I sigh. “That never ends well.”
“Promise me that if you need me, you will send word.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You think I won’t?”
“You prefer to solve problems alone.”
He’s not wrong.
“Humour me.”
I hold his gaze. “Fine. I promise.”
The bond between us warms slightly at the words, satisfied. Varek nods once. Then he turns towards the exit, which means the moment has arrived. The part where he leaves.
And suddenly the thought of simply watching him walk away feels unbearable.
Before I can think about what I’m doing, my body moves. I cross the distance between us in two quick steps, grab the front of his tunic, and yank him down.
Varek barely has time to react before my mouth crashes into his.
For half a second the world stops.
Then the bond explodes.
Heat surges through my chest like lightning striking deep water, spreading through every nerve with a fierce, electric certainty that steals the breath from my lungs. Varek’s hands come up instinctively, catching my arms as the kiss deepens.
And fuck. I’d forgotten.
The first kiss had been chaos—panic and anger and confusion all tangled together after seeing him for the first time in years.
This… this is different.
His mouth is warm against mine, steady and sure in a way that sends a shiver straight down my spine. When his fingers tighten slightly around my arms, the contact feels like something ancient finally clicking into place.
Right.
That’s the only word for it.
Right.
The forming bond hums between us like a living thing, contentment spreading through it in slow waves as if the connection itself has been waiting years for this moment.
Varek exhales softly against my lips, the sound almost a question.
I deepen the kiss before he can ask it, and his response is immediate.
One hand slides to the back of my neck, careful but firm, drawing me closer as if afraid the moment might vanish if he loosens his grip. Heat builds between us, fast and intoxicating, the bond feeding off every heartbeat.
For a few perfect seconds, the rest of the world simply ceases to exist.
Then reality crashes back in.
I pull away abruptly.
Varek’s eyes are bright, silver catching the lantern light in a way that makes them look almost luminous. For a moment, he doesn’t move. Neither do I.
If I stay here any longer… if I look at him another second… I’ll ask him to stay. And that would be a mistake. So I step back, turn, and start walking down the tunnel towards my warehouse.
