Page 8

CHAPTER

EIGHT

I startle awake with a buzz of awareness and heat trailing over my skin. The room is full of shadows, unfamiliar, but I know where I am. Where we are.

Solan doesn’t stop the gentle back-and-forth stroke of his fingers even though it’s obvious I’m awake.

“What time is it?” I ask groggily, relaxing into his touch.

“The sun is only just peeking over the mountains.”

I stretch and yawn.

“We do not have time like your watch tells you,” he explains.

I scoot back far enough that I can see his face. Golden eyes latch on to mine, and my smile appears immediately. Goose bumps erupt over my skin, and I’m pretty sure my pulse should be racing, my heart fighting to escape my chest to get to him, but it remains a slow, steady thud.

I press my hand against my chest, the other against his, my smile slipping a little as I try to make sense of what’s happening. The words we exchanged last night come back to me. My brows jerk high. “What did you mean that my heartbeat matches yours?” I get the feeling he didn’t mean figuratively. He wasn’t being poetic.

It’s also one hell of a conversation to have when I’ve been awake for less than a minute.

Solan’s hand stills on my side, and for a moment, he just watches me, his gaze intense, golden, and unyielding. When he speaks, his voice is soft but carries a gravity that pulls at me. “I mean it as it sounds. No poetry, no riddles. Your heart beats with mine now.”

My lips part, but no sound comes out. My mind trips over itself trying to process his words while wondering if he can read my mind. “That’s… not normal.”

“Nor am I,” he replies simply, his lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile. His hand resumes its motion, a gentle glide down my side, anchoring me while my thoughts spiral.

“How?” The question feels inadequate, almost ridiculous given everything that’s happened, but it’s all I’ve got.

His expression softens, reverence replacing the intensity as he shifts, propping himself up on one elbow. “From the moment the merge completed, I felt you. My heart….” He pauses, his brow furrowing as he searches for the right words. “It was as if it knew you before my mind could. It beat so fast, so erratically, I thought it might shatter in my chest. I had never felt anything like it before.”

I swallow hard, unable to look away from him. “And you just… knew it was me?”

Solan nods, his hair shimmering faintly in the low light as it moves in tandem with him. “It was not a question. It was certainty. I knew you were not of my world, but my heart did not care. It reached for you, called for you, even when I did not yet understand.” He presses his hand to his chest, his fingers splaying over his skin. “Our bond is a gift. It is said that when our souls find their other half, even across stars or worlds, they will reach out until they unite.”

The words are beautiful, but they hit like a punch. I try to laugh, but it comes out shaky. “That’s… a lot to take in.”

“I know.” He moves his hand to cup my cheek, and the warmth of his palm steadies me in ways I can’t explain. “Over the past days, our hearts have been aligning. What was once two rhythms struggling to find each other has become one. The closer we are, the stronger it grows. Now they beat as one.”

I stare at him, my chest tight, my mind a whirlwind. The logical part of me wants to reject everything he’s saying—because it’s barmy, right? But my body doesn’t lie. I can feel the truth in my pulse, in the slow, steady rhythm that matches his. It’s as if my soul recognises the bond he speaks of even if my brain is still trying to catch up.

“That’s why I feel….” I trail off, unsure how to put it into words.

“Whole?” he offers gently.

I nod, my throat tight. “Yeah. And also completely out of my depth.”

Solan chuckles softly, the sound low and soothing. “You are not alone in this. It is new for me too.”

I huff a laugh, rubbing a hand over my face. “You make it sound like it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

“It is.” His answer is immediate, unwavering. “You are everything.”

The sincerity in his voice, the sheer weight of those words knock the breath out of me. My chest aches, my heart feels too big for my body, and the logical part of me—the part that should be screaming to slow down—falls silent. Instead, I lean into his touch, letting the moment wash over me.

In the back of my mind, I know this isn’t normal. This isn’t how humans behave, how relationships work. But the connection between us feels immutable, like it’s been etched into my very being. And with the way Solan’s fingers trace soothing patterns over my skin and his golden eyes hold mine with such fierce devotion, I don’t have it in me to fight it. Not now. Maybe not ever.

He leans in, and my breath catches as his lips brush mine, a whisper of a touch that ignites every nerve in my body. It’s soft at first, almost tentative, but then he takes control, his mouth firm and claiming, kissing me senseless. His taste floods my senses, warm and electric, and I can’t stop the needy sound that escapes me as I shift against him. My body reacts instinctively, my hips rolling against his thick, solid thigh, desperate for friction.

Solan growls low in his throat, the sound vibrating against my lips as he grips my waist, holding me in place. His hair moves wildly, strands wrapping around my arms, my back, pulling me closer, as if he can’t bear even an inch of distance between us.

The tension builds, every touch, movement pushing me closer to the edge. I’m practically grinding against him, my body trembling with the need for release. I don’t even care how desperate I must look, how utterly undone I am beneath his touch.

But then he pulls back, breaking the kiss with a reluctance that mirrors my own. His breathing is ragged, his hair reaching for me even as he cups my face. “It is not time.”

“Not time?” I pant, my head spinning. “Are you serious right now?” Frustration and desire war within me, my body aching for him, for more.

His gaze softens, though his hair still moves restlessly, a testament to his struggle. “There is more to our bonding, and we must wait. You are not ready.”

I gape at him, confusion and need warring in my chest. “Not ready? I’m practically?—”

He cuts me off, brushing his thumb over my lower lip. “Jamie needs us. We need to be prepared.”

The mention of Jamie is like a bucket of ice water. The haze of desire recedes, and guilt crashes over me. He’s right. As much as I want this—want him—Jamie comes first. He always has.

I sag against Solan, nodding reluctantly. “You’re right.”

He kisses my forehead, his touch lingering, and whispers, “We will have our time.”

Fuck, I hope so. All this pent-up tension is building to heights I’ve never experienced before. It’s tempting to rub one out, but something is stopping me. Something more than me wanting to come with Solan. On him. In him. It doesn’t matter which as long as it’s with him.

“We need to—” He stills, cutting himself off. I can barely register what happens next as he leaps off the mattress, dagger in hand, cemented in front of me and facing the doorway.

I scramble into action, my eyes locked on the dagger. Where was he hiding that ? I don’t have time to process before I lock my gaze on Solan’s strong back muscles bunching when a low, threatening growl tears out of him.

The sound wraps around me, turning me on while also setting my teeth on edge. Self-preservation wins as I glance at the door, tuning into the sound outside. The lilt of two creatures speaking in Glowranthian penetrates the air. One is deep, gravelly, and sounds seriously pissed off. The other is Harith’s. Solan’s reaction stops me from relaxing.

The desire to know what’s going on thrums through my veins, but I keep quiet. Solan’s not relaxed a fraction despite Harith’s being one of the voices, and tension vibrates from him, settling on my skin. Thank Christ I’m dressed. At least whatever happens next, my bare dick won’t be greeting them.

Talk about a boner killer.

Before I can even wonder if I should be hiding—my skin paint long since washed off in Harith’s private spring—the crudely sawn door opens with a rush. Solan’s muscles bunch, and I hold my breath.

A body fills the doorway, large and… red. I startle, recognising the species as Pyronox, Solan’s species. The fuck? I edge forwards, planning to step to Solan’s side to get a better look, but his arm stops me, snapping out and barring my way.

Irritation slams into me even as my brain tries to rationalise his behaviour.

Words tear free from Solan in a tone and language I’ve not heard before. I can only assume they’re his mother tongue. The Pyronox’s large eyes, his form clear under his own leather kilt and the muscles of his uncovered chest on proud display, keep darting to me. While his curiosity is evident, disdain pushes to the forefront, practically rolling off him in waves.

The Pyronox throws a hand out in my direction. I stand up straight, this time pushing Solan’s arm away and settling at his side. It’s tempting to lean into him, absorb his heat and his strength, but something tells me any sign of weakness in front of this Pyronox would be a mistake.

“What’s going on?” I stare at the Pyronox, aware Harith still stands silently slightly behind him in the doorway. When no one immediately answers, I peer up at Solan as I say his name.

He reacts immediately, gaze on me, eyes softening in an instant as he drinks me in. A sound from the stranger has me losing Solan’s attention, a new sneer pulling at Solan’s lips as he glares at the Pyronox.

For fuck’s sake. Years of working in an environment with daily dick-measuring contests—which is nowhere near as fun as it sounds—has me reacting almost on instinct.

I take a step forwards, putting myself between Solan and the Pyronox. My movements aren’t aggressive, but they’re deliberate enough to demand attention. “Okay, big guy, let’s cut to the chase,” I say, keeping my tone firm but not hostile. “Put your dick away and tell us why you’re here.”

The Pyronox narrows his eyes at me. His large, muscular form looms, and his bright red skin almost glows in the dim light. “You dare speak to me like that, human?” he growls in my native tongue, his voice a deep rumble that seems to reverberate through the room.

I don’t flinch. Instead, I cross my arms and raise an unimpressed eyebrow. “Yeah, I dare. Get over it.”

Solan’s hand brushes against the small of my back, a silent acknowledgment of my boldness, but he doesn’t interrupt. His tension is palpable, though, and I can’t miss the guilt that flickers in his golden eyes when the stranger glances his way. Interesting.

The Pyronox’s attention snaps back to me, his disdain evident. “I have been here longer than you have existed. Solan and I?—”

“Are not mates,” Solan interjects sharply in English, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “Enough, Durandal.” Solan’s gaze is fierce as it locks onto the other Pyronox. “You know that would never have been.”

Durandal’s jaw tightens, and his hands curl into fists at his sides. “You made it sound as if there was hope,” he says, his tone bitter.

“I made it clear where I stood,” Solan replies, his voice softer now, but no less firm. “I cannot control fate.”

I glance between them, my hackles rising at the implication. Whatever guilt Solan feels, it’s clear he’s been honest about the bond we share. But that doesn’t stop Durandal’s frustration from colouring his expression. It also doesn’t stop me from stepping in again.

“Look,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “I don’t know what kind of history you two have, and frankly, I don’t care. Solan’s mine, and that’s not up for debate. If you’ve got a problem with that, I suggest you deal with it somewhere else. We’ve got bigger issues to handle right now.”

Durandal’s lips pull back in a snarl, but he doesn’t step forwards. Instead, he glances at Solan, who meets his gaze steadily. After a tense moment, Durandal exhales sharply, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

“You’re right,” Durandal says grudgingly. “There are more pressing matters.”

Finally. Though what the hell is the urgent business that this guy has with Solan or me leaves me clueless.

He steps back slightly, giving us a bit more breathing room, though his frustration still simmers beneath the surface. “Tahrionne sent me,” he begins. “There is news of your human.”

My heart leaps into my throat, and I straighten instinctively. “Jamie? What about him? Is he safe?”

Durandal nods, though his expression remains grim. “He is not with the royal guard as you feared. He is travelling with Calythra and Tahrionne. They have managed to stay ahead of pursuit, but a rogue group of mercenaries is tracking them. They are dangerous and relentless.”

Relief and dread crash over me in equal measure. Jamie isn’t alone, but he’s far from safe. “Why are these mercenaries after them?” I ask, my voice tight.

Durandal hesitates, then answers, “They’re hunting anyone who came through the merge. You and your nephew are not the only ones they seek, but Tahrionne’s reputation for finding those not of this world has made him a target.”

Solan frowns. “Tahrionne’s reputation should deter such hunters. These mercenaries must not be from this district, or there is something more driving them.”

Durandal inclines his head. “That is my suspicion as well. Regardless, Tahrionne sent a message: They cannot return here. You must meet them at the Youlander Pass. He plans to outmanoeuvre the mercenaries there.”

My stomach twists at the thought of Jamie in more danger. Before I can even think it through, I look at Solan. “We’re going after them.”

I expect him to argue, to insist I stay behind, but instead, he nods. “Yes. Without you, I would struggle to succeed.”

That catches me off-guard. “Wait, no argument?”

He shakes his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You are capable, and I would be weaker without you near. Jamie is your family. I understand.”

Gratitude surges through me that I don’t have to argue, and I nod. “Good. Let’s get ready.”

Solan turns to Durandal. “Thank you for bringing this message. And… I am sorry.”

Durandal’s expression tightens, but he nods curtly. “I understand the bond. But it does not make this easier.” His gaze flicks to me, frustration evident along with something that hurts my gut—longing. But he says nothing more.

We gather supplies quickly, and Solan packs essentials while I saddle Geralt, who’d since been brought into Harith’s private outbuildings. I can feel Durandal’s eyes on me the entire time, but I ignore him, focussing on the task at hand. When everything is ready, I throw my cloak over my shoulders, hiding my human features from prying eyes.

As we set out through a hidden route that Harith directed us to go, the tension finally starts to ease. I glance at Solan, whose determined expression softens slightly when he catches my eye. “You ready for this?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

He smirks. “Always. Let us hunt.” Then, with a sly grin, he adds in an exaggerated accent, “Come with me if you want to live.”

I burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the trees as we head towards the Youlander Pass. Was it really only a few days ago that he said those words to me after saving my life? Even in the midst of danger, Solan manages to make my heart feel a little lighter.

The chill of the alien dawn swirls around us as we step out onto the cracked, violet-hued landscape. Towering trees with crystalline leaves are scattered across the horizon, their shimmering branches casting fractured rainbows across the jagged terrain. The air hums faintly, charged with an energy that makes the hair on my arms stand on end.

Solan walks a step ahead of me, his stride confident but tense. His silence stretches, the weight of Durandal’s visit still pressing against us.

I can’t let it go. Not yet. “So, are we going to talk about what happened back there?”

He glances back at me, his expression unreadable. “What do you wish to know?”

I let out a slow breath, shoving my hands into the pockets of my cloak. “Everything, I guess. Starting with Durandal. You were holding back, weren’t you?”

Solan slows, his golden eyes scanning the horizon before he turns to face me fully. “Durandal and I… we have history. Before the rift, he sought to bond with me.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut even though I’d suspected as much. I’m not sure why it stings so much, but it does. “And you considered it?”

He nods, his expression grave. “It is not the same as what we have. A bonded union not ordained by fate lacks the depth, the permanence. But it is… functional.”

“Functional?” I snort, trying to mask the wave of jealousy rolling through me. “Sounds romantic.”

Solan’s brow furrows, his gaze searching mine. “I did not love him, if that is your concern. But I was… tempted. Without a mate, there are limitations. Restrictions.”

I don’t like the sound of that. “What kind of restrictions?”

“No lasting connection. No real unity,” he says, his tone steady but tinged with something bitter. “I could never share my full strength, my full self. Loneliness lingers, no matter how many temporary bonds one forges. It is not… the same.”

His words twist something in my chest. A forced bonding might have squashed the edges of that loneliness, but it would never fill the void. I hate everything he’s saying, but then again, I’m a man who’s fucked his way through life, rarely feeling lonely—though that’s not technically true. More like I’ve been able to lose myself in a man, in dating. It’s a bitter thought, one that makes me glance away for a moment.

“Are you two the only ones of your kind in Terrafeara?” I ask, changing the subject.

He hesitates, his steps slowing. “No. I have heard of others. Met some along the way. We are scattered, some in hiding.”

That revelation sinks in as we continue walking, the path beneath us uneven and sharp. After several moments, I bring us back to the pressing matter. “Youlander Pass. That’s where we’ll find Jamie, right?”

“That is where we are to meet, yes,” Solan replies.

I’m watching his face as I ask the next question. “What about the mercenaries? Do you intend to find them first? Stop them?”

His jaw tightens, and for the first time, I see genuine conflict in his expression. He exhales slowly, his breath misting in the air. It’s far from cold, but with Solan’s temperature burning so hot, it’s not a surprise. “My protective instincts demand it. For you. For Jamie. Ending their lives would ensure safety. But more than that….” His gaze locks with mine, unflinching. “I want you safe. Whatever it takes.”

The fierceness in his voice is unlike anything I’ve encountered before. His golden eyes, which I’m used to being calm and measured, burn with an intensity that makes me take a step back. I’ve seen him kill before, witnessed the precision of his bow and arrow as he struck down a monster without hesitation. But this… this is different. His resolve is terrifying, but not because it feels alien. It’s the kind of raw, unrelenting protectiveness that shakes something loose in me.

“You mean that,” I say, more a statement than a question.

“With every part of me,” he replies, his voice low and edged with steel. “If they harm you or Jamie, I will destroy them.”

The sincerity in his voice, in his eyes, makes it hard to breathe. “So, you’ll wait and see?”

He nods. “For now.”

The conversation lulls as the landscape stretches ahead, surreal and beautiful in its strangeness. The cracked terrain glitters faintly in the pale light, and the trees seem to hum in response, their crystalline leaves swaying as if alive. The air grows heavier, the faint tang of minerals coating my tongue with each breath. The beauty is undeniable, but there’s a tension to it, as though the world itself is holding its breath.

Solan breaks the silence after a long while, his voice soft but infused with a faint trace of amusement. “Have I ever told you about Thraxus?”

I glance at him, raising a brow. “Your sister’s bonded, right?”

“Yes. The Glowranth who taught me about this world and his language.”

I can’t help but think how fortunate it was to at least have some understanding of a world you were unceremoniously dumped into. “How did that even happen? Them finding each other?”

Solan smirks, his golden eyes lighting with humour. “Oh, it was chaos. My community had seen other species over the years, thanks to the rifts, but never a Glowranth. They’re… not exactly subtle, as you can imagine.”

I blink, picturing the Glowranths I’d seen since being in Terrafeara. The faint bioluminescent glow, the sinewy, and sometimes hulking, humanoid figure—definitely not something anyone would mistake for anything ordinary. “I’d imagine not.”

“Thraxus didn’t just arrive—he exploded into our world,” Solan continues. “He came roaring like a storm, glowing with so much raw energy, he lit up the sky and scared the life out of everyone.”

I can’t help but laugh. “And your sister just… knew he was her mate?”

“Instantly,” Solan says, shaking his head. “Ignis marched straight up to him, completely ignoring the fact that he looked like some eldritch horror straight out of a nightmare, and declared, ‘You’re mine.’”

“No hesitation?” I ask, grinning at the image of this fearless female Pyronox. And eldritch … really? How the heck does he know such a fancy word? I can’t imagine Arnie ever having used it.

“None. Meanwhile, the rest of us were scrambling for weapons, thinking we were under attack. Thraxus… well, he was confused. We both know what it’s like being ripped from our worlds and dropped into a new one. But add in being confronted by a fiery woman claiming you belong to her.”

My grin forms easily despite how well I can relate. I also wonder if his experience with Thraxus and his sister is the reason why Solan didn’t immediately declare me as his. “What did he do?”

Solan’s smirk widens, and his tone turns conspiratorial. “He tried to run.”

“Didn’t work, did it?”

“Not even a little,” he replies, chuckling. “Ignis didn’t give him the chance. She tackled him to the ground—right there in front of all of us—and wouldn’t let go. She just kept shouting at him to stop being a bumbry and accept his fate.”

I can’t hold back my laughter, the mental image vivid and absurd. “That’s insane.” I can just imagine being a bumbry isn’t meant as a compliment.

Solan continues, his amusement infectious, “By the time he stopped struggling, Thraxus was completely smitten. Though, if you ask him, he’ll say he was ambushed.”

“That sounds like something out of a storybook,” I say, grinning ear to ear.

“It was… memorable,” Solan admits, his smile lingering as his gaze grows distant. “They’re happy… and have a daughter. Thraxus has calmed down a lot, but he still claims Ignis cheated fate.”

The levity of the story lingers between us, a much-needed reprieve from the weight of our mission. But before I can ask more, a faint sound breaks through the stillness. A rustling, deliberate and sharp—too deliberate to be the wind.

Both of us freeze, instincts flaring as we strain to pinpoint the source.

The movement grows louder, closer. My heart pounds as I grip the hilt of my blade that Solan insisted I strap to me. Solan’s posture shifts, predatory and protective, every muscle coiled and ready.

“We’re not alone,” he murmurs, and fuck it all to hell. I am so over this shit.