Page 90 of Fated By Fire

“Your idiot.” He kisses me, soft and lingering, a promise. “And you’re mine. Clan politics, Syndicate wars—none of it matters. I love you, Elena Ross. My witch.”

I’m silent as I stare up at him in bemusement. It feels too soon… and yet, it seems like a lifetime since I first laid eyes on this man. Like I’ve known him forever. Yet not long enough.

“How long do dragons live?” I ask as his eyes lock onto me, waiting for some sort of response.

“Forever,” he says, tracing a fingertip down my cheek.

I nod. “Good.” My lips quirk up at the corners. “Then that’s how long I’ll love you back.”

His kiss takes my breath from me and is all the approval I need right now.

The Heartstone thrums in agreement, its power settled deep in my bones. For the first time in a lifetime, I don’t feel alone. I feel like part of something that is my destiny.

And I’m going to meet that destiny with this man by my side.

Chapter 33

Elena

Caleb’s fingers trace the fresh mate mark on my collarbone as morning light bleeds through the penthouse windows, coloring the room in gold and orange. The bite still throbs, a sweet ache pulsing in time with the Heartstone humming on the nightstand. Its glow is faint but steady, almost alive, as if it senses the importance of the day ahead.

Caleb dresses my wounds in silence, his jaw tight, his movements deliberate. The claw marks Malakai left on my ribs are angry and raw, but Caleb’s touch is gentle, almost reverent.

“They’ll test you today,” he says finally, smoothing a bandage over the wounds. His voice is low, edged with worry. “Stay close. Don’t let them bait you. Luke will likely push your buttons.”

I snort, leaning back against the headboard. “The guy probably thinks I’m a walking Molotov cocktail.”

Caleb’s thumb brushes my cheek, his touch lingering. “Youarea Molotov cocktail. But you’remyMolotov cocktail.”

I swat at him, but he catches my wrist, his grip firm yet tender. He presses a kiss to the marks left by the power that surged from me, his lips warm against my skin. The air shifts suddenly—thick, electric—and the Heartstone on the nightstand flares, casting crimson patterns over the walls. The hum grows louder, almost urgent.

“That thing’s getting restless,” I mutter, eyeing the stone warily.

Caleb’s gaze darkens. “It knows what’s coming.”

He rises from the bed and heads over to the closet, pulling on a fresh shirt. His back is a roadmap of claw marks, but the bite mark I left last night glows faintly, a ridge of raised flesh that looks just like mine.

“They’ll grill you,” he says, tossing me a black sweater that looks far too big. “Play nice, but don’tletthem.”

I catch it, bristling. “I’m not here to audition. They either accept me or—”

“Or they’ll try to kill you. Yeah.” He fastens his buttons, eyes flicking to mine. “ButIaccept you. That’s all that matters.”

The Heartstone shimmers as I reach for it. It answers his words with a pulse of heat. Maybe it agrees.

We take the private elevator down to the lobby of Caleb’s high-rise apartment block, its mirrored walls reflecting our exhaustion. Caleb’s hand never leaves my waist, his grip protective but not stifling.

Outside, the city is a discordant symphony of honking horns and distant sirens, the air thick with the scent of rain and exhaust fumes. A black SUV waits at the curb, its engine idling. Caleb opens the door for me, his gaze scanning the street for any signs of danger.

“This isn’t just a meeting,” I say as we slide into the backseat. “It’s a trial, isn’t it?”

He doesn’t answer immediately, his eyes fixed on the city blurring past the windows. “They’ll try to test you,” he says finally, his voice low. “But they don’t know you like I do.”

I glance at him, my chest tightening. “And what if they’re right? What if I’m not… enough?”

He turns to me, his eyes burning with intensity. “You’re more than enough. You always have been.”

The drive is short but suffocating. By the time we pull up outside Lydia’s stately mansion, the tension is taut between us. Caleb helps me out of the car, his hand slipping into mine. I stare up at the building, trying not to let my mouth drop open. Apprehension unfurls despite my earlier bravado.

---