DEATHMATE

CHAPTER 6 Blood on the Leaves

Hours passed.

Ariel couldn’t focus. Every sound made her jump. Every howl made her chest tighten. She paced the room, biting her lip so hard it stung.

When Kael finally returned, he was limping. Blood dripped down his arm. His chest was covered in bruises.

Ariel ran to him without thinking. Kael, you’re hurt!

He brushed past her, expression stern. It’s nothing.

She grabbed his arm. Don’t lie to me.

He froze.

Something in her voice made him look at her differently. Not as a threat. Not as a burden. But as someone he didn’t want to worry.

He sat down slowly while she cleaned his wound. His muscles tensed every time her fingers brushed his skin, but he didn’t pull away.

After a long moment, he spoke quietly.

You shouldn’t care about me this much.

Ariel looked up. Why not?

Because caring makes the prophecy stronger. And it makes me weaker around you.

Her heart skipped.

Kael leaned closer, voice dropping. If my wolf starts to see you as… important… I won’t be able to control him. And if fate pushes us toward the prophecy’s end…

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to.

Ariel whispered, I don’t believe we were brought together just to destroy each other.

Kael stared at her like she had just said something impossible.

Then he whispered, Maybe you were brought to me for another reason.

For a moment, they just breathed the same air, inches apart. Something warm and dangerous hummed between them.

Ariel felt it.

Kael felt it.

And the prophecy felt it too.