Chapter 17 - THE SHADOWING HEAT OF THE HEARTH

The heavy timber door to the cabin creaked open, and the suffocating, intoxicating scent of crushed pine, raw ozone, and fresh blood filtered into the room.

​Leia, who had been sitting by the hearth wrapped in the plush expanse of Malakai's oversized tunic, stood up instantly. Her newly sharpened, animalistic senses caught the lingering vibration of his predatory rage before he even fully stepped into the flickering firelight.

​Malakai shifted back into his human form as he crossed the threshold, the dark shadows peeling off his sun-kissed skin. His broad chest was heaving, his golden eyes still flashing with the volatile residue of the ancient darkness he had wielded at the border.

​He didn't say a single word. He simply closed the gap between them in three long, desperate strides, his large hands gripping her waist fiercely as he pulled her flush against his chest, burying his face into the warm crook of her neck to inhale her pure, earth-sweet scent.

​Leia’s heart leaped into her throat, her thighs tensing as his overwhelming heat completely enveloped her. She could feel the violent tremors of restraint working through his flexed muscles.

​"Malakai," she whispered, her voice breathy as her hands came up subconsciously to rest on his bare, broad shoulders. "What happened? Where did you go?"

​He didn't pull away. His grip only tightened around her, possessive, heavy, and utterly unyielding.

​"The humans tried to cross the river," he murmured, his deep, velvety voice scraping against her sensitive skin like dark velvet. "Your brother Kado."

​Leia stiffened in his arms, her breath catching squarely in her chest as the cold ghost of her past reared its head. "Did they... did they see you? Do they know I'm here?"

​Malakai finally pulled back just enough to look down into her golden, slitted eyes. A dark, dangerous smile touched his lips.

​"They know nothing but the nightmare I left them in. But the gates are closed, little changeling. Your father has his war. And you are never going back."

​A heavy flash of guilt crossed her mind. She looked up into the formidable face of the ancient shadow master, the weight of her lineage pressing down on her ribs.

​"I'm sorry," she whispered softly.

​Malakai shifted slightly in their tight embrace, his brows pulling together into a confused, searching expression.

​"Why are you apologizing, little fox?" he asked softly, his golden eyes narrowing.

​"It's my family that is doing this," she choked out, her golden eyes shimmering with unspoken pain. "It is my blood that carries that cruelty. How do you live with the hate, the scorn, and all the torture they represent... and yet you still choose me?"

​Malakai stared down at her face, his expression deep, intense, and unreadable. Then, without a word of warning, he scooped her up into his arms.

​Leia gasped in utter surprise, her hands reflexively winding around his neck to anchor herself. "What are you doing?!" she squeaked, her face flushing crimson.

​Malakai ignored her protest entirely, moving around the wide room before coming to sit heavily on a deep wooden chair beside the crackling fire, settling her squarely across his lap.

​Embarrassed and overwhelmed by the sudden proximity, Leia twisted and shifted around on his lap, trying to find a footing to pull back. Malakai's hand clamped firmly around her waist, holding her down.

​"Little fox," he rumbled, a small, wickedly amused smile touching the corner of his lips as he looked up into her panicked face. "If you don't want us to consummate this bond right here on this chair, I suggest you stop moving."

​Leia instantly froze. Her eyes widened, a wave of scorching heat filling her cheeks as she looked directly into his face. Seeing the fierce, serious darkness lurking beneath his amused smile, she shyly looked away, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.

​One of his large, calloused hands settled gently on her bare thigh where the oversized tunic had hitched up. His long fingers danced masterfully around the sensitive skin of her inner thigh before crawling upward to play with the frayed hem of the woven shirt.

​"Look at me, Leia," he commanded softly.

​She swallowed hard, turning her head back toward him.

​Malakai leaned forward, his face digging into the sweet curve of her neck. Leia’s arms tightened around his broad shoulders as the radiant heat of his body invaded her senses. When the damp tip of his tongue swept slowly across her jugular, a helpless, breathless gasp escaped her lips.

​By pure, unadulterated instinct, she drew herself closer to him. Her hand slipped from his shoulder, her fingers crawling upward to grip a tight fistful of dark hair at the back of his head.

​Low, vibrating purrs echoed deep within his chest, echoing directly into her skin. His tongue kept licking that devastatingly sensitive spot on her neck just below her jawline, sending electric shivers straight down her spine. The rough pads of his fingertips danced around the hem of her shirt before sliding beneath the fabric, his large palm gripping the bare skin of her waist with fierce possessiveness.

​Leia arched into his touch, her body surrendering to his rhythm. His other broad hand moved across her spine, his muscles flexing as he pulled her chest tightly against his. A dangerous, delicious heat began pooling between her legs, threatening to consume what little rational control she had left.

​She knew she ought to stop him before things went past the point of no return—before the wild magic completely claimed them both.

​As if sensing her hesitation, Malakai began to slow down his sensual assault. His hand slid out from beneath her shirt, returning to rest gently on her waist. He pulled his face back from her neck, forcing her to stare into his glowing, molten-gold eyes.

​"You are mine, no matter where you come from," he spoke aloud, his voice so deep the physical vibrations rattled against her ribs. "I don't care about your family, Leia. I care about you. From the moment you called out to me in the dark, even till now, I will never leave you. My life is yours. You are my mate."

​He paused, his golden eyes burning with absolute, unwavering devotion. "I don't hate where you come from. It is simply the heart of Man—it is all darkness. But you are the light that broke through my forest."

​The words seemed to lock in her throat. Leia stared at him, utterly speechlessly. In nineteen years of bitter existence, no one had ever looked at her with such reverence, nor spoken to her with such fierce, protective devotion.

​A single, hot tear spilled over her eyelashes, tracing a line down her flushed cheek.

​Winding both of her arms securely around his neck, Leia moved closer. She leaned in and gently pressed her soft lips against his in a tender, loving kiss.

​Malakai didn't move aggressively; he held back the roaring, feral temptation inside him so he wouldn't startle her, wrapping his massive arms around her frame with breathtaking gentleness.

​When she finally pulled back slightly to look into his eyes, a small, genuine smile drew across her lips.

​Malakai looked up at his little fox, and for the first time since she had met him, a soft, radiant smile lit up his breathtaking face in return.