Page 27 of Bound in Flames

I wanted to reach out, to take his hand, but something in his expression stopped me. The war of emotions in his eyes had me still, allowing him the time to work through them.

He let out a shaky laugh, shaking his head. “You remind me of her. Urla always said I carried the world on my shoulders, but never in my heart. She was right. And you...” He paused, his eyes meeting mine. “What do you know about orc way of life?”

“Almost nothing, honestly.” My words were a whisper as shame prickled against my skin.

“We share a connection, you and I. Something rare even among my people. Sacred. You are more than just a shaman to me, Cleo; you are my mate. Chosen by fatefor me.”

The words left me breathless as I saw the weight he carried more clearly than ever. “Dex, I?—”

“You feel it too, the pull between us?” he asked, his tone softening.

Yes!I wanted to scream, unloading all the frustrations of feeling like I was fighting something inside of me that wanted to be touching him, being held by him. All I could do was nod in response, too afraid to speak as emotion burned the back of my throat.

Dex’s smile was genuine as he leaned over, crowding me against the furs, and pressed his forehead to mine. His thumb stroked against my cheek reverently, and his deep huffing breath grazed the side of my neck, making me shudder. Then he pulled back to gaze into my eyes.

“I’m blessed by the Gods to have met you, Cleo.”

Wrapping my hand around the back of his head, I urged him closer to me, desperate for another taste of his lips. The memory of our last kiss had plagued my every waking moment, an intoxicating echo I couldn’t resist any longer.

His lips met mine, the touch tentative at first. The warmth of his lips contrasted with the slight roughness of his tusks grazing my skin. It was grounding, adding a rough edge to the delicate moment. The sensation sent a ripple of warmth through me as his hand moved to cradle my jaw. The kiss wasn’t hurried or frantic, his breath mingled with mine as the world narrowed around us.

Too soon he pulled back with a chuckle, prying my hand from his head and pressing a chaste kiss against my fingers, cradling them close as his eyes fluttered shut. I was frozen, overwhelmed by the tenderness of the gesture.

The warmth of him seeped into my skin. In his presence, the chaos of my magic and the darkness that lingered seemed to fade, leaving behind only a quiet sense of belonging. His presence anchored me, dissolving that ache of loneliness and replacing it with a quiet certainty.

“You need to rest.” His voice was quiet but resolute.

I nodded, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. This fragile peace couldn’t last. The darkness we faced was far from defeated.

He laid by my side and tucked me in tightly to his body, shielding me from the cool night. His warmth radiated through me, easing the ache in my muscles and quieting the storm of thoughts in my mind. I felt cocooned, safe in a way I hadn’t been in years. But as his steady breathing filled the quiet, a bittersweet realization settled over me that this fleeting sense of peace couldn’t last.

I let myself sink into him, exhaustion tugging me under once more. But even as sleep claimed me, I couldn’t shake the feelingthat something deeper was stirring. Whatever was coming, I wasn’t sure either of us was ready.

Chapter 15

Cleo

The morning began with a biting chill, the kind that seeped through clothing and clung to the skin, sharpening the senses as the world slowly stirred awake. Waking up in strong arms had been a new experience for me, and I found myself hesitant to pull free from where my ear was pressed to Dex’s chest, listening to the thrum of his heart. The steady rise and fall of his breaths lulling me back into a languid doze.He was so warm.

Butterflies erupted in my stomach as his giant hands on my waist pulled me tighter against him. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before rising, and we busied ourselves with extinguishing fires and rolling up our furs in a rush to get back on the road.

Despite the tension surrounding us, the stolen glances and light brushes of Dex’s hand against mine set my pulse racing. Between him and the other orcs’ quiet approval, I sensed that, somehow, I belonged here.I really needed to learn more about their way of life.

We reached the edge of a large clearing, the ground split wide by a gaping ravine that slashed through the landscape like an open wound. Sheer rock walls plunged into darkness, andthe faint roar of water echoed far below. The ravine stretched endlessly in either direction, a natural barrier severing the Shadow Lands from the rest of Northern Ostelan. The path forward was in ruins, the remnants of a rope bridge dangling in tatters, a jumbled mess against the jagged rocks.

I froze, my breath catching at the sight. The destruction was deliberate; the torn bridge was too precise, too calculated to be accidental.Did someone know we were coming?A chill ran down my spine as I scanned the area.

The orcs around me muttered curses, their frustration sharp in the tense air. "They’re cutting off our escape," Gornak growled, his voice bitter.

Thorn spat into the dirt, gripping his weapon tightly. The palpable tension rippled through the group, their gazes flicking between the ravine and the dense woods behind us.

Dex’s voice cut through their murmurs, firm and commanding. “We need to find another way across, and quickly.”

My gaze drifted to him, his broad shoulders tense, the golden depths of his eyes sharp as he surveyed the ruins of the bridge. Behind his stoic exterior, I could sense the frustration simmering, his mind racing through possibilities. Magic prickled under my skin, and I knew instinctively that the solution lay within me. I stepped forward, ignoring the orcs’ questioning glances as I knelt at the edge of the ravine.

“Cleo.” Dex’s voice was cautious, laced with a thread of warning. But I didn’t answer, my focus drawn inward. I pressed my palms into the earth, feeling the deep pulse of the land. The hum of magic grew, filling my chest as I reached out, seeking the ancient roots and life buried far below.

My fingers sank into the dirt as power surged from me. It coursed through the ground, a vibrant, thrumming energy. The earth was shifting, buckling as roots twisted and climbed, theirmovements deliberate, as if they recognized the urgency of my request. Thick branches began to weave together, stretching across the ravine, their roots digging into the far side for purchase.

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