Chapter 21 Xelene
TWENTY-ONE
XELENE
The setting suns painted Nova Aurora’s sky in brilliant shades of coral and gold as Xelene walked beside Lev toward the heart of his kingdom.
He’d pulled on a simple black t-shirt before they left, the fabric stretching across his broad chest in a way that made her pulse quicken despite her efforts to remain professional.
She’d offered to change into something more formal, but he’d waved off her concern with that easy confidence that seemed to radiate from him.
“Comfort is fine,” he’d said, his deep voice carrying that hint of authority that made her stomach flutter. “It’s just a stroll through the city to relax after a long day.”
Now, as they approached the main thoroughfare where pride members moved about their evening routines, Xelene felt anything but relaxed. The mate bond hummed between them like a live wire, growing stronger with each step they took together.
“We’ll still need to maintain our cover in public,” she said, keeping her voice neutral despite the chaos in her chest. “People will expect to see us acting like a couple.”
Lev’s blue eyes flicked to hers, and she caught the golden gleam that meant his lion was close to the surface. “Even though you’ve decided to put the mate bond on hold?”
The question carried an edge of challenge that made her spine straighten. “Yes. The charade is part of rehabilitating your image, remember?”
Though how I’m supposed to act like this is all a charade when this bond won’t stop pulsing between us is beyond me, she thought, fighting the urge to rub at the mate mark on her hip that seemed to burn with awareness of his proximity.
Lev had warned her that the completed bond would only intensify with time, changing them both in ways neither could control or manage.
The thought terrified her—losing control was her greatest fear, and this supernatural connection threatened to strip away everything she’d carefully built for decades.
But he’d promised not to push, and she was grateful for that boundary even as her body betrayed her with every breath.
As they reached the bustling main street, Lev’s warm hand suddenly enveloped hers. The contact sent electricity racing through her, and she had to bite back a gasp at the intensity of sensation.
“For appearances,” he murmured, his thumb brushing across her knuckles in a gesture that felt far too intimate.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. Through the bond, she could feel his awareness of her—the tension coiled in her muscles, the way her pulse had spiked at his touch, and the desire she was desperately trying to suppress.
Could he also sense how her carefully maintained composure was fracturing with each passing moment?
As they walked hand in hand, she realized no job or crisis she’d ever faced had involved her soul being bound to a man who looked like he’d been carved from her deepest fantasies and whose mere presence made her forget why she’d sworn off emotional entanglements.
Lev guided her past shops and cafes that glowed with warm light, pointing out landmarks with the easy pride of someone who truly loved his home. When they stopped in front of a charming bakery with windows that showcased an array of colorful pastries, his face lit up with boyish enthusiasm.
“You have to try the Nova Aurora pastries,” he said, squeezing her hand gently. “They’re absolute heaven.”
The bakery’s interior was cozy and inviting, filled with the rich scents of sugar and spice.
Several pride members occupied small tables—couples sharing desserts, families with young children whose faces were smudged with frosting.
The sight was so normal, so wholesome, that it made Xelene’s chest tighten with an unexpected longing.
When they entered, conversations paused as pride members recognized their prince.
Condolences for his father’s death were offered with genuine warmth, and Lev accepted them with a grace that surprised her.
Gone was the reckless playboy; in his place stood a man who clearly cared deeply for his people.
“Prince Lev,” called an elderly woman with kind eyes and silver-streaked hair. “Who is this lovely young lady?”
“This is Xelene,” Lev said, his arm sliding around her waist. “My girlfriend. She’s visiting from Earth.”
The woman’s curiosity was evident as she approached them with a warm smile. “How wonderful! Tell me, dear, how did you two meet?”
Xelene’s mind shifted into the smooth efficiency that had made her career.
Without missing a beat, she smiled with perfect composure and said, “I was here studying shifter kingdoms for research. When I came to the castle to interview Lev about pride traditions, we just... connected instantly. We’ve been inseparable ever since. ”
Through their bond, she felt Lev’s amusement spike as he fought back laughter. Her story was dangerously close to the truth—they had connected instantly because they were fated mates, and they were quite literally inseparable now thanks to the completed bond.
The older woman beamed. “How romantic! I’m so happy to see our future king find someone special. I hope you’ll have a long and happy relationship.”
“I hope so too,” Lev replied, his voice carrying a sincerity that made Xelene’s heart skip. Through the bond, she felt his deep longing for exactly that—a future with her, a love that would last lifetimes.
Her own answering surge of desire and hope terrified her. She was supposed to be compartmentalizing these feelings, not drowning in them.
Once at the counter, Lev ordered two of the bakery’s signature pastries, his hand never leaving the small of her back. The casual possessiveness of the gesture sent heat flooding through her, and she had to remind herself that this was all for show.
When they were finally back outside, under the light of Nova Aurora’s twin moons, Xelene took her first bite of the pastry.
The explosion of flavors—sweet, complex, and utterly divine—drew an involuntary moan from her lips.
She closed her eyes, savoring the taste, completely unaware of how the sound affected the man beside her.
Through the mate bond, she felt Lev’s desire slam into him. His entire body tensed as he fought the instinct to pull her into his arms and claim her mouth with his. The intensity of his want crashed over her, making her knees weak.
This is impossible, she realized with growing panic. How am I supposed to maintain professional distance when I can feel everything he feels with such intensity?
Her soul, despite all her efforts to wall it off, was intertwining with his in ways that defied logic or control.
As they continued walking through the bustling nightlife, Xelene desperately searched for safer ground. “So,” she said with forced lightness, “tell me about your wild playboy days. I bet you know every bar in this district.”