Page 34 of Heatbound Hearts

Zyx stirs beside me, his silver eyes fluttering open. A lazy smile spreads across his face as he sees me, and my heart skips a beat.

"Morning," he murmurs, his voice husky with sleep.

I take a deep breath. "Zyx, I... I need to talk to you."

He props himself up on an elbow, suddenly alert. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, exactly. It's just..." I struggle to find the right words. "Everything's happening so fast. A few days ago, I was fighting for survival on Earth. Now I'm here, in this magical world, with you. It's overwhelming."

Zyx listens intently, his expression soft and understanding. He doesn't interrupt, giving me space to voice my thoughts.

"I'm scared," I admit. "I don't know how to get back…or if I even want to get back. And…" I don't know what to do about him. But I can't say that. "It's just all a lot."

Zyx reaches out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Bronwyn, it's okay to feel overwhelmed. You've beenthrough so much, and this is a huge change. But you're stronger than you know. I've seen how quickly you adapt, how curious you are about everything here. You do belong, if you want to."

His words wash over me, soothing some of my anxiety. "And as for us," he continues like he can read my mind, "we don't have to rush anything. If you were worried about that. I'm enjoying getting to know you."

I lean into his touch, feeling a wave of gratitude. "Thank you, Zyx. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He pulls me closer, and I rest my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. We lie there in comfortable silence for a moment, and I feel some of my fears melting away.

Suddenly, Naia's voice cuts through the quiet. "Bronwyn! Zyx! Are we going to get going?"

We both jolt upright, the peaceful moment shattered. Zyx chuckles, shaking his head. "I guess it's time to rejoin the others."

As we scramble to get dressed, I can't help but smile. Despite my fears, I'm excited for whatever this new day in Nythorra might bring.

I stay close to Zyx for the rest of the day, not even lying to myself about why. My fingers brush against his hand as we walk, sending a thrill through me. When we pause to rest, I lean against his shoulder, savoring his solid presence. Each touch grounds me, anchoring me to this new reality that still feels surreal at times.

Zyx responds in kind, his gestures both protective and affectionate. His wing often drapes around me when we stop, shielding me from the unfamiliar world around us. His hand finds the small of my back as he guides me, always lingering like he doesn't want to let me go.

As we trek through a particularly dense part of the forest, Naia falls into step beside me. It takes some maneuvering on herpart, but she manages to force me and Zyx apart. A mischievous glint sparkles in her eyes.

"So," she drawls, "you and Zyx seem... close."

I feel heat rush to my cheeks. "I... we..."

Naia laughs, a bright sound that cuts through the forest's quiet. "No need to be shy. We all heard you two last night."

My face burns hotter. "Oh god."

She shrugs, grinning. "Don't worry about it. Kairos and I got pretty freaky too."

I stumble over a root, caught off guard by her frankness. Zyx steadies me with a hand on my elbow, concern etched on his face. I offer him a reassuring smile before turning back to Naia.

"You did?" I whisper, curiosity overriding my embarrassment. It feels a little less weird knowing we weren't the only ones.

Naia nods, her expression softening. "Yeah. There's something about this place, you know? Makes everything feel more... intense."

I nod, understanding exactly what she means. Every sensation, every emotion seems heightened here in Nythorra. Especially when it comes to Zyx.

As if summoned by my thoughts, Zyx's hand brushes against mine again. I intertwine our fingers, drawing strength from his touch as we continue our journey, and I try to ignore the fact that it is coming to an end.

Instead, I spend the rest of the day enjoying my time with Zyx. By the time we decide to make camp, I no longer feel self conscious about my growing obsession with the noctari.

I watch Zyx as he sets up our camp for the night, his movements efficient and graceful. The fading twilight casts a soft glow on his midnight blue skin, making him look almost ethereal. My heart swells with affection, and suddenly, I can't resist the urge to touch him.

Without a word, I cross the small clearing and wrap my arms around his waist from behind. Zyx stills, his body tensing for a moment before relaxing into my embrace. I stand on my tiptoes and press a soft kiss to the nape of his neck.

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