Everything else faded away. The crashing of the nearby waves, the birds flying overhead, the rays of sunlight shining upon them.
Nothing else mattered but them.
“There’s really only one reason this could be happening,” Octavia admitted. “It seems unlikely, but?—”
“You’re my mate,” Flynn whispered, sounding like he could barely believe the words.
The words hung in the air between them, ringing with truth. Something deep within Octavia shifted, and arightnessthat she’d never felt before settled upon her.
Three long, eternal seconds passed in complete silence.
Then, she whispered his name at the same time that he said hers.
He hugged her, drawing her close as their mouths crashed together. The kiss was desperate and powerful, urgent and right. It waseverything.
Sparks ran through the dragon shifter. Her heart sped up. She dropped her walking stick, and her fingers grappled in his shirt. Stars shone in her vision.
Flynn groaned. The sound was unlike anything Octavia had ever heard. Her toes curled, and she leaned into the witch. She closed her eyes and gave herself into this embrace.
They kissed and kissed.
Octavia couldn’t believe that she had a mate, and it wasFlynn.
Wait.
Flynn.
Despite the pleasure coursing through her, Octavia’s eyes flew open. They couldn’t do this. Not right now. They had problems to solve.
The lying, for one. The emerald rose, for another. Adding a mate to the mix would further complicate things. They’d have to deal with this later.
Reluctantly, Octavia broke their embrace. She shook her head. “We can’t do this.”
Flynn’s eyes momentarily widened, then shuttered. “Okay.” He took a deep breath. “I… understand. I lied to you, and just because I rescued you doesn’t mean you can forgive me. That’s fair. I don’t… I understand.” He stepped away from her and dipped his head. “Stay safe, Octavia Ashbloom.”
He turned, but not before she glimpsed the silver shining in his eyes.
Octavia watched Flynn go, her heart growing heavier with each step he took. She let him take fifteen paces before she took pity on him.
“Wait,” she called out.
Instantly, he froze. His back was to her, the muscles tense as he stood, a statue in front of the Indigo Ocean.
Octavia bent and picked up her walking stick. The tension in the air was palpable as she moved towards the witch. When she was close enough, she placed her hand on his shoulder.
Flynn drew in a deep breath.
Octavia knew with certainty that, at that moment, she could drive a wedge between them that was so deep they would never recover. She could wound this man with her words, make him forever regret what he’d done to her.
Or she could pick a different path. One that would alter the rest of their lives.
She drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes for the briefest moment, and then she made up her mind.
CHAPTER 8
Red Stars are Falling
“Idon’t want you to leave,” Octavia said, the words coming out softer than she’d intended.