Page 81 of Moonlit Fate

Drawn to her, I crossed the room silently, my boots squelching on the wooden floor. I pressed my body against hers, wrapping my arms around her waist without disturbing the intricate dance of her experiment. I bowed my head slightly, inhaling the scent of wildflowers and lightning that clung to her.

“Nearly there,” she said. “I’ve found the instructions for this brew, the ingredients we need. Even this old chemistry set seems to have been waiting just for us.”

Her words were full of hope, and that same hope cascaded through me, washing away some of the grime of fear and suspicion. I nuzzled her neck, her pulse thrumming under my lips. I relished the intimacy of the moment.

“Thank the spirits,” I said, my breath hot against her skin. “You’re here, you’re safe, and you’re brilliant.”

The storm raged on outside, but the warmth of Aria’s body seeped through my drenched clothes as I pressed against her.

“I followed Larkin,” I said. “And I wasn’t the only one observing him.”

Aria paused in her work, turning slightly to lock her gaze with mine. Her eyes, wide with curiosity, searched my face for answers.

“Your father was there, too, trailing Larkin.” I took a deep breath. “He must have heeded your warnings about Larkin. He saw everything.”

“He believes me?” She reached up and brushed my cheek, hope mingling with disbelief in her eyes.

“Yes.” I squeezed her side. “He must.”

I told her everything I’d seen and heard.

“The amulet...” she said, her jaw clenching. “We need the other part that the Crimson Fang has. It’s the only way to stop them. We’ll have to steal it.”

It would be terribly dangerous, but these were desperate times. We needed to do whatever we could to protect the forest.

“We will,” I said resolutely. “We now have an ally we never expected. Your father is with us.”

The simmering concoction Aria had crafted exuded a scent that was both unfamiliar and intoxicating, a subtle promise of the might it contained. She turned to me, and her lips found mine with desperate urgency.

“Atticus,” she said against my mouth, “we are on the precipice of destiny.”

As she drew back, she frowned, her eyes on something behind me. I followed her gaze. Among the clutter of bottles and books was an aged, yellowed page. What the heck? Where had it come from? She stepped past me and picked it up. Two words were inked on it. From the curves and strokes, I identified it to be Latin.

Aria spoke the words out loud in a melodic incantation that echoed through the shack.

“Revelare secretum.”

The ceiling gave way, and a ladder unfolded before us, revealing a hidden loft. Heaps of furs and blankets created a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The rain’s staccato rhythm on the tin roof composed a song of nature’s fury while candles flickered, transforming the space into a realm touched by otherworldly grace.

I climbed the ladder after Aria. The scent of rain mingled with her and surrounded me, a pull I couldn’t resist. Our eyes met in silent conversation. No words were needed when every breath we took was laced with urgency.

“Atticus,” she said, and that single utterance of my name was a spell, binding me completely to her will.

She took a step forward, raw energy radiating from her being. It was the call of the wild, the untamed spirit that recognized its counterpart in me—the rogue wolf who had found his match.

I watched, entranced. Her body language spoke of both fragility and strength. She was fire and ice, chaos and serenity. An enigma that fueled my desire.

“Come here,” I said, my voice low and husky, unable to mask the need that laced every syllable.

Aria closed the distance between us, the heat of her body seeping into mine.

“Gods, you’re beautiful,” I murmured. “You undo me.”

My hand lifted of its own volition, trembling slightly as the tips of my fingers made contact with the softness of Aria’s cheek. She leaned into my caress, surrendering to the bond between us.

The wind howled outside, singing around the corners of the shack, a symphony to our growing passion. The elements had orchestrated this moment, conspired to bring us together. My breath hitched as her body pressed closer, seeking the heat of my own.

“Your touch... it’s everything,” Aria said breathlessly.

---