Page 53 of The Purrfect Rival

As their joined hands lifted, a vision flashed between them—a shared magical glimpse of an ancient ceremony where lion and fox magic combined into something that made the very foundations of Enchanted Falls tremble with power.

FORTY-EIGHT

Kalyna blinked away the fog of sleep. The sun shined brightly outside the apartment window. She wondered what time it was and why hadn’t Rust awakened her before he left?

Rust’s presence lingered in every corner of her apartment—his jacket draped over a chair, protective wards shimmering around the windows, and his distinctive cedar-and-spice scent embedded in the pillow beside her. Her fingers traced the indentation he’d left, remembering the solid warmth of him during the night.

She’d slept curled against his chest, his heartbeat a steady rhythm that had anchored her through dreams still turbulent from the magical battle. The bond between them had deepened during those quiet hours of shared rest.

Testing her magic, Kalyna extended her palm upward. A small crimson orb of fox-fire materialized, dancing above her fingers with significantly more stability than earlier yesterday’s attempts. The warm glow pulsed in sync with her heartbeat.

Then the memory of what happened during the night slapped her.

The library fire.

She had to get over there to see what was damaged now that the building was relatively safe to enter.

Kalyna pushed herself from the bed, fingers unsteady as she reached for clean clothes. The brush of fabric against her skin sent unexpected shivers cascading down her spine. Her fingertips tingled, nerve endings suddenly hypersensitive to every texture.

Worse still, Rust’s lingering scent triggered an almost intoxicating response. Heat pooled low in her belly, her fox suddenly restless beneath her skin. She caught herself pressing her thighs together, trying to ease an ache that hadn’t been there before.

“This can’t be happening,” she murmured, pressing her palms against her flushed cheeks. Her reflection in the small mirror revealed eyes flashing crimson at the mere thought of Rust. “Not now.”

The symptoms were unmistakable. Early mating heat—something that shouldn’t occur without an established bond developing over weeks, not days. Her fox recognized its perfect complement in Rust’s lion, pushing her toward him with primal urgency.

FORTY-NINE

The library’s historical section lay in ruins. Charred shelves stood like blackened skeletons where priceless volumes had once rested. Kalyna picked her way through the debris, searching for any clue to Echo’s involvement, any hint of where Boz might have hidden the Twinned-Tail Charm.

Her composed facade crumbled in the privacy of the damaged archive room. Books lifted from fallen shelves, pages flipping wildly as they orbited around her. Crimson energy swirled in fitful patterns, illuminating dust particles dancing through the air.

A particularly forceful surge of emotion sent several books crashing against the far wall. Kalyna sank to her knees amidst the chaos.

“Kalyna.”

Rust’s voice cut through her magical maelstrom. She hadn’t heard him arrive, hadn’t sensed his approach through her emotional tempest. Yet there he stood in the doorway, golden eyes scanning the magical chaos before locking onto her with predatory focus.

He crossed the distance in three powerful strides and dropped to his knees before her. Without hesitation, he pulledher into his embrace, one hand cradling the back of her head while the other pressed possessively at her lower back.

His scent—intensified by her heightened senses—flooded her system. Cedar, spice, and something distinctlylionwrapped around her, making her dizzy with need. Her fingers clutched at his shirt, her body instinctively arching toward his heat.

“Tell me who hurt you,” he growled, the sound vibrating against her chest where she pressed against him.

His eyes burned more golden than brown, pupils dilated as they tracked her every movement. When his thumb brushed the pulse point at her throat, she nearly whimpered at the contact.

“It’s complicated,” she began, trying to gather her scattered thoughts.

“Answer the question, Kalyna.” His interruption wasn’t harsh, but the command in his tone was unmistakable. His hand cupped her cheek, tilting her face up to meet his unwavering gaze.

The clash of communication styles ignited between them—her fox bristling at the direct command while his lion demanded immediate clarity.

A surprised laugh bubbled from Kalyna’s throat. She reached up to trace the strong line of his jaw. “We’re doing exactly what they expect. Lion directness versus fox circumspection—the classic clan conflict.”

His expression shifted from frustration to understanding, thumbs stroking her cheekbones with unexpected tenderness. “They want us divided. But we’re stronger together.”

Kalyna slid her hand to the nape of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. The touch sent electricity racing up her arm.

Crimson illusions bloomed around them—inadvertently revealing memories she’d kept private: the heat that surged through her body when their hands first touched at the council meeting, how she’d caught herself staring at his mouth duringtheir library assessments, the ache that settled between her thighs when he defended her against accusations.

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