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“Please.”
He leaped down three steps and blocked her with his hand against the wall. “Tell me what I said.”
“I never thought I was in a race with my brother. Never cared.” Rage filled her. It bubbled and simmered and burned. “He was an idiot. A nut job. But he still has a heart in one piece while mine is shattered. You’re him, then you’re not him. I’m done. I want none of it.”
Leaf’s brows joined in the middle. “Estrella—”
“Don’t you dare call me that! Jace earned that name, and he is dead. You? I hate you.”
Agony contorted his face as he inhaled, but his expression changed on the exhale. His crystalline eyes became hard. His jaw set. He stepped up until they were eye to eye.
She spat to the side, showing her disgust. When he failed to budge, she snarled, “Move.”
“No.”
“Move!”
He leaned closer until their faces were inches apart and repeated, “No.”
“You don’t intimidate me,Hoja de los Guardianes.”She intended her voice to sound strong and impenetrable, but what came out was husky and weak.
Bioluminescence glanced off his skin. She was so close that she could count every pore on his face, every whisker on his jaw, and every dark lash around those smoldering eyes. Her body reacted to his proximity, arousing at the power vibrating from his skin. Damn her. Damn her for knowing the weakness in Jace was now Leaf’s strength. It was as though the Well reached inside her mind while she slept encased in ice, and it stole her dreams and desires. It sculpted her love into something merciless, someone who was powerful and unbreakable in mind and spirit. Someone who would fight to the death to keep her safe. But who wasn’t him?
Suddenly, the air was too thick. Her skin was too tight, and her blood too hot.
Her breathing quickened. Leaf’s gaze dipped to the swell of her breasts heaving, then to the hardness of her nipples pushing through the fine red knit. When his gaze returned to hers, that arrogance was back. His lips tugged into a self-satisfied smile, and he murmured, “You don’t hate me.”
He advanced, prowling up like a panther, eyes growing darker as she stumbled backward—up the staircase. When her ass hit the wall, he slammed his palms beside her head, caging her against the hollow.
Biceps bulged beside her face. Muscular pectorals twitched beneath his tight, creamy shirt. His neck was so tense the veins bulged. She couldn’t take her eyes from that smooth, velvety skin encasing the hard column. God, he smelled divine.
“He never fought for you, but I will.”
Her lips parted as he leaned in. Energy skipped over his skin. Danger flared in his eyes.
“He didn’t think he was good enough for you, so… so…” His eyes darted back and forth, understanding dawning on his expression. “So maybe he became me.”
She’d just thought something similar. Goosebumps erupted over her skin, and she couldn’t deny there was some kind of supernatural force at play here. But instead of making her feel safe, she felt small. Powerless.
Need, pain, and defiance warred over Leaf’s expression, hardening every handsome line of his face. He hungered for her so badly that he had to restrain himself. He trembled from the force. The very thought caused a flood of heat in her lower abdomen.
“It’s all becoming clear now,” he said. “It feels right thinking it. Crimson knew he would go mad from his obsession to find you, so he sacrificed his memories. The Well held onto him, cocooning him in its watery embrace like you were frozen all these years. When your twin turned up in this time, so did I… with no memories. I’m not him. I’m a better version of him.”
“I hate you,” she repeated weakly. “Fucking arrogant pig, to say mean things about someone you never knew.”
“Am I wrong? Was your love perfect?”
Her throat closed up. “Is any love perfect?”
But he wasn’t listening. He was too busy watching his finger trail down her jaw, neck, and across to the pillow of her breasts. She shivered as he tugged her neckline down, and her aching breast popped free. Every ounce of her awareness shot to that tingling point as the cool air hit her sensitive nipple. She hated how much this turned her on. Hated that he knew it would, almost like he knew her heart.
“I’m not your prize,” she tossed at him.
“But you kind of were.” His humor died as he twirled his finger around her nipple, watching avidly when she moaned and pushed into his touch. She slid her palms down his hard stomach and gripped his erection. He groaned as though he was falling under her spell.
“Don’t you see?” he muttered. “You’re the one built from my fantasies. You’re the answer to our prayers. Something in your beautiful, breathtaking head will help us defeat Niles, I know it. The Well spent thousands of years crafting a world for you, making it a place you’ll fight to protect, building a mate who deserved to be with you.” He took a shuddering breath, laughing quietly to himself. “You got it wrong. It’s not you who is the prize, it’s me. I only exist to serve, protect, and love you. And, Nova…” His voice deepened dangerously. “I’m not running from that.”
“You have a silver tongue,Hoja. You’re the only person I can’t fight for long.” Her hands slid up his chest, curled behind his neck. He made sense. But it hurt. She didn’t want to feel like this anymore, but there was no denying they were drawn to each other and linked by fate. Maybe it was time to lean into it. “Kiss me. Make the pain go away.”
