Page 51 of Heatbound Hearts

As the gods argue, their voices rising and falling like tempestuous waves, I feel a strange sense of destiny settling over me. It's as if the very fabric of reality is shifting, realigning itself around this moment. I look up at Zyx, seeking reassurance in his silver eyes, and find them filled with a mixture of concern and determination.

"What is happening?"

Eyes wide, he says the words that send my heart stuttering. "I don't know."

27

ZYX

It took some time for the gods to get back on track. And even then, this year's ceremony felt…distracted.

As soon as it is over, I guide Bronwyn away from the pulsing crowd, my wings twitching with the need to shield her from prying eyes. The air crackles with residual magic, making my skin prickle. Bronwyn's face is pale, her eyes wide with shock. I need to get her somewhere safe, somewhere we can breathe.

"This way," I murmur, my hand on the small of her back as I steer her through the throng of celebrating noctari. Their voices are a cacophony of excitement and awe, but I tune them out, focused solely on Bronwyn. And I don't want to stick around the gods longer than necessary right now.

We round a corner, leaving the main square behind. The narrow alley I've chosen is mercifully empty, lit only by the soft glow of bioluminescent fungi clinging to the stone walls. I draw Bronwyn into a small alcove, my wings unfurling to cocoon us both.

"You're safe," I whisper, cupping her face in my hands. Her skin is cool to the touch, and I can feel her trembling. "I've got you, Bronwyn. I'm right here."

She blinks up at me, her forest-green eyes swimming with fear. "Zyx," she breathes, her voice barely audible. "What... what just happened?"

I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her. She buries her face in my chest, and I can feel her heart racing against mine. My wings tighten around us, creating a barrier between us and the outside world.

"The gods," I say softly, running my fingers through her hair. "We are lucky they did not see you as something they did not create and strike you down right there. It seems that Oltyx has claimed you as his own."

She pulls back slightly, her brow furrowed. "But what does that mean? I don't understand any of this."

I sigh, wishing I had all the answers for her. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. This is... unprecedented. But I think he is offering you a place in his realm — to be earthborn like me."

Bronwyn nods, then leans back into me. I hold her tightly, my chin resting on top of her head. The sounds of the celebration seem distant now, muffled by the cocoon of my wings.

"I won't let anything happen to you," I vow, my voice low and fierce. "No matter what Oltyx or any of the other gods have planned, I'll be by your side. Always."

She looks up at me, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the fear in her eyes. "I know," she whispers. "I trust you, Zyx."

Those words send a surge of warmth through me, along with a fierce protectiveness. I lean down, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. It's a promise, a declaration, a lifeline in the chaos that surrounds us.

I feel Bronwyn's breathing slow as she calms in my arms. Her fingers trace patterns on my chest, a soothing gesture that grounds us both. When she looks up at me, her eyes are clearer, the initial shock replaced by a determined curiosity.

"I might be safe with Oltyx…but the other gods," Bronwyn asks, still tense but calmer than before. "They wanted humans too. Why?"

I sigh, my concern evident in the set of my jaw. "Because we have no humans. Not before you.The gods... they're curious, and powerful. They see opportunities we can't comprehend."

Bronwyn shivers, and I pull her closer instinctively. "What does this mean for us?" she whispers, vulnerability clear in her voice.

I cup her face in my hands, meeting her gaze with unwavering intensity. "It doesn't mean anything. You are welcome in Terramyst. Oltyx himself said so." I swallow hard, hoping that I'm right. "Which means no god is going to come after you there."

"You really think that?" I can already see the fear starting back up. She's been chased before. On the run. Hunted.

"I will make sure of it," I tell her without even thinking. I can't have her feeling like that again.

When Bronwyn dives into my arms, I wrap them around her. There is no safer place than in them, and I want her to stay right there.

But soon, we have to break apart. I sense their approach before I see them. My wings instinctively tighten around Bronwyn, but I force myself to relax as Kairos and Naia round the corner. Their footsteps echo in the narrow alley, a sharp contrast to the muffled revelry still audible from the main square.

"There you are," Naia breathes, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes are wide, shock etched across her features. She looks how Bronwyn felt moments ago – lost, overwhelmed, struggling to process what just happened.

Kairos, on the other hand, exudes a different kind of energy. His silver eyes are stormy, brows furrowed in confusion andfrustration. The runes on his obsidian skin pulse erratically, betraying his inner turmoil.

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