Page 31 of Faeheart
Wild’s expression softened, and through our bond, I felt a surge of tenderness that made my breath catch. “Then let me help you figure it out.”
He stood, pulling me up with him, our bodies pressed close in the small space between the bed and desk. His hands framed my face, thumbs stroking my cheekbones with surprising gentleness.
“We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for,” he said, sincerity radiating through our connection. “But maybe... maybe we could try something? Just to see how it feels when we both stop fighting this?”
I swallowed hard, torn between desire and fear. “What did you have in mind?”
Instead of answering, Wild took my hand and guided me toward his bed. He sat down first, then tugged me gently until I was seated beside him, our thighs touching.
“Close your eyes,” he instructed softly.
“Why?”
A hint of his usual mischief flickered through our bond. “Because you think too much. Just trust me for once, okay?”
After a moment’s hesitation, I complied, letting my eyelids fall shut. Immediately, my other senses heightened. The sound of Wild’s breathing, the warmth of his body beside mine, the faint scent of wildflowers that always seemed to cling to his skin.
“Don’t think,” Wild murmured, his voice close to my ear. “Just feel.”
His fingers brushed against my pendant, sending a warm pulse through my chest. I felt his magic reach for mine,not forcefully, but with gentle invitation. After a moment’s hesitation, I allowed my own power to respond, reaching back tentatively.
The connection was different this time, not the overwhelming surge we’d experienced during battle or the desperate rush when I’d saved him from burnout. This was slower, more deliberate, like two streams merging into a river.
“That’s it,” Wild encouraged, his hand finding mine, fingers intertwining. “You’re doing great.”
I could feel his presence in my mind growing stronger, but instead of the usual chaotic jumble of thoughts and desires, there was a focused intent. He was deliberately sharing a memory with me.
Suddenly I was in a sunlit clearing, surrounded by ancient trees whose branches formed a cathedral-like canopy overhead. I could feel soft moss beneath my bare feet, hear birdsong and the distant sound of running water. The air tasted of honey and summer berries.
“Where is this?” I whispered, though I knew I hadn’t spoken aloud.
“My favorite place in the fae realm,” Wild’s voice answered within the shared memory. “The Heart Grove. It’s where I go when I need to just... be.”
I felt his emotions associated with this place, peace, freedom, a sense of belonging that he rarely experienced elsewhere. There was no pressure here, no expectations, just Wild in his purest form.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, meaning it.
The scene shifted slightly, and suddenly I was seeing myself through Wild’s eyes, not as I thought I appeared, but as he saw me. Strong, powerful, filled with untapped potential. Beautiful in ways I’d never considered myself to be.
My breath caught at the depth of emotion attached to these images. Admiration, desire, frustration at my self-imposed limitations, and underneath it all, that same dangerous feeling I’d sensed earlier. Something tender and fierce and protective.
“Wild,” I gasped, overwhelmed.
The memory faded suddenly as a loud knock echoed through the room. Although at that moment, it felt like it was from another world. Wild was already on his feet and heading for the door as I tried to shake myself out of the vision. It was like waking up from a dream, unsure of whether I was awake or still sleeping.
“Caden?” Wild asked as he pulled the door open. “Why didn’t you just come in?”
“It… It felt like you two might be…” he said quietly, his voice timid and shy.
“We weren’t,” Wild replied.
He paused for a moment, looking Caden up and down. And that’s when I felt it too, a sense of panic coming from Caden that I’d been too caught up to notice.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, standing up from the bed. “What happened?”
Caden held out a small piece of paper, the upper edge torn from where it had been pulled down from a bulletin board. “This was just posted magically all over the school.” He handed it to Wild, whose eyes went wide. “There was another attack. They’re putting us on lockdown.”
Chapter 12
