Chapter 84: I Love You

Aina

The moment the words left her mouth, Roiner went entirely silent, his lips closed and his expression locked up. Panic spead across Aina making her body tremble as if caught in a blizzard. The silence stretched for an agonizing second, and in her head, her thoughts spiraled out of control. He’s not talking, meaning he regrets it. Oh Goddess, why did I ask that? I don’t want to know the answer.

Instantly backtracking, Aina took a step backward, waving her hands frantically in the air as her cheeks flushed with burning heat. "No! No, you know what? Forget I said anything! You don’t have to answer that! Really, you don’t—"

"I need you."

The three words cut through her rambling forcing Aina to freeze mid-step, her breath locking in her lungs. Roiner paused, the bow slipping into his grip as his dark, hollow eyes suddenly flared with an intense, mesmerizing light. The cold, dead look that had haunted his gaze for centuries, the empty, detached void of an immortal existence,was completely gone. In its place was a look of yearning. He looked completely, helplessly whipped. Devastated by her presence. Lost in her.

Aina’s heart pounded wildly, slamming so hard against her ribs that her wolf instincts flared. Her raw emotions surged so wildly through her veins that her sweet, intoxicating scent began to seep past the heavy suppressive masking cream on her skin, filling the air between them with the rich, unmistakable aroma of her soul.

Roiner walked closer to her, closing the distance between them until he was standing right in her space. His eyes were practically begging no pleading with her, shining with a brilliant, liquid light. The soul-bond between them, a bond that was barely a day old, vibrated violently in the air, pulsing through Aina’s blood like a physical chord being struck. Her breath hitched, her lungs starving for air as she stared up into his face.

"More than the very air in my lungs, Aina," Roiner rasped, his deep voice thick with an emotion so raw, so heavy, it shook her to her very core. He didn’t break eye contact for a single second. "Centuries may bleed into eternity, empires may crumble to dust, and yet my heart will know but one singular truth. I love you."

Aina’s lips parted, tears pricking the back of her eyes as his words washed over her skin like fire. "Every fiber of my being, every breathless moment of my existence, calls out to you," Roiner continued, his voice trembling with a desperate, beautiful devotion. "Demanding, begging, yearning to make you mine. Do not ask me to endure a world without you, Aina... for to live without your affection is not living at all."

Aina stood completely paralyzed, her entire body trembling under the weight of his confession.

This... this was the power of a bond, her mind screamed quietly through the emotional haze. This was what love forged across centuries looked like. You didn’t need to know someone for a lifetime when your body, your soul, your very mind yearned for them with every fiber of your being. When they were the one... they were simply the one.

Slowly and carefully, as if reaching out for something impossibly fragile, Roiner raised his pale hand and gently cupped her burning cheek. The contrast was startling, the intense, radiating heat of her flushed skin meeting the cool, smooth touch of his palm. He looked down at her, his golden eyes searching her face, completely stripped of all pride, all arrogance, all defense.

"You see?" Roiner whispered, his voice cracking with a quiet, terrified hope. "It is not about whether I will have you, Aina. It is about whether you will have me."

Aina looked up into the face of the vampire who had conquered nightmares, who had walked through centuries of darkness, now standing before her, completely undone by her presence. The lingering insecurities in her chest, the doubts, the fear of the other princes, the terrifying uncertainty of their future, seemed to melt away beneath the heat of his touch.

Slowly... she nodded.

For the very first time since this chaotic nightmare had begun, Aina genuinely was certain about one thing.

Though she may not have her other mates at least she had him. At least she had one of her mates who truly, undeniably belonged to her. Because she swore to the Goddess above, she was never going to love the others after what they did to her. A soft, tearful smile broke through her trembling lips. She nodded again, her hand rising to gently rest over his cold fingers against her cheek.

"Okay," Aina breathed out, her voice filled with a sweet, nervous warmth. "I... I don’t have a big, poetic love speech like you, Roiner. But... I think I can love you. In fact... I think I already do."

Roiner’s eyes widened, a profound, breathless relief washing over his features as if her words had just saved his very soul. Aina let out a tiny, breathless giggle, her playful personality breaking through the heavy emotion as she quickly gestured toward the magical bow in his hand.

"And also..." she added, nudging him playfully with her shoulder, "now because I love you so much, I am definitely going to take that arrow and bow so I do not die today. Because the woman you just bonded with has the very special, magical talent of being able to die from a literal splinter."

Roiner froze for a split second before a bright, beautiful sound burst from his chest, a real, genuine laugh that echoed warmly through the quiet room, lighting up his dark face like the sun breaking through a storm.

"Yeah," Roiner murmured softly, his thumb gently caressing her cheek as he handed her the enchanted bow, his smile purely radiant. "Okay, my love. Take it."

Theo

Theo leaned his shoulder against the doorframe of the kitchen, crossing his arms over his chest as he took in everything before him. The air in the cabin was thick with tension, heavy enough to slice through with a blade. Vance was leaning lazily against the counter, picking at a piece of fruit with a completely unbothered expression, while Malric paced back and forth near the stove like a caged predator.

Theo let out a low, dry sigh, shaking his head. "Let me guess," he drawled, his voice cutting through the quiet room. "Travis still isn’t here."

Vance didn’t even look up from his fruit. He just pointed a finger toward Theo in a dramatic motion. "Bingo. Look at you... you can be such a genius at times, Theo."

"Oh, shut up, Vance," Malric snapped, turning around sharply and glaring at both of them. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his jaw tight. "Everyone just needs to calm down. I am sure that Travis is going to be here this time for the hunt. Roiner said that he would be here."

Vance let out a loud, mocking scoff, throwing his head back against the kitchen cabinets. "Oh, please. Since when can we trust Roiner and whatever he says? The guy barely speaks three sentences a week, and now we’re taking his word?"

"I just trust him," Malric insisted stubbornly, his eyes narrowing. "He gave his word. Travis will show."

Theo rolled his eyes, pushing off the doorframe. He better actually be here, Theo thought bitterly to himself, his fingers flexing at his sides. Because I am literally two seconds away from packing up my shit and walking out of here. This entire competition is boring AF. He was sick of the waiting, sick of the endless drama, and sick of pretending that their brotherhood wasn’t losing it.

Before Vance could shoot back another snarky comment, the loud, resonant chime of the announcement bell echoed through the entire camp. It vibrated right through the cabin’s wooden walls, signaling their cue to head out to the main grounds. Malrix straightened his spine instantly, turning toward the hallway. "Keali!" he bellowed, his voice carrying through the house. "Keali, let’s go!"

A few seconds later, slow, heavy footsteps drifted down the hallway. Keali appeared in the doorway, his hands casually crossed over his chest, his face completely devoid of expression. He looked like he would rather be literally anywhere else on the planet.

Theo watched him silently, a raised brow flicking upward in his mind. It’s honestly hard to believe Keali is actually joining us today, Theo thought, eyeing his brother’s rigid posture. I fully thought he was going to sit this one out after yesterday, but for some weird reason, Malric insists on dragging him along.

"Let’s move," Malric ordered, swinging the cabin door open.

With the final strike of the announcement bell echoing over the trees, the brothers filed out of the cabin and made their way toward the center of the camp. The morning air was crisp, carry the sharp scent of damp pine and autumn leaves, but none of them were admiring the scenery.

When they finally arrived at their designated section near the main gathering grounds, Theo’s eyes immediately swept over the crowd, and froze. Standing right there in their assigned group spot, dressed in standard leather gear, was Travis.

Theo let out a long, silent breath, feeling a subtle weight lift off his chest. Oh, thank the Goddess, he thought, shaking his head slightly. I really, really didn’t want things to go south today.

Beside him, Vance suddenly leaned in close to Theo’s ear, his eyes locked onto Travis’s back. "Hey," Vance whispered in a hushed, conspiratorial tone. "Did Travis always have an ass? Because damn... I am definitely seeing an ass today."

Theo turned his head, staring at Vance with disgust. "You’re stupid. It’s literally just leather pants." Vance shrugged, completely unbothered, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. "Yeah, whatever you say. Just making an observation."