Chapter 110 Defiance

Chapter 110 Defiance
Logan POV.

We leave Rhea's chambers.

The trials are in hours. Viktor's threat looms forty-two days away. And now every intimate moment carries potential danger.

"He's trying to make us afraid of each other." I say finally as we walk through empty corridors.

"I know." Rune responds.

"Are you afraid?"

"Of Viktor corrupting our bond?" Rune considers. "Yes. Terrified."

She stops. Turns to face me fully.

"But I'm more afraid of letting that fear stop us from being together. Of letting Viktor win by making us too scared to love each other."

Through the bond: her certainty. Her defiance. Her absolute refusal to surrender.

"So what do we do?"

"We do what we've always done. We choose each other. Every day. Every moment. We make our bond so strong that Viktor's corruption can't touch it."

"By making love despite the risk?"

"By making love because of the risk. By proving that our connection is worth fighting for. Worth protecting. Worth any danger."

She's right.

"Then we continue as we have been. Together. Intimate. Connected."

"But aware." Rune adds. "Careful during the actual eclipse."

"Agreed. We avoid intimacy during the blood moon itself. Before and after, we're fine. Just not during the peak of Viktor's power."

We reach our chambers. The trials are in two hours.

I pull Rune inside. Lock the door.

"What are you doing?" She asks. But her lips curve.

"Strengthening our bond. Choosing you. Proving Viktor's magic has no power over what we freely give each other."

"Right now? The trials—"

"Are in two hours. We have time."

"Barely."

"Then we'll be quick. Or not. Let them wait if necessary."

I pull her close. Kiss her with intensity. Pour everything into it.

She responds immediately. Matches my urgency.

I lift her. Carry her to the bed. Lay her down. Pull her dress up. My hands shake slightly.

"Logan." She breathes my name.

I kiss down her throat. Her collarbone. Between her breasts. Lower.

"This is ours." I murmur against her skin. "No one can take it."

I spread her thighs. Put my mouth on her. Taste her. Claim her.

She gasps. Her hands fist in my hair. "Logan. We don't have time for—oh—"

I don't stop. Work her with my tongue until she's trembling. Until she comes on my mouth with a cry.

Then I'm crawling up her body. Freeing myself from my pants. Entering her in one smooth thrust.

She's still sensitive. Gasps at the stretch.

I move. Hard. Deep. Desperate.

"This is our defense." I growl against her neck. "Not fear. Not abstinence. Not hiding from our connection."

"Loving each other completely." Rune agrees. Her nails rake down my back. "So freely. So absolutely. That corruption has no place to take root."

"Let Viktor try to twist that."

"He'll fail." Rune says with certainty.

I pick up the pace. Drive into her harder. She wraps her legs around my waist. Meets each thrust.

We come together. Both crying out. The mate bond flares brilliant gold between us.

I collapse over her. Both breathing hard.

"This is ours." I say against her hair. "He can't touch it."

"Never." Rune agrees.

We get dressed quickly. Preparing for trials.

Viktor wants to use our bond against us. Wants to make our love a weapon.

He'll fail.

Because our bond isn't built on compulsion or magic or fate alone.

It's built on choice. On trust. On freely given love.

And we'll prove that every day between now and the blood moon eclipse.