighs, and I positioned myself behind her. I thrust abruptly inside her, making her scream from the sudden pressure. I thrust again, making her moan, and I growled in approval, pumping into her again and again until we both found release together.
The carriage stopped, and Zara fixed herself, her cheeks flush as she turned toward me. I caged her body with my own against the seat, kissing her deeply.
“Tell me you are mine,” I growled against her lips, unable to stop myself. Her eyes hardened onto mine and she reared her head back as I smiled wickedly down at her.
“Xavier,” she said, scrunching her brows.
“Zara,” I purred back. I grabbed her hair and pulled her closer. My eyes demanded an answer. Zara narrowed her icy blue eyes on mine, her face set in stubborn determination.
She had already subconsciously accepted the bond; otherwise, my tattoo wouldn’t have inked on her skin, but I needed to hear her say it out loud.
The silence stretched, and she pushed her hands against my chest.
I leaned away, letting her slip past me and out the carriage door. I chuckled darkly at how her eyes had flashed in annoyance, and I followed her outside. The others were getting out of their carriages and stretching, and we all watched as Zara stormed up the path and through the castle doors.
I followed after her. When I stepped inside, I saw Zara practically running up the stairs, a confused Julian at the bottom of them, watching as she made her way up to the next floor.
Zara’s head turned toward me, and her eyes met mine briefly over her shoulder as a soft smile spread across her face.
A game.
I smiled wickedly back, but Julian stepped into my line of sight before I could act. His face was grim as he extended a piece of parchment to me. His enlarged eyes hardened into anger as I took it.
“What happened?” I demanded, taking the parchment from him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zara’s body still on the staircase.
My eyes scanned the paper, and pure energy surged inside me, sparking off my skin. My eyes darted to Julian’s, who merely nodded slightly.
