Chapter 22 I'll make you beg to forget it.
Elara's POV
Her eyes brighten at the question, a genuine smile curving her lips—the kind that lights up her entire face, making her golden magic flare subtly around us like a halo. It's a rare vulnerability, this glimpse into her world beyond the tower, beyond us. She releases my hand reluctantly, gesturing to the holo-screen as she pulls up a secure file—medical reports encrypted under my protocols, accessible only to us. "Better than expected," she says, her voice warming with relief. "The latest infusion therapy is working wonders. Tumors have shrunk by another fifteen percent since last week. Vitals are stable—no more irregular heartbeats—and her energy levels are up. She's even complaining about the hospital food again, demanding I bring in real meals from home." Elara laughs softly, the sound like a melody cutting through the corporate hum of the floor, her eyes sparkling behind her glasses. "It's... miraculous, Kael. Because of you—the funding, the specialists you flew in from Zurich. She's talking about going home soon, maybe in a few weeks if the trends hold."
I lean in closer, scanning the data over her shoulder—graphs showing regression lines dipping sharply, cellular markers stabilizing under the experimental treatments. Pride swells in my chest, not just for the empire's reach, but for her joy, the way it radiates through the bond like sunlight piercing shadows. "Our resources," I correct gently, my hand resting on her shoulder, shadows coiling lightly around her arm in a possessive yet tender embrace. "You started this, Elara. Your magic anchored the initial healing, gave her the time we needed. Without you..." I trail off, the beast rumbling inwardly at the thought of her desperation that first night she came to me—green eyes fierce, offering everything for this woman's life. "I'd empty the vaults for her. For you."
She turns slightly in her chair, her hand covering mine on her shoulder, fingers tracing the veins where shadows pulse just beneath my skin. "Thank you," she whispers, voice thick with emotion. "But it's more than money now. The bond... I think it's amplifying things. During the scan today, I channeled a bit of golden light—subtly, nothing the doctors would notice—and it felt stronger, woven with your darkness. Like our merge is spilling over, healing beyond us."
The idea intrigues me, stirring the beast with a mix of protectiveness and curiosity. Our magics had clashed and fused so intensely during the rut—the golden waves crashing against my shadows, heightening every sensation until ecstasy bordered oblivion. If that's bleeding into her healing... "Test it," I suggest, voice low. "Next visit, push further. I'll come with you—shadows as backup, to stabilize if needed." My thumb brushes her collarbone, dipping lower to trace the edge of her blouse, memories flashing: her arched against the balcony railing, moonlight on her skin as shadows invaded every intimate space. "We could make miracles together, mate."
Her breath catches at the touch, eyes darkening slightly with that familiar heat, the bond flaring with shared recollection. "I'd like that," she admits, voice husky. "But... carefully. The doctors are human; too much magic might raise questions." She pauses, glancing around the office—staffers milling at a distance, oblivious—before leaning up to brush a quick, professional kiss to my cheek, her lips lingering just enough to send sparks racing through me. "For now, let's focus on the day. Your rescheduled board call is at noon, but there's a briefing on the merger first. Coffee?"
I nod, straightening as she stands, her movements graceful and efficient. "Black, strong. And one for you—cream and sugar, as always." We move together to the small kitchenette adjoining the suite, a private alcove shielded from view. As she prepares the brews, the machine humming softly, I watch her—the way her skirt hugs her hips, reminding me of gripping them last night, pulling her back onto me in the shower. "Tell me more about the visit," I prompt, leaning against the counter. "What did she say? About us?"
Elara chuckles, handing me the steaming mug, our fingers brushing in a deliberate linger that sends the bond thrumming. "She's suspicious, in the best way. 'Elara, you've got that glow—don't tell me it's just the new job.' I played it vague, said the work at Voss is fulfilling, but she pressed: 'Is there a man? Someone making you smile like that?'" She sips her coffee, eyes twinkling over the rim. "I told her... maybe. That he's complicated but worth it. She wants details—pictures, even. Said, 'Bring him by; I need to approve of anyone stealing my girl's heart.'"
A low laugh rumbles from me, the beast preening at the idea of approval from her kin. "Bold. I like her already." I set my mug down, stepping closer, crowding her against the counter in the alcove's privacy—shadows extending to muffle any sounds, creating a bubble just for us. "And what would you tell her about me? The truth? That I'm the Alpha who claimed you under the moon, shadows filling you while you begged for more?"
Her flush deepens, breath quickening as my hand slides to her waist, pulling her flush against me. "Kael..." she whispers, glancing toward the open floor, but her body betrays her—arching slightly, nipples peaking against her blouse. "Not here. But... yes. I'd tell her you're the one who saved us both. The beast who became my everything." Her hand trails up my chest, fingers toying with my shirt button. "Though I'd skip the details about the tendrils in my ass while your cock—"
I cut her off with a kiss, fierce and claiming, tongue invading to taste her coffee-sweetened lips, shadows coiling around us to heighten the sensation—brushing her thighs, teasing without invading. She moans softly into my mouth, hands fisting my shirt, the bond exploding with heat that mirrors last night's frenzy. "Gods, Elara," I growl against her lips, pulling back just enough to speak. "You tempt the beast even in daylight."
She smiles breathlessly, adjusting her glasses with a shaky hand. "And you make it hard to focus on work, Alpha." She straightens her blouse, stepping back with reluctant grace. "But we have an empire to run. The merger brief—shall I pull the files?"
I nod, reining in the shadows with effort, the beast grumbling but sated for now. "Lead the way." We return to her desk, the professional facade slipping back into place, but the bond hums with promise—later, when the day's battles end, we'll revisit that fire.
The morning unfolds in a rhythm we've perfected: her summarizing reports with crisp efficiency, me issuing directives that she notes with golden-flecked precision. But undertones weave through—our eyes meeting across the desk, shadows brushing her ankle under the table during a holo-call with legal, eliciting a subtle gasp only I hear. "Focus, mate," I murmur during a lull, smirking as she flushes.
By eleven, Darren arrives for a security update, his presence a reminder of the tower's underbelly. "All clear on the feeds, sir," he reports, eyes flicking to Elara with subtle respect. "No anomalies at St. Aurelia. But... increased chatter from rivals. The rut's end—they sense a shift in power."
I lean back in my chair, shadows coiling around my fingers like smoke. "Let them chatter. With Elara by my side, we're unbreakable." She smiles at that, her hand brushing mine under the desk—a silent affirmation.
Lunch is delivered—steak for me, rare and bloody; salad with grilled chicken for her, balanced as always. We eat in my office, doors closed, the city sprawling below like a conquered kingdom. "What now?" she asks, spearing a leaf. "After the board call?"
I watch her, the beast stirring at the simple domesticity. "Back to the penthouse. Rest. Then... explore the bond further." My voice drops, shadows teasing her calf. "See how our magics play in daylight."
Her eyes darken, fork pausing mid-air. "Promises, Alpha. But first, conquer the day."
The board call drags—executives droning on metrics, acquisitions—but Elara's presence grounds me, her notes popping up on my private screen with witty asides that make me suppress smiles. "Boring as silver," one reads. I reply via the bond, a mental pulse: "Later, I'll make you beg to forget it."
As the call ends, satisfaction settles—deals sealed, empire expanding. I stand, offering her my hand. "Ready to leave the battlefield?"
She takes it, rising with grace. "With you? Always."