Silence settled over the clearing, thick and heavy, carrying the scent of iron, sweat, and scorched earth. The rogues had fled, leaving only the echoes of violence behind. Nova sank to her knees, staff abandoned beside her, arms trembling. Every muscle screamed in protest, every breath burned. She had survived, but at what cost?Kilian stood a few paces away, chest rising and falling with a steadiness that belied the storm of the fight. His eyes caught hers across the clearing, glowing faintly in the moonlight, and for a heartbeat, she forgot the pain in her arms, the ache in her legs, even the lingering smell of blood.The bond throbbed between them—hot, unrelenting, and impossible to ignore. Normally, she was the hunter, the one in control, but standing there, exhausted and raw, she felt exposed. Vulnerable. And yet the pull toward him was undeniable, a tether that made her pulse thrum faster than the fight had ever done.“You should be resting,” he said softly, voice carrying acros
Last Updated : 2025-10-13 Read more