65. Malrik
I wake to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the curtains, painting the room in hues of gold and rose. The air feels warmer than usual, the faint scent of lavender lingering. For a moment, I'm disoriented, unused to the warm weight pressed against me. Then I remember.
Kaia.
She's still curled into my side, her face nestled against my chest. One of her hands is fisted in my shirt, as if even in sleep she's afraid I'll leave. Her golden hair spills across the pillow, catching the early morning light and turning it to liquid fire. I allow myself the luxury of simply watching her, memorizing every detail of this stolen moment.
Her lashes flutter against her cheeks, impossibly long and delicate, casting faint shadows on her skin. The usual furrow between her brows has smoothed out, leaving her features untroubled. The Heart of Eternity rests at her throat, its amethyst glow softly pulsing in harmony with the dawn's gentle light.
I trace the curve of her cheekbone with my gaze, marveling at the softness of her skin. A light dusting of freckles crosses the bridge of her nose—I've never noticed them before. They're utterly charming, a small thing that only makes her more beautiful.
Kaia stirs, her lashes fluttering like wings against her cheeks. I hold my breath, desperate to freeze this fragile moment in time. But it slips away as her violet eyes blink open, hazy with the remnants of sleep, then widening with realization as her gaze meets mine.
"Malrik?" Her voice is husky, confused. She starts to pull away, but I tighten my arm around her waist.
"It's alright," I murmur. "You're safe."
She relaxes incrementally, though I can feel the tension thrumming through her body. Her shadows coil closer, protective.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep on you," she says, a blush staining her cheeks. "You should have woken me."
I arch an eyebrow. "And miss the chance to be your personal pillow? Never."
That earns me a reluctant smile, though it fades quickly. Reality seeps back in like an unwelcome tide, and I see the centuries resettle on her shoulders, dimming the light in her eyes.
I don't want that for her. I want to keep the weight of everything she's carrying off her shoulders for just a little while longer. To preserve this fragile moment where she's just Kaia, warm and soft in my arms, not a time-traveling Valkyrie with the fate of realms on her shoulders.
Before I can second-guess myself, I lean in, my heart hammering in my chest, and press my lips to hers.
For a heartbeat, she goes utterly still. Then as if she’s won some internal battle, she melts against me, her lips parting on a soft gasp. I cup her face gently, my thumb tracing the curve of her cheekbone as I deepen the kiss. She tastes of starlight and hidden magic, of secrets whispered in shadow.
Her hands slide up my chest, tangling in my hair, anchoring me closer. The Heart of Eternity pulses warmly between us, its amethyst glow an unspoken witness.
I pour everything I can't say into the kiss. My awe at her strength. My admiration for her fierce protectiveness. The way her smile makes my heart stutter. How seeing her in pain makes me want to tear the world apart.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. Kaia's eyes are wide, pupils blown dark with desire. A pretty flush stains her cheeks, and her lips are swollen from our kiss.
She's never looked more beautiful.
I'm lost in the violet depths of Kaia's eyes when she suddenly surges forward, capturing my lips in a searing kiss. All thoughts flee my mind as she presses against me, her body molding to mine like she was made to fit there. Her fingers find my hair again, nails scraping lightly against my scalp in a way that sends shivers down my spine.
I respond with equal fervor, one hand cupping the back of her head while the other splays across her lower back, drawing her impossibly closer.
She nips at my bottom lip, and I groan, the sound swallowed by her mouth. I trace the seam of her lips with my tongue, savoring her gasp as she grants me entry. I could drown in this kiss and die happy.
Kaia shifts, pushing me onto my back and straddling my hips in one fluid motion. The new position brings our bodies flush together, and I have to break the kiss, panting as desire courses through me. She looks down at me, hair tousled and the growing flush of her skin only makes me want to see more of her.
"Kaia," I breathe, reverent. My hands smooth up her thighs as she rocks against me, drawing a low groan from my throat. I’m so hard for her, and I don’t think she knows half of what she does to me. She looks like a goddess above me as she leans down to capture my lips again.
I lose myself in the taste of her, the feel of her soft skin under my palms. My fingers trace the curve of her waist, dipping under the hem of her shirt to caress bare skin. Kaia shivers at my touch, pressing closer. Her shadows swirl around us, their excitement palpable in the air.
She breaks the kiss to trail her lips along my jaw, nipping lightly at my earlobe. I tilt my head back with a gasp, exposing my throat to her exploring mouth. Her teeth graze my pulse point and I grip her hips tightly, fighting the urge to flip us over and pin her to the bed.
"Kaia," I say as she rocks against me again. The friction is exquisite torture. "We should slow down..."
She silences me with another kiss. "I don't want to slow down," she murmurs against my lips. Her fingers make quick work of the buttons on my shirt, pushing it open to run her hands over my bare chest.
Just as my hands slide to the small of her back, a subtle movement at the edge of my vision catches my attention. But it’s too late.
The door bursts open...
"Rise and shine, lovebirds! We've got evil professors to—
I freeze, my hands still gripping Kaia's hips as Finn steps into the room. Kaia lets out a startled yelp, trying to roll off me but getting tangled in the sheets. She ends up sprawled across my chest, her face blazing red as she buries it against my neck.
“Well, well, well,” Finn drawls, leaning casually against the doorframe. His green eyes gleam with mischief as he takes in the scene. “Looks like I interrupted something... delicious.”
I half-expect Kaia to scramble away, stammering apologies or excuses. Instead, she lifts her head slowly, fixing Finn with a glare sharp enough to cut steel. Her shadows coil protectively around us both, their movements deliberate yet tinged with amusement. Her shadows sharpen for a moment at the intrusion and then slowly start reaching out for Finn. Drawn to him as much as she’s pulled to me.
“Finn,” Kaia says, her voice dangerously low. “Get. Out.”
But Finn, being Finn, only grins wider. He steps further into the room, shutting the door and dropping into my desk chair with exaggerated nonchalance. His boots hit the desk as he props his feet up, radiating defiance. “Why would I leave,” he muses, “when the view in here is so much better?”
I should be annoyed at the interruption. I should be embarrassed to be caught like this. Yet all I can focus on is the way Kaia’s flushed skin glows, her tousled hair framing her face like a halo. Even disheveled and glaring, she’s breathtaking. But then there’s Finn, sitting there with that infuriating grin. My thoughts flicker to him and the way his confidence electrifies the air. I bite the inside of my cheek to rein in the surge of something I’m not sure if I’m ready for.
“Finn,” I growl, sitting up and pulling Kaia protectively against my chest. “This isn’t the time for your games.”
Finn's grin widens, his green eyes sparkling with wicked delight. “Oh, but I think it’s the perfect time,” he counters, resting his hands behind his head. “You two were about to make some... fascinating decisions. As your dear friend, I feel it’s my duty to ensure you’re thinking clearly.”
“Void help me," I growl, but even as I hint for Finn to leave, part of me can’t tear my gaze from the way his green eyes gleaming with unrelenting mischief. The current between the three of us is undeniable, crackling with possibilities.