Chapter 41: "Unraveling the Bond"
Aria didn't pull away.
She should have. She knew she should. But with Alexander's lips on hers, the world faded into the background, swallowed by the steady thunder of her racing heartbeat. His touch wasn't just fire—it was something deeper, something dangerous. Something that threatened to consume her.
When they finally broke apart, his forehead rested against hers, his breath warm and unsteady. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Neither of them moved.
Then reality came crashing back in.
Aria was the first to step away, her pulse still hammering. "That… shouldn't have happened."
Alexander's golden eyes darkened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he studied her in silence, his expression unreadable. "You're right," he finally said, though his voice lacked conviction.