Page 17 of Blood Freed

“Stay back,” Morgan warns, but his voice feels distant, unimportant.

I press my palm against the invisible surface. It hums beneath my touch, magic rippling like water. Soren reaches out, silver-burned wrists straining against his restraints, until his hand aligns with mine on the other side.

The barrier flickers.

“Impossible,” Lysandra whispers.

For a heartbeat, the magical wall between us thins like morning mist. Our fingers touch, then intertwine, and electric warmth shoots up my arm. His skin is cool against mine, but the connection burns bright and fierce.

“Step away from the barrier immediately!” Morgan’s voice cracks like thunder.

I grip Soren’s hand tighter, defiant. The guards move forward, but I stay locked in place, savoring this one precious moment of contact.

The barrier thins further under our touch, becoming gossamer-thin where our hands meet. My breath catches as Soren’s eyes lock with mine, intense and hungry.

“Mia.” My name is barely audible on his lips, but it shoots through me like lightning.

He tugs gently, and I find myself stepping forward, the magical barrier parting like silk around our joined hands. Morgan shouts something, but it’s distant, meaningless. All I can focus on is Soren pulling me closer, his other hand reaching up to cup my face.

Our lips meet, and the world explodes into light. His kiss is desperate, consuming, pouring unspoken words and repressed feelings into this one stolen moment. I clutch at his shirt, pressing closer as power surges between us – my magic intertwining with his vampire strength in a dazzling display.

Heaven. This is what heaven feels like…

The wards around us fluctuate wildly, magical barriers flickering like strobe lights. I feel the push-pull of competingmagics, the containment spells fighting against whatever this is between us. Soren’s kiss deepens, and another wave of combined power rolls out from where we touch, making the air crackle with energy.

The guards’ shouts grow more urgent. Lysandra gasps. But none of it matters – not when Soren’s lips are on mine, not when every cell in my body is singing with this impossible connection.

“Mia Blackwood,” Morgan snarls. “Release him now or—”

“Enough.” Lysandra’s voice carries a note of wonder. “Let them be.”

“But you heard the High Priestess. No physical contact!”

“Hush!” she says.

“Are you serious, woman? This magic is forbidden!” The world shatters at Morgan’s sharp command: “Restrain them! Now!”

Guards rush forward, their boots thundering against the stone floor. Strong hands grab my arms, yanking me back. I struggle against their grip, frantic to maintain contact with Soren.

“Wait!” Lysandra’s voice rings out. “You’re making a mistake. Look at the magical resonance—”

But Morgan cuts her off. “These are the High Priestess’s orders. No touching!”

“No! Leave me alone!” I fight harder as they drag me away from Soren. His fingers clutch mine, refusing to let go even as the guards pull at him.

“Stop this!” Lysandra moves between us and Morgan. “Can’t you see? This isn’t dark magic. This is something else entirely—”

“Stand aside, Lysandra,” Morgan barks. “Or I’ll have you removed as well.”

She hisses through her teeth but steps away. He’s not her superior, but there’s something in the tone of his voice that makes it clear this could get ugly.

More guards pour in. They wrench Soren’s hands from mine, breaking our connection. The loss leaves me cold and empty.Our fingers brush one last time – a fleeting touch that sends sparks of electricity through my skin – before they pull us completely apart.

The magical barrier snaps back into place between us, solid and impenetrable once more.

One of the guards shoves Soren to his knees, yanking his arms behind him cruelly.

“Don’t you dare!” I snarl at him. “Don’t you dare do that to him!”

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