Chapter 22 Xelene
TWENTY-TWO
XELENE
Lev’s laugh was rueful. “More than I care to admit. I spent countless nights bar-hopping, getting drunk, and finding willing women to take home.” His expression grew serious. “But that man is gone, Xelene. I don’t want to be him anymore.”
The conviction in his voice made her chest tighten. “What do you want to be?”
“A man worthy of his people’s trust. A king they can be proud of.” His blue eyes found hers, burning with intensity. “A man worthy of you.”
The last words were barely a whisper, but they hit her with the force of a confession.
Through the completed bond, Xelene felt the depth of his transformation—this wasn’t just pretty words or manipulation.
Lev genuinely wanted to change, to become better, and somehow she had become part of that vision.
“That’s why I’m here,” she managed, her professional mask slipping slightly. “To help you become exactly that.”
But even as she spoke the words, Xelene knew the truth was far more complicated. She wasn’t just here to fix his reputation anymore—she was here because fate had bound them together, and no amount of compartmentalizing would change that reality.
The warm glow of streetlights cast dancing shadows as they rounded the corner toward the cozy diner Lev had promised would serve the best late-night food in the kingdom.
Xelene was just beginning to relax into the evening’s rhythm when a massive tawny blur exploded from the narrow alleyway beside them.
Time slowed to a crawl as her brain processed what was happening—a lion, easily two hundred and fifty pounds of pure muscle and fury, launched itself directly at her with claws extended and fangs bared.
The creature’s amber eyes burned with murderous intent, and Xelene’s body froze in terror even as her mind screamed at her to move.
Lev’s reaction was instantaneous and primal.
One second he was holding her hand, the next he was a wall of protective fury positioned between her and certain death.
His transformation happened so fast it defied comprehension—bones cracking and reshaping, muscles expanding, golden fur erupting across his skin as he shifted into the most magnificent and terrifying creature she’d ever witnessed.
His lion form was breathtaking and deadly—nearly thirty percent larger than the attacking rogue, with a thick mane that blazed like fire in the streetlight and eyes that burned with golden-blue flame.
Every inch of him radiated royal authority and lethal power as he intercepted the rogue’s trajectory with a bone-rattling collision that sent both massive cats tumbling across the cobblestones.
Holy hell, Xelene thought, her heart hammering against her ribs as she pressed herself against the nearest building. That’s my mate. That magnificent, terrifying creature is bound to my soul.
Through the mate bond, Lev’s emotions crashed over her in waves—protective fury so intense it nearly brought her to her knees, territorial rage that made her blood sing, and underneath it all, a love so fierce it stole her breath.
His voice echoed in her mind, that telepathic link he mentioned existed between them, with deadly certainty. No one threatens what’s mine.
The fight was brutal and swift. The rogue was skilled, but Lev fought with the power of a lion defending his mate.
Claws raked across fur and flesh as the two lions circled each other, snarling and snapping with vicious intensity.
The rogue managed to land a devastating blow to Lev’s ribs, tearing through fur and muscle, but Lev’s answering strike sent his opponent crashing into a stone wall with enough force to crack the mortar.
Blood matted the golden fur along Lev’s side, but he stood victorious as the rogue limped away into the darkness, leaving a trail of crimson behind. The message had been sent—and received.
Lev’s transformation back to human form left him naked and bleeding in the middle of the street. Xelene’s professional composure kicked in even as her hands shook with residual terror and her body thrummed with mate bond-fueled protectiveness.
“Here,” she said, rushing to his side with his ruined clothes. The fabric barely covered him, but modesty was the least of their concerns right now. “We need to get you back to the castle immediately.”
Blood seeped through the makeshift bandage she pressed against his ribs, and through the bond she felt his pain mixing with her own fear and fierce concern for his wellbeing.
This wasn’t just professional crisis management—this was a mate caring for her wounded partner, and the intensity of that realization shook her to her core.
“I can walk,” Lev insisted, but his voice was tight with pain.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Xelene snapped, sliding her arm around his waist to support his weight. “Lean on me.”
His arm came around her shoulders, and despite everything, she felt his gratitude and amazement flowing through their connection. He was surprised she was staying, surprised she was helping instead of running.
“Who was that?” she demanded as they made their slow way back toward the castle, her body providing a steady anchor for his larger frame.
“I don’t know,” Lev admitted, his breathing labored. “But someone clearly sent him to deliver a message—either to make you afraid or to remind me that not everyone wants me on the throne.”
Fear spiked through her chest, cold and sharp. “Well, it worked. I’m pretty afraid right now, and I could have been seriously injured if you hadn’t been there.”
“Hey.” Lev stopped walking and turned to face her, his blue eyes intense despite his pain. “I will always protect you, Xelene. Mate bond or no mate bond, I will never let anyone hurt you.”
The raw conviction in his voice, the absolute certainty that he would die before letting harm come to her, sent warmth flooding through the bond between them. Her gratitude and longing spiked so sharply that Lev’s eyes widened, and she knew he felt every bit of her emotional response.
This is dangerous, she thought as they resumed their careful journey. Not just the rogue lions, but what I’m feeling for this man. It’s getting harder to maintain distance when he literally just risked his life for me.
By the time they reached his private chambers, Xelene’s walls were crumbling faster than she could rebuild them.
She helped him sit on the edge of his massive bed, then disappeared into his bathroom to gather medical supplies.
Her hands were steady as she worked—a testament to years of crisis management—but inside, she was anything but calm.
“This might sting,” she warned, kneeling between his legs to clean the wound properly.
The claw marks were deep but not life-threatening, and she worked with efficient precision to clean and bandage the injury. Through the completed bond, she felt his amazement that she was caring for him so tenderly, and his gratitude made her chest tight with emotion.
“Thank you,” he said quietly as she secured the bandage. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to leave you bleeding in an alley,” she replied, sitting back on her heels.
The mate bond pulsed, stronger than ever, and she had to resist the overwhelming urge to crawl into his arms and stay there for the rest of the night.
“Will you be alright now?” she asked, fighting to keep her voice steady.
“I’m good,” he assured her, though his eyes held a heat that made her pulse skip.
“Okay.” She stood quickly, needing distance before she did something foolish. “I’m going back to my suite to do more research and plan strategic approaches for cleaning up your reputation more. We’ll meet first thing in the morning to go over everything.”
Lev’s smile was soft and knowing. “Don’t work too hard. And Xelene? Thank you again.”
The warmth in his voice nearly undid her completely. She managed a nod and escaped to her suite before her resolve crumbled entirely.
Once alone, Xelene threw herself into work with desperate intensity, surrounding herself with notes and strategies and reputation-building tactics. It was what she’d always done when emotions threatened to overwhelm her—bury herself in the familiar comfort of control and planning.
But when she finally collapsed onto her bed hours later, exhaustion pulling her into sleep, her dreams were filled with burning blue eyes and a future she was terrified to want but couldn’t stop imagining.