At some point, I must have drifted off because I awoke early the next morning to find myself still wrapped in his embrace, my head resting on his chest. I listened to his heartbeat, and something nagged in the back of my mind.
My gaze fell to my arm, now adorned with a swirling tattoo that intertwined like living vines. It knotted into symbols that seemed to pulse with a strange energy. I traced the intricate patterns with my eyes, feeling a wave of unease settle in my bones, but I couldn’t figure out why.
Xavier shifted beneath me, rolling us onto our sides with effortless grace. His mouth crashed onto mine, and I smiled into the kiss, his fingers tangling in my hair. He opened his eyes slowly, pulling back just enough to meet my gaze. “Good morning,” he rumbled, his voice still rough with sleep.
My cheeks flushed at the sight of him like this. “Morning,” I whispered, my voice soft and barely above a breath.
As his hands began a now familiar journey down my body, I pressed a hand to his chest, gently stopping him. He paused,looking at me with those vibrant eyes, now sparkling with a playful curiosity.
“We need to talk,” I said somewhat sheepishly. “I’m still confused,” I admitted, and Xavier smirked, relaxing back onto his pillow.
“Like I said, I can answer any questions you have,” he said, pulling me toward him again so my head lay on his chest. His hand came to my back, and he traced his fingers along my spine, making my skin pebble.
“I don’t fully understand what a mate is,” I admitted, and Xavier seemed to breathe deeply before replying.
“Having a mate is rare.” He stopped stroking my back and ran his fingers through my hair. “A mate is determined by the fates.”
I cringed at the mention of that thing, but Xavier continued, “A mate shares the other half of one's soul. They are equals in every way.”
I scrunched my brows. How was I his equal? He was an all-powerful Fae King, and I was… I was a nobody.
“You are wrong.” Xavier soothed, looking down at me.
“How did you—”
“Our bond allows us to sense each other’s emotions and other things.” Xavier purred, a hidden smirk on his lips. “Your magic, your soul, is not whole because Morgana still has a part of it.” Xavier paused, looking away and at the ceiling. “I think once it is returned to you, you will better understand and be able to feel the connection more than you do now.” Xavier looked down at me againandturned, tangling our bodies together so our faces were almost touching. “I promise I will get it back for you.”
“I just don’t want you to think… what I mean is…” I stumbled over my words, searching for the right way to express the whirlpool of confusion and fear inside me.
“Zara,” he said, a warm smile spreading across his lips, “nothing needs to be settled right now. Take as much time as you need to figure it out for yourself. I'm not going anywhere.”
I curled into him at his words, but he lifted my chin to look at him. He leaned in and kissed me, the sensation making my toes curl. “But while you figure it out, I can show you what it’s like to be mine,” he breathed against my lips, the promise in his words sending a thrill of anticipation racing through my veins.
I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. “We should probably get ready. I'm sure the others are waiting for us,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. The thought of leaving this moment and facing reality sent a pang of reluctance coursing through me.
Xavier smiled knowingly, rolling us so that I was straddling him on the bed. He pulled my face toward his, our lips meeting as he pushed my hips down, making me feel his arousal between us. I gasped, and the sensation made my stomach clench, a fire igniting in me once more.
Confusion swirled in my mind, but I couldn't deny the magnetic pull between us—the raw attraction, the burning lust. I knew I should stop, yet as I shifted my hips, grinding against him, I reveled in the thrill of it. He let out a low moan, kissing me more fiercely, his eyes blazing with desire. “Let them wait,” he growled, his breath warm against my lips.
*
My legs were trembling by the time we headed to the dining hall for breakfast, and Xavier’s smug grin only grew wider with every shaky step I took. After nearly toppling down the stairs, he scooped me up with a laugh, carrying me the rest of the way.
Hunger gnawed at my stomach, and I had demanded he set me down before we entered.
The dining hall stretched wide before us, the smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats filling the air. My stomachgrowled in response. But as soon as we stepped inside, a shift in the atmosphere became clear, and no one seemed to make eye contact with me.
I moved to sit between Dedra and Gunnar, and the moment I slid into the seat, Gunnar practically leapt from his chair, scrambling further down the table from me. My mouth popped open in surprise, and the room erupted into stifled laughs.
Dedra covered her mouth with a hand, stifling a laugh behind what I could only assume was an exaggerated cough. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. “Nice ink,” she remarked, her grin widening as her gaze flicked to my new tattoo.
Xavier, who had claimed the now-vacated seat next to me, grunted in approval, clearly unbothered by what had just happened. I shot him a pointed look, but he seemed entirely unconcerned, his focus now on fixing our plates as if he had always done so like this was just another morning routine.
“Don’t mind him,” Dedra said with a knowing wink. “It’ll pass.”
“What will?” I asked, brow furrowed at her cryptic statement.
“The possessive, domineering behavior,” Dedra replied with a mischievous smile. “You’re mated now, and when it’s fresh like this, men tend to get territorial about who comes near their mates.” Her smile widened. “It's why Gunnar moved away so quickly. He didn’t want Xavier to tear off his head for being near you.” She chuckled. “I would avoid other men for the time being, glances, close proximity… for their safety.”
