Page 120 of Fated

My mind raced, trying to piece together what he was saying. “But in the splatter ball arena, and that day with the children in Cresinthia, I could feel you. I followed the invisible pull right to the very door.”

Ash was watching me intently now, his eyes searching mineas if waiting for something to click. My heart stopped beating for a moment. No, it couldn’t be. My mind raced, sifting through everything I had learned about the fated. It was a rare, ancient bond binding two souls, making them halves of the same whole. The bond often manifested in times of great need.

Could destiny really have chosen Ash for me?

He was more than anything I could’ve ever dreamed of.

My heart felt as though it was swelling, growing bigger as every memory of that invisible force came back, confirming what I so desperately wanted to be true. Ash belonged to me, and I belonged to him. There was no longer any room left for doubt.

Tears streamed down my face.

“Tell me, Ash. I want to hear you say it.”

His gaze softened as he stepped closer, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. “We are fated for each other, Areya.”

A smile broke free, a mix of overwhelming emotions surging through me—relief, joy, love, disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He gave a sad smile, brushing a thumb across my cheek to wipe away my tears.

“After everything I took from you, I wanted you to choose, not wanting or expecting you to choose me just because some ancient magical bond said we should be together.”

“When did you know?”

“There were signs from the day I met you. You drove me crazy, and I found myself needing to protect you—at all costs. I even broke Agidius’ sire bond to keep you safe from him. At first, I thought it was the glimpse of my past memories, but it was the fated bond overriding the sire bond. Then, when your power settled, it got stronger. I could barely keep my hands off you that day on the beach. It wasn’t until my power was unleashed that I knew for sure. I could practically see the magic pulling ustogether. I wasn’t sure why you hadn’t felt it, but now, it makes sense …”

“We’re fated,” I repeated, as though trying to convince myself this was real.

He gave me a gentle smile. “How do you think I was able to find you in the human world?”

“Calyx said they called you the huntsman, that you had some special power to track down certain types of magic.”

Ash snorted. “No one has ever called me such a thing. That was just some bullshit Agidius made up to hide the fact it was the fated bond that would lead me to you.”

I gasped, the realization hitting me.

“What? Agidius knew we were fated? How is that even possible?”

“I don’t know, but it’s on the list of things I’m going to find out.”

I shoved the thoughts of the evil king right out of my head. “Is this why you’ve been holding yourself back? Why you wouldn’t …”

“Yes,” Ash said, his voice low. “The magic between us, there’s no denying it’s powerful, that it’s been pushing us together from the start. But we still have a choice. I couldn’t let you enter into an eternal agreement unknowingly.”

I looked up at him, my heart swelling and I just smiled. I couldn’t help it—Ash wasmine.

“You’re not mad?” he asked, searching my eyes.

“Mad?” I laughed. “I’m freaking ecstatic. I knew this thing between us was something more. What I feel for you—I can’t even put it into words. I’ve been waiting to wake up and realize this was only a dream, that you were too good to be true. I’ve cherished every moment with you, always afraid you’d finallyrealize I’m not worthy of you.” I paused, grinning. “Ash, I wanted you even when I absolutely hated you.”

Ash smiled back. “Areya, I’ve spent over three hundred years alone, perfectly content with that life, but now that I’ve met you, I’d rather die than live a single day without you in it.”

He paused, his gaze softening. “You’ve always underestimated your value, how extraordinary you are, but I’m going to spend every breath for the rest of my life convincing you just how valuable you are.”

My heart swelled at his words, a warmth spreading through me that was almost too much to contain. Without thinking, I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him close.

“I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” he murmured as he wrapped his arms around my waist, drawing me even closer.

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