nt magic. Far below, the waterfalls whispered through the canyon, feeding the rivers that wound like veins through the land. She should have been exhausted after everything: the shift, the rite, t

" Silence stretched between them. She could feel it again-that strange pull in her chest. The bond between them. It pulsed whenever they were near, like a thread made of light and heat, tugging her closer. "You keep talking about claiming me," she said finally. "But what does that actually mean?" Demetrius didn't flinch. "It means binding ourselves-blood to blood. It's more than mating. It's soul-marking. We share strength, healing, memory. We become unbreakable." She stared. "And if I don't want to?" "Then I'll protect you without it." "And if I do?" His voice dropped to a near growl. "Then no one will ever touch you. No one will ever challenge you. And I will be yours, completely." The heat in the air changed. It wasn't just tension now. It was promise. "I should say no," she whispered. "I know." "But..." He stepped closer, until only inches remained between them. "But?" Her throat bobbed. "I don't think I can stay away from you." Demetrius's breath hitched. His hand reached up, brushing her cheek, then moving to cradle the back of her neck. When his lips met hers, the bond exploded. This kiss wasn't gentle like before. It was fire. Wild, demanding, possessive. His hands roamed her back, pulling her into him like he couldn't bear a sliver of space between them. And she matched him-kiss for kiss, breath for breath. Her robe slipped from her shoulders. His shirt hit the floor. The bond pulsed hotter, flooding them both. "I need to feel you," she gasped. "You will," he growled. He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her to the bed made of roots and fur. Their bodies tangled. Every touch was lightning. Every moan a song the Moon itself would remember. It wasn't just sex-it was claiming, even if the ritual wasn't complete. Their bond thrummed through the entire city, echoing in the silver roots of Lycaria. And when it ended, she lay in his arms, heart still pounding. They didn't speak. They didn't need to. Because something new had begun. The next morning, Eirene woke to