Page 68 of The Bound Mage
“Therewhois?” Araya demanded.
His smile widened. “We’re about to find out.”
The shadows rushed over her again. Her power answered as they skimmed over her skin like water over stone, crackling where it collided with their cool touch. It lit her up from the inside out, filling her with light to his darkness?—
“No—” she stumbled back a step, but there was no running from this power. It filled her like wildfire, burning her alive from the inside out. “I can’t?—”
“Youcan.” Loren caught her hands, not letting her retreat. “You can,ael’sura. This isyourpower?—”
“I’m going to hurt someone.” She gasped, every breath coming fast and shallow. The only reason no one got hurt last time was because of Loren. And she’d still hurt him?—
“You won’t hurt me.” Loren squeezed her hands, closing the distance between them until his forehead pressed against hers, her panicked breaths mingling between them. “Goddess, do you know what you look like right now?”
Araya’s breath hitched, a wild, bitter laugh sticking in her throat. “Like some traitor halfblood you got shackled to by some cruel twist of fate? An inconvenient weakness you’d be better off rid of?—”
“No.” Loren let out a sharp breath, his eyes flashing as he stared down at her. He huffed out a rough laugh, his hands tightening on hers, like he neededherto anchor him. “You’rethe strongest person I know, Araya. What you survived—” his voice broke, his face shining in the light that must be pouring from her. “You are light and power and fury. You are fuckingbreathtaking.”
Araya’s mouth dropped open, words fleeing her. But Loren didn’t wait for her to find them. He caught her face between his hands, crushing his mouth to hers.
Chapter
Thirty
He hadn’t meantto kiss her.
One moment, she was standing in front of him, her silver eyes blazing with fury and power—and the next, his hands were on her face, dragging her to him.
He kissed her like a drowning man breaking the surface. Desperate. Starving. Every scrap of restraint he’d clung to these past weeks snapped in two as her mouth parted beneath his. She tasted likelightning, the vibrant tang of her magic bursting across his tongue. The shadows howled their approval, wrapping around them both and tangling them together.
Her hands slid across his chest, greedily exploring what she’d tried so hard not to stare at. The sound she made when he pressed her back against the cold stone wall shredded the last of his control. He lifted her easily, her skirts tangling around them, her warmth pressed flush to his body like she had always belonged there.
“Loren—” her gasped exclamation cut off in a moan as his lips dropped to her throat.
“Araya,” he mimicked, nipping at her soft skin. “Goddess,ael’sura. Did you actually believe I didn’t want you? That Iwouldn’t want you without the bond? You’ve been driving me absolutely fucking insane,ael’sura.”
He came back to her lips, swallowing her ragged laugh. Her fingers knotted in his hair, dragging him closer. Power roared around them,throughthem, her light colliding with his darkness until he couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. He was drowning in it. Drowning in her?—
Until wrenched her mouth from his.
Her head snapped back, slamming into the stone wall hard enough that Loren swore, reaching out to cradle her the back of her head. But she shoved at him, cold rushing in between them as she fought her way free of his arms.
“Don’t—” her voice cracked, her knees buckling as he let go. She leaned against the wall, tugging at her tangled skirts with trembling hands. “Stop. Just stop.”
Loren froze, shame crashing over him like icy water. She was his mate. He was supposed to protect her, not take advantage of her weakness. Whatever slim chance he’d had with her, he had already ruined by not telling her the truth when he had the chance. And he’d still grabbed her—kissed her. Had she even wanted him to? Or had she only given in because of the bond thrumming between them?
“Araya, I?—”
She cut him off with a raised hand, her cheeks flushed as red as her hair. “I’m not leaving because Iwantto,” she said, brushing her fingers over her swollen lips. “I’m leaving because staying hereisn’t a choice.No matter how badly I want it to be.”
For a moment, Loren couldn’t breathe. She wanted this—wantedhim—but she was going to walk away anyway? He opened his mouth, ready to fight for this because Goddess help him, didn’t they deserve a single shred of joy after everything they’d both endured? But she shook her head, her silver eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Jaxon willneverstop, Loren. YouknowI’m right. He’ll comehereand destroyeverythingyou have left.” She shook her head, her breath hitching on the sob she wouldn’t let out. “You can’t let that happen, Loren. Not for me. I’m not worth it.”
“Ael’sura—” Loren’s voice broke. Not worth it? She was wortheverything. “That’s not true.”
“Itis,” Araya insisted. “And if I have to sever the bond and walk straight back into his hands to keep him from using me against you then that’s what I’ll do. I just want to save your people first.Please, Loren. Help me save them.”
Loren stared at her. The bond twisted, agony ripping through his chest like she’d driven a blade into his heart. Even the shadows faltered, their restless whispers fading to silence. One by one, they retreated, relinquishing their grip on her to curl back around his feet like beaten dogs.
