Page 44 of The Purrfect Rival (Enchanted Falls #1)

FORTY-FOUR

K alyna’s vision swam as magical pathways constricted under the herb’s influence. Her fox howled in distress as its primary power—illusion—turned dangerous.

Strong arms caught her before she fell. Through blurring vision, she saw Rust’s face, determination etched in every line. Golden fur rippled along his forearms as he partially shifted, instinct overriding public propriety.

“Hezron!” he called sharply. “Find that server—now!”

Whispers erupted around them—“lion fever” and “pride protection”—terms usually reserved for mate defense. Despite her disorientation, Kalyna registered the implication. Her fox preened even as her human mind reeled.

Then her mind registered what had happened. Foxbane had been released in the air over her. That was bad. If she didn’t get magical healing quickly, her magic and shifting abilities could be damaged beyond repair.

“I can help,” Rust told her, voice low and urgent. “But it requires sharing magic across clan boundaries. Do you trust me?”

Despite her weakening state, Kalyna’s fox recognized the solution instantly. “Yes,” she whispered without hesitation. “Whatever you need.”

Rust pressed his forehead to hers—an intimate gesture that drew gasps from onlookers. The contact sent sparks cascading through her system, a pleasure so acute it bordered on pain. Golden light flowed from his skin to hers, his lion magic acting as a stabilizing force around her chaotic fox energy.

The sensation overwhelmed her senses. Warmth flooded magical pathways usually accessible only to her fox nature, strength reinforcing areas weakened by the toxin. The world shifted into heightened focus—Rust’s golden energy visible as an aura, other shifters’ magical signatures apparent in ways she’d never perceived.

More potent than the magical connection was the emotional one. For a breathtaking moment, she sensed his feelings—fierce protectiveness, yes, but beneath that lay tenderness, admiration, and something deeper she dared not name. Did he sense her emotions too? The thought both terrified and exhilarated her.

“I felt you inside my magic,” she murmured, hand rising to cup his cheek. The stubble beneath her palm sent delicious shivers through her fingertips. “Like our essences merged.”

“I know,” Rust responded, golden eyes intense. His voice dropped to a whisper meant only for her. “That’s because my lion recognizes your fox as its other half. Always has, from that first moment.”

The declaration—so plain, so certain—stole her breath. Her fox practically danced with joy, yipping Yes, yes, exactly this! while her human side struggled to process the implications.

Around them, their combined magical aura shifted into discrete patterns—ghostly images of a twin-tailed fox and golden lion circling each other in perfect harmony.

“The Concordance is just a myth,” Lysander protested, pushing through the crowd. “A children’s story.”

“Sometimes, Elder,” Lucella remarked with unusual wisdom, “children’s stories contain the truths adults prefer to forget.”

Medical attention arrived, breaking the moment. As the crowd dispersed, Echo approached, concern evident in his expression.

“This is what Boz was talking about,” he said quietly. “The Twinned-Tail Charm—he didn’t take it just to play a trick on everyone.”

“What do you mean?” Kalyna asked, still leaning against Rust’s supportive frame. His arm around her waist felt right in ways she couldn’t articulate, like finding a piece of herself she hadn’t known was missing.

“He took it to prevent this,” Echo gestured to their blended magical aura. “He said the Concordance would be impossible without the charm. But you two—you’re doing it anyway.”

Hurt lanced through Kalyna’s heart. “You knew about this?” The betrayal by her own brother cut deeper than any physical attack.

Echo’s expression mirrored her pain. “I didn’t understand what Boz was doing until now.” He swallowed hard. “We need to get it back before the blood moon.”

“Why?” Rust demanded, arm tightening around Kalyna. The possessive gesture sent a contradictory response through her body—her independence bristled even as her fox melted with pleasure.

“I-I’m not sure. I heard him talk about a severance something,” Echo said, lowering his head in shame.

“The Severance Ritual,” Elder Willow said, stepping up to them. “The ritual will permanently break whatever bond is forming between you two—even if it kills you both in the process.”

Kalyna’s fingers laced with Rust’s, their joined hands steady despite the revelation. The thought of severing this newly discovered connection filled her with visceral dread. Whatever this was—this magical resonance, this inexplicable pull—she wanted to explore it, not extinguish it.