Page 23 of Her Fated Alpha Prince
“I’ve seen things like it before. Traces. Echoes. But nothing this strong.”
She turned to face him, eyes burning with something half-furious, half-afraid. “I’m not supposed to be here, am I?”
He stepped forward, but slowly. “You are exactly where you’re supposed to be. That’s the problem.”
She let out a sharp breath, almost a laugh. “Great. Destiny. Just what I needed.”
“It’s not destiny,” he said. “It’s blood. Legacy. Something buried waking up.”
Her gaze snapped to him. “Whose blood?”
He didn’t answer.
She stepped closer. “Tell me.”
Kael stared at her, at the flicker of silver behind her pupils that hadn’t been there before. “There were once people who could shape the world with will alone. Before the noble lines. Before the Priesthood twisted the records.”
“You think I’m one of them.”
“I think they left something behind. And I think it found you.”
Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “Then why didn’t anyone warn me? Why pretend I was some noble girl from the outlands?”
“Because it’s easier to control a pawn than a queen.”
The words hung there. He hadn’t meant to say them. But they were true.
Her breath caught. “Who’s trying to control me?”
“Seryna. Maybe the council. Maybe both.”
“And you?” she asked, voice quieter. “Are you one of them?”
“No.” He meant it. Every inch of him meant it.
Her expression didn’t soften. “Then what are you?”
He looked at her for a long time. Then: “I’m the sword they lost control of.”
She didn’t blink.
“Stay close to Varos,” he added. “Don’t tell anyone what’s happening to you. Not yet.”
“You’re scared.”
“I’ve seen what they do to people like you.”
Ariana nodded slowly. Then she said the last thing he expected.
“You shouldn’t come back here.”
His heart kicked. “Why not?”
“Because the next time I look at you,” she whispered, “I might not be able to lie to myself about what I want.”
And then she closed the distance and kissed him—fierce and brief and furious —before stepping back, leaving him reeling.
“I’m not yours,” she said. “Not yet.”
