Eternally Bound Chapter 54 part 3
Eva
Bael’s eyes flash with anger, his voice cutting through the room. “I know it sounds trivial, but when magic is involved and the lust for power consumes you, they will stop at nothing until they are gods and can control fate.”
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, my hands trembling. “Well, I am fate whether they like it or not. We can use their desires against them now that you have finally filled in the missing pieces.”
Bael’s gaze softens, his hand reaching out to take mine, his touch warm and grounding. “I would have told you sooner if I thought it mattered. You and our child are all that matters.”
As we stand there, our hands clasped, I feel a sense of calm wash over me, a sense of certainty. We’re in this together, and we’ll face whatever comes next as one. The vision may have shown me a future filled with danger and uncertainty, but it also showed me something else—the strength of our bond, the power of our love. And that’s something Astaroth and Raven will never understand.
Later, as the house grows quiet and the others are out on their missions, I find myself alone with Bael in the study. The fire crackles in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the walls. I’m sitting on the couch, my legs drawn up, my arms wrapped around my knees. Bael stands by the window, his silhouette dark against the moonlit glass, his presence both comforting and unnerving.
“Eva,” he says, his voice low, turning to face me. “There’s something else I need to tell you. About Astaroth and me.”
I look up, my heart pounding, my voice steady. “What is it?”
He takes a deep breath, his gaze meeting mine, his expression fraught. “It wasn’t just a brief affair. It was... intense. Passionate. But it was also destructive. Astaroth... she’s not just obsessed with power. She’s obsessed with control. And when I left her, when I chose to walk away, she didn’t take it well.”
I feel a chill run down my spine, my voice barely above a whisper. “What did he do?”
Bael’s jaw tightens, his voice tight. “She tried to bind me to her. Permanently. She used dark magic, rituals... she tried to make me hers forever. But I broke free. And that’s when Raven stepped in. She saw her chance to take them for herself. I think she saw my rejection as a betrayal just like the one the white wolf did to her. She knew wolves mate for life, and she intended to kill to get the man she wanted. I didn’t know the white wolf was alive until Guinivere. I was powerless in that war, but I did keep Astaroth from answering Raven’s calls and made sure Astaroth’s male form can’t be resurrected.”
“And now?” I ask, my heart racing, my hands clenching into fists. “What does this mean for us?”
Bael takes a step closer, his gaze intense, his voice low. “It means they’ll stop at nothing to get to me. To get to us. Astaroth wants what she can’t have, and Raven wants to destroy anything that stands in her way. But I won’t let them, Eva. I’ll protect you. I’ll protect all of us. I will give up my kingdom and my life if you hadn’t made me eternal.”
I stand, my legs trembling, and take a step toward him, my voice firm. “We’ll protect each other. That’s what we do. But we need to be smart. We need to be ready.”
Bael’s gaze softens, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek, his touch warm and gentle. “We will be. I lean into him.
As our lips meet, the tension between us melts away, replaced by a fierce, burning desire. Bael’s kiss is hungry, possessive; his hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. I wrap my arms around his neck, my body pressing against his, my heart pounding in time with his.
He breaks the kiss, his breath hot against my ear, his voice a low growl. “I need you, Eva. Now.”
I nod, my voice breathless. “Take me. Here. Now.”
He doesn’t hesitate. With a swift motion, he lifts me, cradling me in his arms, and carries me to the couch. He lays me down gently, his eyes dark with desire, his hands moving to untie my robe. It falls away, pooling around my waist, leaving me bare before him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice thick with want, his gaze raking over my body.
I reach for him, my hands pulling at his shirt, tearing it open in my urgency. “Take it off,” I command, my voice hoarse.