Chapter 126 Chapter-126

Chapter 126 Chapter-126
Raven's POV

"You know what a really good stress reliever is, Little Flame?" Zayne asked suddenly.

I turned to him, confused. "What?" 

Before I could react, his hand landed on my shoulder and shoved me forward. I screamed as I plunged into the freezing lake. The icy water shocked me, and I came up spluttering and gasping for air. When I wiped the water from my eyes, I found Zayne sitting on the bank with his head thrown back in laughter. 

My jaw dropped in disbelief. "You jerk," I shouted, but he only laughed harder, clearly enjoying himself.

Even though I was furious, I found myself grinning despite it all. I waded closer to the bank, grabbed both of his ankles, and pulled with everything I had.

"Raven—" he started, but he didn't get the chance to finish.

Zayne pitched forward with a shout and crashed into the water beside me. The splash was so big that it drenched both of us.

He surfaced a second later with his dark hair hanging over his forehead and water streaming down his face. The shock on his expression lasted only a moment before a familiar challenge lit up his eyes.

"Oh, you are dead," he warned, and he splashed water at me.

I splashed him right back.

For the next ten minutes, the world seemed to disappear around us. There was no Council, no contracts, and no war. Just the two of us chasing each other through the water like reckless children. Zayne was stronger and faster, but I fought dirty, which levelled the playing field. Every time he tried to dunk me, I dragged him under with me, and he would come up muttering threats while I laughed uncontrollably. At one point, we turned it into a competition, which wasn't the best idea, since he won every single round. 

"Alright, alright," I groaned at last, throwing my hands up in surrender. "I give up."

His victorious grin was unbearable.

Eventually, we were both exhausted and soaked, so we climbed back onto the grassy bank and collapsed beside each other. Zayne was already studying me, his attention fixed entirely on me. 

He wasn't teasing anymore, and he wasn't laughing. His attention remained locked on me, and the weight of it stole the breath from my lungs. 

My pulse stumbled.

"Zayne," I whispered.

"You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me," I said, feeling suddenly vulnerable. "No matter what mess I drag you into, you are always there for me. You never run." 

Something flickered across his face. Then he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against his chest. He didn't seem to care that we were both soaked through. I let him hold me for a moment, enjoying the comfort of it while telling myself this was just Zayne being Zayne.

I swallowed hard.

"I don't know how to repay that," I admitted. "I don't even know if I ever can."

His hold tightened around me.

"I will always—" he began.

"Don't," I said before he could finish.

The word slipped out too fast. I pulled away from him and sat up. "Don't promise me anything."

I wrapped my arms around my knees and stared at the water.

"Promises are meant to be broken, aren't they?" I asked, though the bitterness in my voice surprised even me.

"Everyone leaves eventually. My parents left me behind, Alaric left me, and my pack turned its back on me."

I was about to say Magnus, but the name refused to leave my lips.