Chapter 7 006

Orin's Pov

My body ached with every movement, yet when she came running toward me- her eyes filled with panic and I forgot the pain.

Her eyes were dark, almost black, but when the light caught them, they shone like stormy seas that were deep and restless holding on to me like I was the only thing in the world. Her face was soft and pale, her lips were full and parted but trembling a little, like she had forgotten how to close them.

Her hair was dark, long and thick, braided in places but with loose strands falling around her face. Her nose was straight and small, her jaw sharp but not harsh, and her skin looked smooth as if untouched by scars.

She was not dressed like a queen or a warrior, but there was something in the way she looked that made her look stronger than both. Even the way she moved, the tilt of her head, the way her chest rose and fell- it was magnetic.

I wanted to memorize every motion, every breath and every detail.

Gods... it was soft and clean, with a hint of something wild underneath, something that made my chest tighten and Veythar claw to the surface.

Every part of her felt burned into me and it made it hard for me to look away.

By the gods... she was beautiful and she had run to me.

I tilted my head, letting my lips curve into a faint smirk. "Were you worried about me, Princess?" My voice rasped but it still came out steady.

Her breath caught and her lips pressed together as she looked at me like she wanted to hit me and hold me at the same time.

"Don't tell me the cat's got your tongue," I interrupted, my smirk widening. "You wouldn't be the first to find me attractive."

Her eyes went wide and she smacked her palm against my chest. It was not hard enough to hurt, more like she needed to do something. "Please," she muttered, voice trembling but sharp, "you're full of yourself."

"Ouch, I am fragile," I said, feigning a wince. "Please, princess. I'm wounded so be gentle with me."

"Fragile my ass," Veythar snorted. "She's staring at you like a moth to a flame. You've waited for this moment your whole damn life."

She almost laughed, but stopped herself, biting her lip. Her eyes flicked down at my arm, at the blood seeping through my jacket. "You need help and you're bleeding."

I lowered my voice, leaning closer so only she could hear. "Then why don't you hold me a little tighter? That'll fix it."

Her breath caught again as her chest rose faster. She shifted back slightly, trying to put space between us, but her hands stayed on my shoulders.

Gods, she was trying so hard to hide it. The tremble in her hands, the heat in her cheeks. And every second of it made me want her more.

Inside me, Veythar stirred, restless, and his voice was sharp like claws. 'Do it. Drag her close and kiss her until she can't think. She's ours.'

My jaw clenched, I had forced myself to stay still but my eyes couldn't stop moving over her face, like that was going to be the last time I would see her.

The faint line of her brow, the softness of her lips, the way her hair smelled when it fell near my face and something else... something that was just her.

She was leaning closer without realizing as her breath brushed my cheek.

I lifted a hand, slow, brushing the soot from her face. Her skin was warm under my thumb. She didn't move.

"You don't have to talk," I murmured, my voice low, rough. "You don't have to explain. I already know."

Her eyes turned to mine, wide and questioning. "Know what?" she whispered.

"That you can't stay away from me," I said, teasing again, but my heart was pounding against my chest- so hard that it hurt.

I leaned in as her breath hitched. My body felt like it was on fire, not from the adrenaline rush but it came from her.

'Now,' Veythar growled inside me, fierce and hungry. 'Now, Orin. She's been waiting for us.'

My mouth hovered a breath from hers. Her eyes flicked to my lips. My hand slid to the back of her neck, not pulling, just holding.

Gods, she was soft.

I could taste her breath already.

'Oh yes. This is perfect,' Veythar purred.

"Bring the healers!" Soren's voice cracked through the air.

Then the world exploded.

We had forgotten that we were not alone and the timing was flawless in the worst possible way.

'Damn you, Soren!', Veythar cursed loudly.

We jerked apart, almost violently. Her eyes went wide, but her hands were still on my arms.

"I... I... we need to get you to the healers," she stammered, stumbling over her words.

I blinked at her, letting a smirk tug my lips. "I'm fine," I said low, letting my shoulder brush past hers as I shifted slightly. "I don't need anyone to hold me. I can walk there myself."

Her lips parted, eyes widened in surprise. "No, you're not-"

"I said I'm fine," I interrupted, voice dropping. "Stop hovering like I'm about to collapse. You're not the boss of me."

Her hands hovered near my shoulders like she wanted to grab me. "You're impossible," she muttered.

I shot her a crooked and wicked grin. "Another time, princess. Another time."

I picked myself up and walked away. Every step hurt, every muscle screaming, but I refused to give her satisfaction.

Veythar roared inside me, claws scraping, sharp and desperate. 'Why are you leaving her? Why didn't you take her?'

I forced my jaw to unclench. "Not yet," I whispered under my breath.

Veythar's voice thundered, shaking my chest from inside. 'We've waited centuries for her and you wasted the one chance we had?'

I swung my leg over the bike, muscles coiling, fire still licking at the edges of my jacket. I shut my eyes for a moment as I drove into the tunnel, the noise of the arena fading behind me.