Chapter 29
“ I can’t believe you were afraid to show me this.”
I stood in front of Ash, staring at the magnificent open wings behind him, their dark, powerful presence only making him more striking. He dropped his gaze, but I lifted his chin with my hand. “Ash, you could grow giant ears and a tail, and it still wouldn’t change how I look at you. I mean, ok, sure, you’d probably find a way to make even a tail sexy …”
His lips twitched at the corners as if resisting the urge to smile, and the tension eased between us. Ash had been honest with me, and I had to return that honesty.
“I’ve been keeping a secret, too,” I admitted, the words heavy on my tongue.
He brushed the hair out of my eyes, and as his fingers began working the various pins and clips from my hair, he gave me a curious sideways glance.
I swallowed over the lump in my throat, my nerves suddenly rising to the surface.
“Do you remember when we first met?”
He paused, his fingers stilling. “Yes,” he said cautiously, his attention holding mine as if sensing more to come.
“In the jail, you compelled me … to want to stay close to you.” My gaze dropped to the floor, unable to look him in the eyes. “I would have followed you anywhere, and at first, I leaned on that magic like a crutch. Being near you made me feel safe—your presence brought me comfort. When you’d leave my side, it left a literal ache inside of me, and I could almost feel an invisible rope pulling me back to you.” I glanced up at his face, but it was utterly unreadable.
So, I just wrapped my arms around myself and continued.
“I figured you’d forgotten you had even compelled me, and honestly, I didn’t want you to remember because I was selfish, taking full advantage of it. I know it doesn’t change anything because I’m in love with you, compulsion or no compulsion.”
He was so utterly silent, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.
“But now, with you leaving in only a few days, I won’t be able to bear that kind of distance between us, not with this compulsion still there. So … I’m sorry, Ash.” My voice trembled. “I’m ready for you to break it.”
I bit my lip and glanced up at him, my heart pounding as I waited for his response.
He just stared at me. As the seconds ticked by, I began to regret even telling him.
A warm tear rolled down my face.
Then he reached out, catching the tear with his finger. “Oh, Areya, you really haven’t figured it out?” Ash’s voice was soft, almost teasing, but there was something deeper there.
I blinked at him, confused, unsure what he was getting at.
“When I told you that you’d want to stay close to me, I meant it literally. After walking out of that police station, you became a wanted criminal. There was no compulsion.”
He paused, watching me carefully.
My mind raced, trying to piece together what he was saying. “But in the splatter ball arena, and that day with the children in Cresinthia, I could feel you. I followed the invisible pull right to the very door.”
Ash was watching me intently now, his eyes searching mine as if waiting for something to click. My heart stopped beating for a moment. No, it couldn’t be. My mind raced, sifting through everything I had learned about the fated. It was a rare, ancient bond binding two souls, making them halves of the same whole. The bond often manifested in times of great need.
Could destiny really have chosen Ash for me?
He was more than anything I could’ve ever dreamed of.
My heart felt as though it was swelling, growing bigger as every memory of that invisible force came back, confirming what I so desperately wanted to be true. Ash belonged to me, and I belonged to him. There was no longer any room left for doubt.
Tears streamed down my face.
“Tell me, Ash. I want to hear you say it.”
His gaze softened as he stepped closer, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. “We are fated for each other, Areya.”
A smile broke free, a mix of overwhelming emotions surging through me—relief, joy, love, disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He gave a sad smile, brushing a thumb across my cheek to wipe away my tears.
“After everything I took from you, I wanted you to choose, not wanting or expecting you to choose me just because some ancient magical bond said we should be together.”
“When did you know?”
“There were signs from the day I met you. You drove me crazy, and I found myself needing to protect you—at all costs. I even broke Agidius’ sire bond to keep you safe from him. At first, I thought it was the glimpse of my past memories, but it was the fated bond overriding the sire bond. Then, when your power settled, it got stronger. I could barely keep my hands off you that day on the beach. It wasn’t until my power was unleashed that I knew for sure. I could practically see the magic pulling us together. I wasn’t sure why you hadn’t felt it, but now, it makes sense …”
“We’re fated,” I repeated, as though trying to convince myself this was real.
He gave me a gentle smile. “How do you think I was able to find you in the human world?”
“Calyx said they called you the huntsman, that you had some special power to track down certain types of magic.”
Ash snorted. “No one has ever called me such a thing. That was just some bullshit Agidius made up to hide the fact it was the fated bond that would lead me to you.”
I gasped, the realization hitting me.
“What? Agidius knew we were fated? How is that even possible?”
“I don’t know, but it’s on the list of things I’m going to find out.”
I shoved the thoughts of the evil king right out of my head. “Is this why you’ve been holding yourself back? Why you wouldn’t …”
“Yes,” Ash said, his voice low. “The magic between us, there’s no denying it’s powerful, that it’s been pushing us together from the start. But we still have a choice. I couldn’t let you enter into an eternal agreement unknowingly.”
I looked up at him, my heart swelling and I just smiled. I couldn’t help it—Ash was mine .
“You’re not mad?” he asked, searching my eyes.
“Mad?” I laughed. “I’m freaking ecstatic. I knew this thing between us was something more. What I feel for you—I can’t even put it into words. I’ve been waiting to wake up and realize this was only a dream, that you were too good to be true. I’ve cherished every moment with you, always afraid you’d finally realize I’m not worthy of you.” I paused, grinning. “Ash, I wanted you even when I absolutely hated you.”
Ash smiled back. “Areya, I’ve spent over three hundred years alone, perfectly content with that life, but now that I’ve met you, I’d rather die than live a single day without you in it.”
He paused, his gaze softening. “You’ve always underestimated your value, how extraordinary you are, but I’m going to spend every breath for the rest of my life convincing you just how valuable you are.”
My heart swelled at his words, a warmth spreading through me that was almost too much to contain. Without thinking, I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him close.
“I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” he murmured as he wrapped his arms around my waist, drawing me even closer.
I pulled back enough to meet his gaze. “So, what happens now?”
His eyes met mine. “When the bond is sealed, nothing and no one can deny a king’s fated one as his equal, as his queen. The bond will leave a physical mark upon us, and you will rule by my side. You’ll have as much power in this kingdom as I do.”
The weight of his words settled over me, making my throat tighten. Queen. His queen.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my nerves at bay. “How do we seal the bond?”
I asked hesitantly, though deep down I already knew.
Ash turned me to face the full-length mirror.
He stood behind me, his wings still spread wide, his hands returning to my hair, carefully removing the last few pins until it fell in loose curls around my shoulders.
He placed a soft kiss on the back of my head, his breath warm against my hair. “I think you already know the answer to that,” he murmured, pulling my hair aside to reveal my neck.
His lips hovered over the exposed skin for a moment, and the anticipation sent a shiver down my spine before he placed a feather-light kiss there.
“Areya, have you ever?”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I looked down, embarrassed. “No.”
“Do you know how it works?”
My embarrassment quickly faded as I spun to face him, hands on my hips. “Jesus, Ash, I’m not that clueless!” I shoved his shoulder, and he chuckled.
“I do read romance,” I mumbled under my breath, and his lips curved again, though he tried to maintain a serious expression. He turned my body back to face the mirror, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “Look at yourself,” he whispered.
I did as he asked, staring at the reflection before me.
Studying the woman staring back, the truth was that I barely recognized her. The timid, broken girl I had once been when I first met Ash had faded, replaced by someone stronger, someone more certain of who she was. Strength radiated from her now, not in loud declarations, but in a quiet unshakable power that seemed to grow sharper with each passing day.
“I choose you, Areya,” Ash whispered. “I choose you because you’re not only the love of my life, but also my best friend, and I want to face everything this world throws at us, together.”
His words wrapped around me like a warm embrace, a promise seeping into the very depths of my soul. He reached for my neck, unclasping my necklace, his fingers grazing my skin before he slipped the necklace into his pocket. Then he slowly, carefully removed my earrings and bracelets, all the while planting soft, lingering kisses along my jaw, each kiss igniting sparks of heat dancing across my skin.
His fingers found the zipper of my dress, moving with agonizing slowness, deliberately pulling it down inch by inch. My heart pounded uncontrollably, as if trying to break free from my chest. My body threatened to freeze under the weight of the moment, but I fought it.
This was what I wanted—what I had been waiting for.
I let the dress fall to the floor, stepping out of it, my breath quickening as the cool air brushed against my skin. Ash’s eyes remained fixated on me, burning with intensity, never straying as he took the gown and casually tossed it away.
In the mirror, the reflection was captivating—Ash, a vision of raw power and desire, dressed in black, with his night-black wings unfurled behind us like a shield of darkness.
The contrast was mesmerizing—his figure, looming and powerful, while I stood before him in nothing but a lacy strapless bra and underwear, feeling both vulnerable and powerful under his gaze.
“Are you sure?” His voice was a low, dark whisper sending a frisson of sparks racing. His breath brushed against my neck, and his fingers hovered over the delicate hook of my bra.
“I’ve never been surer of anything.”
The instant the words left my mouth, he unhooked my bra, letting it fall to the floor. His gaze remained locked on me in the mirror, his eyes ablaze as they swept over my bare skin, taking in the soft curves of my breasts.
“You’re perfect,” he whispered, his voice a low rumble in my ear. He pulled me closer, his chest solid and warm against my back, his arousal pressing insistently against me.
“Can you feel how much I need you? How much I ache for you?”
A shiver raced down my spine, and my breath hitched at the low, desperate edge in his voice.
Then, without a word, he lowered himself onto one knee, his hands trailing down the sides of my waist before hooking his fingers around the thin straps of my underwear.
He pulled them down slowly, the fabric sliding against my skin, leaving me trembling as I stepped out of them. He pressed a soft kiss to the curve of my waist before rising back to his full height, his hands gliding possessively over my hips before settling behind me once more.
He stood there, taking me in, his eyes roaming over every inch of my exposed body. I watched him in the mirror, my heart racing at the desire and admiration in his gaze. I had never felt more beautiful, more desired than at that moment—reflected in Ash’s eyes.
His wings vanished, and he pressed a kiss to my temple before turning away and disappearing into the closet. My heart pounded in anticipation and disbelief as I realized what he was doing.
Sure enough, when he returned, he was clutching the diamond-adorned crown in his hands, the glint of its jewels catching the light. My breath stalled, and my hands balled into fists at my sides, desperately trying to steady myself as nerves threatened to overwhelm me.
His eyes found mine, dark and intense, filled with something deep—something primal. There was no hesitation in his gaze, only certainty. My unsteady hand came to rest on his arm, my voice hoarse and low, almost inaudible. “Are you sure?”
He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he stepped forward, placing the crown on my head. Then he moved behind me once more, his presence like a protective shadow.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin, a shiver running down my spine as the weight of the crown settled, not just physically, but emotionally.
“Breathtaking,” he whispered, his voice rich with desire as his eyes lingered on our reflection. His fingers trailed a slow teasing path down my ribs, each touch sending tingles through me. “Do you have any idea what you do to me, Areya? How impossible it is to look at you and not want to worship every inch of you?”
A soft whimper escaped my lips as I squirmed against him, unable to stop my body from instinctively arching closer, craving his touch.
When his hand lifted to cup my breast, a soft gasp broke free from my lips. His thumb brushed over my hardened nipple, slow and deliberate, each stroke sending ripples of heat spiraling through me.
His lips found my neck, pressing hot, lingering kisses that burned against my skin. I tipped my head back, surrendering completely, granting him access as his lips dragged slowly up the line of my neck. The moment his mouth found the sensitive spot just beneath my ear, a soft sound escaped me—one I barely recognized as my own.
“You’re so beautiful like this,” he murmured, his voice a low, reverent hum that settled deep in my belly. “So perfect.”
“Ash …” I whispered, unsure if it was a plea, a warning, or a declaration. Maybe it was all three.
His hand moved to my face, his thumb grazing my cheek with a tenderness that made my chest tighten. Gently, he turned me to face him, his molten eyes burning with an intensity that stole my breath.
“I want all of you, Areya,” he murmured, his voice shaking. “Every thought, every piece of you that you try to hide. I want your heart, your fears … everything.”
Tears pricked my eyes at the profound vulnerability in his voice, at the way he looked at me as if I were something sacred. My trembling hand rose to cover his, my voice soft but steady as I said, “I’m yours, Ash. All of me.”
His breath hitched, his eyes searching mine as if trying to absorb the weight of my words.
“Say it again,” he whispered, his voice rough, almost pleading.
“I’m yours,” I repeated, firmer this time, my heart swelling with the truth of it. “I’m yours, Ash. Completely.”
A smile curved his lips, devastating and full of emotion. He clasped my face in his hands, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip with such tenderness that it sent another wave of heat rushing through me. Then he leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that was slow and consuming, yet achingly deliberate.
His tongue traced the seam of my lips, coaxing them apart, and when I gave in, he deepened the kiss. The glide of his tongue against mine was searing—a slow, sensual dance that left me breathless and clinging to him. Every stroke was unhurried, teasing, and claiming, as though he wanted to draw every ounce of me into him. His teeth grazed my bottom lip, eliciting a soft gasp, before his tongue soothed the spot, pulling another low, unrestrained moan from my throat.
Slowly, he turned my body, guiding me back until the edge of the bed met the back of my knees. I sank into the soft mattress, my body molding into its embrace as he followed, his weight pressing down on me in the most intoxicating way.
My fingers tangled in the back of his hair, twisting in the soft strands as I arched into him. His hands roamed down my sides, brushing over my breasts, his touch firm yet achingly gentle, as if he were committing every curve to memory.
When he finally pulled back, his lips were swollen, his breathing uneven, and his gaze burned into mine with a hunger that left me weak. Lowering his head, his mouth found the hollow of my throat. He lingered there, his tongue brushing against my skin, his breath warm and unsteady as he trailed searing kisses from my neck, down to my collarbone.
Each kiss was slower, more purposeful than the last, his mouth leaving a burning path down my body. I threaded my fingers into his hair again, clutching at the soft strands, anchoring myself to him. He pressed a sensual kiss to the swell of my breast, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak before moving lower. His hands caressed my sides, following the curve of my waist as he kissed his way down my stomach, his lips grazing my skin in a way that made my back arch instinctively.
“Ash …” I breathed, the sound barely escaping me as he paused, his lips brushing just above my hipbone.
His hand gently nudged my legs apart, and my breath caught. A sudden wave of vulnerability washed over me, crashing into the haze of desire. I froze, the weight of the moment pressing down on me in a way I hadn’t expected. I felt completely exposed—laid bare before this beautiful, god-like man who looked at me as though I were his entire world. My thighs pressed together instinctively, a surge of self-consciousness rising within me like a tide I couldn’t control.
He stopped immediately as his gaze lifted to meet mine. The intensity in his eyes softened, giving way to something gentler, something reassuring. He shifted, his strong arms cradling me as he lifted me effortlessly and laid me fully on the bed.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing—a promise wrapped in warmth. His words settled over me like a balm, quieting the storm of emotions raging inside me. He reached for the blanket at the foot of the bed, pulling it up over my body, his hands brushing lightly against my skin as he tucked it around me.