Page 44 of Finn
His fingers slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer until our breaths mingled, our eyes locked.
There was so much unspoken between us, a thousand things that needed to be said, yet the words were lost, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the moment.
“Finn,” he murmured, his gaze dropping to my lips.
My heart fluttered, my pulse quickening as he moved closer, his breath brushing over my skin.
I leaned into him, closing the gap between us, and our mouths met, soft at first, tentative, as if testing the waters.
But the intensity built quickly, the kiss deepening, his hands holding me like I was something precious.
I let my hands roam up his chest. The kiss turned slow, lingering, as if neither of us wanted to break the spell.
When we finally parted, his forehead rested against mine, his hands still tangled in my hair.
“I don’t know where this is going,” he whispered, his voice raw, his gaze searching mine. “But I can’t let you walk away. Not now. Not after everything.”
My own voice was shaky, thick with emotion.
“Then don’t,” I murmured. “We’ll figure it out, Gabriel. We’ll find a way.”
It was easy enough to say the words, but to make it a reality? That was another matter entirely.
I didn’t know what lay ahead for us, or how we’d survive the Guild or Beric.
But at the same time, there was something undeniable, something that burned beneath the fear and even hope.
I watched Gabriel’s face, his expression softening as he gazed back at me, his fingers tracing idle circles along my shoulder, as though he needed the contact as much as I did.
How could we possibly make this work?
“Do you really think we can?” I asked, barely above a whisper.
I wasn’t sure if I was asking him or myself, but I needed him to believe it. I needed him to tell me it wasn’t all some fleeting dream.
Gabriel’s hand slipped to my chin, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. His gaze was intense, steady.
“We have to try,” he said. “But one thing’s certain. We need to leave the city soon.”
ASHER
Asher’s muscles coiled tight as he circled the training floor.
He watched each student closely as they grappled and struck at each other.
The training hall was bright, with walls lined with mirrors and mats covering every inch of the floor to soften inevitable falls.
Sweat glistened on the trainees’ brows, and Asher could see their muscles straining as they pushed themselves through his rigorous exercises.
Every strike, every block, every dodge, they were all meticulous, drilled into them by Asher himself.
They knew better than to make mistakes when he was watching. But today, even his own precision felt off.
His mind was elsewhere, back on the worries and unanswered questions he had about Finn.
The door swung open, and one of the Guild messengers, a young man with an unreadable expression, slipped in quietly.
The messenger waited by the door, but his presence was like a pin in Asher’s side, his expression all but screaming urgency.
