RAYNA POV
We ran until the sounds of battle vanished behind the trees and the only thing left was the echo of our breathing. Rowan leaned against an oak trunk, gripping his side.
"Are you okay?" I asked, breathless.
"Just a little sore," he muttered.
I dropped to my knees in front of him. "Let me help you with that. Take your shirt off, please."
He hesitated only a second before pulling it over his head.
My lips parted.
How could someone look like that?
Every line, every muscle, every scar… carved like he was made to be worshipped.
I wrapped the bandage around his abdomen. He winced.
"Ouch."
"Sorry," I murmured. "Almost done."
When I finished, he straightened.
"No, no you should rest," I said.
"I've gone through worse than this, Rayna."
Silence settled. Thick. Heavy. Charged.
"I'm sorry about what happened back there," I finally whispered. "I don't know what I was thinking."
His voice dropped low. "I could be furious with you… but there's something stopping me." He reached up, brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "Something I can't fight."
My heart kicked hard in my chest.
"I shouldn't trust you," he murmured, "but I can't bring myself not to."
Suddenly, he stepped in pinning me lightly against a tree, caging me in with his body.
"Rowan…" My breath shook.
"Gods, your scent," he said, brushing a thumb along my lip. "Do you know what you do to me?"
I swallowed. "What's stopping you, then?"
His hands slid to my thighs, lifting me effortlessly. My breath caught.
"Because," he whispered against my mouth, "if I start… I won't be able to stop."
"Then don't stop," I whispered back.
His lips crashed into mine desperate, hungry, like he'd been waiting his whole life. My fingers tangled in his curls. His grip tightened around my hips. The world fell away.
Heat. Breath. Skin.
The bond pulling us together like gravity.
Clothes shifted. Skin brushed skin. His mouth trailed down my neck, my shoulder, lower
Then-
"Wait," I breathed, half laughter, half panic. "We're in the woods."
"I don't care," he growled softly, kissing lower.
Everything inside me melted, burned, wanted.
The night blurred firelight, earth, warm skin, whispered names.
His hands steady, mine shaking.
The bond pulling, pulling, pulling
And then darkness softened around us, where want turned into something deeper.
We didn't break.
We didn't stop.
We didn't breathe until there was nothing left between us but warmth and silence.
ROWAN POV
Rayna lay against me, her head on my thigh, the fire dying beside us.
Her hair spilled over my legs. Her scent wrapped around me like it belonged there.
She looked up. "I wonder how the others are doing."
"They're strong," I said, brushing a leaf from her shoulder. "They're probably fine."
She sat up, pulling my shirt on. "We should get going."
I stood sore, bruised, exhausted, but lighter than I'd felt in years.
"Wait," I said, eyeing her legs. "Can you walk?"
She smirked. "I should be asking you that. Is your stomach even healed yet?"
"No," I said, stepping closer, lowering my voice, "I meant… I'm surprised you can walk after what we just did."
She snorted, covering it with a cough. "You're gonna have to do a lot more than that."
I grinned. "I'm up for the challenge."
We returned to the packhouse, only to find everyone seated as if in an emergency meeting.
Asha saw us first. "Rowan! You're okay!" She barreled into me with a hug.
Caden stood, arms crossed, eyes narrowed at Rayna. "Such guts you've got… coming back here."
Rayna stepped forward. "Look… I'm sorry. I really am. I got carried away, I didn't realize"
"Cut the crap," Caden snapped.
"Hey!" I barked.
"You're seriously falling for this?" Caden shot back. "She almost killed you, Rowan."
Asha stepped forward. "I saw her face. She was scared. Confused. Magnus manipulated her. She wouldn't have gone through with it."
Mira nodded. "She hesitated. That says something."
Lyris added quietly, "Her aura changed. She chose differently tonight."
One by one… they agreed.
Caden clicked his tongue. "Fine. She can stay. But next time we see Magnus? I'm killing that bastard myself."
Asha slipped over and hugged Rayna. Rayna froze shocked, stiff then slowly hugged her back.
"Welcome back," Asha whispered. "But um… why do you smell like my brother?"
"He… couldn't walk. He was holding on to me," Rayna replied without blinking.
"Oh." Asha nodded innocently. "Makes sense. Goodnight!"
"Night," Rayna breathed.
The room emptied.
Rayna turned to leave, but I caught her wrist gently.
"Rayna," I said softly, "you know this isn't over, right?"
Her eyes met mine tired, scared, but burning.
"Yeah," she whispered. "I know."
But instead of pulling away… she stepped closer.
The bond pulsed on a slow, warm thrum in my chest.