Chapter 10 - Heat, Destiny, and Breakfast
1232 Words
“A name spoken by fate can set two souls on fire.”
Julieta POV
Warmth wrapped around me, soft and velvety—like I was lying on a cloud.
I nuzzled deeper into the sheets, grabbing a handful of fluff.
Mmm… this felt amazing.
Wait.
This wasn’t my bed.
My eyes flew open.
I was lying in the center of a massive bed, the whitest, softest sheets I had ever seen—glowing like moonlight. The room around me looked like a modern castle: tall walls, golden accents, elegant furniture, huge windows pouring in natural light.
A villa.
A palace.
A fantasy.
And then—
Him.
The stranger.
The man who had rescued me twice.
He was standing at the foot of the bed, arms crossed, staring at me with those impossible sea-blue eyes.
I instantly looked away, heat rising to my cheeks.
Why did he always make me feel like my heartbeat had legs and was trying to run away?
His voice dropped, low and commanding.
“Look at me.”
I ignored him.
Not because I was brave.
Because I was embarrassed.
Every time I met his eyes, my stomach flipped like I was in danger and safe at the same time.
The bed dipped.
Oh hell—he was getting closer.
I scooted back until my shoulders hit the tall cushioned headboard.
Too late.
He caged me in without touching me—his face inches from mine—then lowered his head to my neck.
He inhaled.
Slowly.
Deeply.
His nose brushed my skin and I swear my soul tried to leave my body.
My eyes rolled back.
My breathing hitched.
Heat spread through me like fire licking my veins.
He dragged his nose along the side of my neck before lifting his gaze to mine.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked softly.
My voice decided to betray me.
“…Yes. Thanks.”
Then reality slapped me.
Basement.
Cult.
Doll.
Shadows.
Freckles screaming at me.
I snapped my head around, trying to understand where the hell I was—
But he followed every movement of my face like he was studying me.
Like he was memorizing me.
“Where am I?” I breathed.
“In my room,” he said.
“On my bed.”
My stomach dropped.
How the hell did I end up here?
I tried to sit up, but he didn’t move.
If I lifted even an inch, my body would brush his chest.
He smirked—
because he knew it.
“Can you move?” I demanded.
“Where are you going?” he countered calmly.
“There are things we need to discuss.”
He reached out, gently catching a curl that had fallen over my shoulder.
He slid it between his fingers… and kissed it.
My entire face turned hot.
Was he insane?
His eyes returned to mine, burning with something primal.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“How old are you? When did you learn you were a witch?”
I stared at him.
Oh, hell no.
I don’t care how hot he is.
I don’t care that he rescued me twice.
Or that his voice makes my brain forget how to function.
He was not getting all my personal details like he was applying for a job interview.
“Is this an interview?” I fired back.
He chuckled, the sound deep and warm.
“I heard Latinas are aggressive… looks like it’s true.”
He smirked.
Oh, he wanted attitude?
Fine.
“And you? A Kevin trying to get to me by flirting and using your face?” I shot back.
He placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
“Ouch. But I’m not a Kevin.”
His eyes darkened as he leaned in, closing the distance again.
“I’m not even human. I’m more than that…”
His gaze dropped to my lips.
Slow.
Hungry.
Dangerous.
Like he was imagining what they tasted like.
His face hovered inches from mine, his breath warm against my lips, his eyes drinking me in like I was something forbidden he’d been starving for.
My chest tightened.
My stomach fluttered.
Heat coiled low inside me, rising fast.
I swallowed.
“Then… what are you?”
He didn’t blink.
Instead, his hand lifted slowly—fingers brushing my cheek like he’d been waiting lifetimes just to touch me.
His voice dropped, deep and unshakable.
“Tell me your name first.”
I hesitated, but something in me responded before I could think.
“…Julieta.”
The way he breathed my name made my skin feel too small for my body.
His lips curved.
“Julieta,” he repeated, slower, like tasting it.
I forced myself to ask—
“What’s your name?”
Silence.
Long, heated silence.
Then:
His forehead rested lightly against mine, his breath fanning across my mouth, and he whispered—
“Lucas.”
Everything stopped.
Everything exploded.
The moment our names hung between us—
the bond snapped into place like lightning striking bone.
Heat shot through my chest.
My pulse stumbled.
My lips tingled.
My entire body arched toward him without permission.
Lucas sucked in a sharp breath, eyes glowing a deep, unnatural blue.
“Mate…” he growled softly, his voice vibrating against my skin.
A primal pull yanked us closer—
his hand slid behind my neck,
my fingers curled into his shirt,
our lips barely a breath apart.
My heart raced so hard it hurt.
His nose brushed mine.
His lips grazed mine—
A spark.
A jolt.
A firestorm ready to consume both of us.
He leaned in—
And then—
BANG.
The door flew open.
“OH FOR THE LOVE OF—YOU TWO BETTER NOT BE STARTING WITHOUT ME WATCHING!”
Freckles shrieked.
I jumped so hard I almost hit my head on the headboard.
Lucas’s jaw clenched like he was restraining a murder.
Standing at the door:
Freckles with her tail flicking wildly
Two nymphs hovering like gossiping angels
Jason, red-faced, arms full of a tray stacked with breakfast
Jason stared at us—wide-eyed, panicked.
“I—I brought food,” he blurted.
“Freckles said she’d kill me if I didn’t.”
Freckles huffed.
“You’re welcome. Also—THAT is not how you ease a witch into awakening, Lucas!”
The nymphs nodded dramatically.
Lucas growled under his breath, “Get. Out.”
“No,” Freckles said.
“Yes,” Jason said.
“We exist,” one nymph added.
“We saw everything,” the other nymph whispered.
My soul left my body.
Lucas dragged a hand down his face like he was one second from shifting and throwing everyone out the window.
Jason quickly set the tray on a table and practically sprinted out.
The nymphs bowed and fluttered out after him.
Freckles stayed behind just long enough to glare at Lucas.
“Move over, Alpha Lucas. She needs food, not fangs.”
Then she hopped onto the bed between us.
Block.
Barrier.
Cockblock.
And proudly at that.
Lucas growled low in his chest.
Freckles flicked her tail.
“You can growl all you want.
The witch eats first.”
I stared between them, face burning, heart still racing like a runaway train.
Lucas’s eyes slid to mine.
And even with Freckles between us…
The mate bond still burned.
- Writer
