Page 54

54

XIRATH

T he stronghold looms ahead, its spires cutting into the storm-choked sky. Torches burn along the ramparts, their flames flickering in the heavy dusk. Soldiers stand at attention as I ride through the gates, Seren nestled against my chest. She has been quiet since we left Jalith’s ruined fortress, her fingers tangled in the folds of my cloak, her body pressed to mine as if she still fears this is all an illusion.

But I feel her. I know her.

The bond between us hums beneath my skin, no longer hidden, no longer an echo of something lost. It burns now, fierce, undeniable. My mate. My true mate.

The moment we dismount, my second-in-command, Veyros, strides forward, his expression unreadable. Other naga lords linger behind him, their faces steeped in skepticism.

"Xirath," Veyros says, his voice edged with caution. "We’ve heard rumors. You returned alone from the minotaur encampment, leaving half the army behind. You disappeared into enemy territory. And now you bring her back?" His gaze flickers to Seren, doubt plain in his eyes. " This is why you risked everything?"

The other lords murmur in agreement, but I don’t entertain their scrutiny.

I release Seren only to step forward, my glare cutting through their whispered disapproval. "You will not question my decisions." My voice is a growl, rumbling through the courtyard like distant thunder.

Veyros crosses his arms. "Then tell us, why should we accept this human? Why should we believe she is anything more than?—"

"Because she is my mate," I snarl. "And I will prove it."

A ripple of shock moves through the assembled naga, the tension sharpening like a blade drawn across stone.

Seren stiffens beside me. I glance at her, meeting her storm-gray eyes. "Tell them," I say, my voice softer now, meant only for her. "Explain what happened."

She hesitates, then lifts her chin, her hands curling into fists. "It was the ring," she says, turning to face the crowd. "The artifact I wore blocked the mate bond. That’s why neither of us could feel it before." She lifts her bare hand, where the ring had once been. "But it’s gone now. And I feel it. Just as he does."

The lords remain silent, their doubt lingering.

I exhale sharply. Fine. If words are not enough, then I will break their disbelief with something irrefutable.

Turning on my heel, I stride toward the dining hall. The others follow, a silent tide moving in my wake.

Inside, the great table is still laden with remnants of the last meal. I grab the nearest plate, my claws scraping against metal as I lift a piece of roasted meat to my mouth.

I bite down.

Flavor explodes across my tongue.

The taste is indescribable, rich, spiced, warm. The textures unravel in layers of sensation I have long forgotten. It crashes through me in a rush so intense I almost stagger.

Gasps rise around the room.

For years , food has been nothing to me. A necessary function. A hollow, tasteless ritual. A symptom of my curse.

But now?

A low sound rumbles in my chest, something primal, something exultant.

Veyros stares at me as if I have transformed before his eyes. "The curse?—"

"Gone," I say, my voice rough. I take another bite, then another, as if to ensure this isn’t some trick. But it is real.

The lords exchange glances, their unease shifting into something wary, something almost reverent.

Seren watches me, her lips parted, her expression unreadable.

I set the plate down and step toward her, reaching for her hand. My fingers encircle her wrist, pulse thrumming against pulse.

"Seren," I murmur, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Be my mate."

She inhales sharply.

I tighten my grip, tilting her chin up so she has no choice but to look at me. "Not because fate demands it. Not because our bond is written into our blood. But because I choose you." My claws graze her skin, careful, reverent. "Stand beside me. Rule beside me. Let me claim you, fully, in every way."

Her breath shudders, her lashes trembling.

"Have a ceremony with me," I continue, voice dark with promise. "Let me make it official. Let the world see what you are to me."

She stares at me for a long moment, and I wonder, has she already decided?

A slow smile spreads across her lips.

"Yes," she whispers.

A roar erupts from deep inside me, a sound of pure, unrestrained victory .

I claim her mouth in a searing kiss, my arms locking around her, my tail curling around her waist. She melts into me, her fingers tangling in my hair, gripping me just as fiercely.

The bond sings between us, stronger than ever.

I vow, nothing, no one, will ever take her from me again.