Page 7 of Luna

She looked heavenward, shaking her head. Shadows danced as the strands of her hair moved in a gentle sway. Kole pondered on what other parts of her would light up under his touch.

“Fine. What’s the truth?” She muttered, “In your opinion,” loud enough for him to hear.

“Your hands are cold, female. Come sit by the pool.” Luna looked confused. Kole, with Luna’s hand in his, strode deeper in the labyrinth of caves. While Luna had slept, he’d explored their immediate surroundings. An underground spring fed into the cave system. Here they had access to fresh water and warm pools suitable for cleansing. Later, he would dive to search for nourishment.

“Here.” Kole pointed to a small pool.

“Oh my goodness.” She beamed. “Hot water". Luna released his hand. She had already slipped out of her cloak. Curls of steam wafted through the air. The raising humidity slammed into Kole, and he instinctively halted his steps.

Luna looked up at him. “What’s wrong?”

“This is for you. The lava stream heats the water from beneath. It is safe.”

Though heat intolerance plagued all Kelvinians, he had sunk his limb up to the elbow in the pool feeling for sharp rocks or sea creatures. Lucky for Kole, his visits to Luna’s homeland had increased his ability to withstand warmer climates. He had removed anything that could be perilous to his female.

“You found this for me?

“Of course, female. Whatever you need shall be yours.”

Her brows shot up. Kole watched as her features shifted from confusion to appreciation. She gifted him with a half-moon smile. He determined she struggled for words to express such a simple gesture. If she were to return to Kelivinia he would shower her with scented ice for her baths and plush furs for her feet.

“For an enemy, you are too kind to me. I’m not sure how to respond to you, Kole.” She dipped her chin, regarding him through her dark sweeping lashes.

“We can be many things, Luna. But never enemies.” Years alone had taught Kole to value connection. He looked forward to spoiling this female. Returning from the hunt with a grand feast for their table. Satiating his hunger between her spread thighs late into the night.

“If you wanted me to see you as less than a threat, then why did you use your ice against me?”

Kole’s fantasy of the future halted. His princess saw the events of that night, yet she remained blind. Better for her to understand the real threat against her and her people. He was neither.

“Rogue males freely roam your lands,” he said, blunt and matter of fact. Those wind elementals knew where to lure the females in the forbidden zone. They had underestimated Luna’s powers.

“That’s untrue,” she hissed, chin raised in stubborn defiance.

“That night, I had returned as we agreed,” he began.

“Wait, I never asked you—”

He growled, and she stopped talking. “In your song you spoke of the hunger moon. It was when you wanted me to return, yes?”

Luna’s lips parted, as if she were surprised he had deciphered her messages.

“How would you know that?”

Kole gripped her head in his hands, careful to avoid the knot she’d sustained when Cyclone struck her.

“I am not a stupid male, princess. In my sector, the moon of which you speak is called a snow moon. But you knew that, did you not?”

She nodded. Kole led as if the female challenged him, testing his worth as her male. On the battlefield, he had been underestimated many times. He would win this female. She would be proud to be his.

“Those males were there for you. If I had not been there,” he paused.

“But you were there... for me,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Thank you for saving my life, not once, but twice, Kole.”

Inhaling, Kole held her tight to his chest, overwhelmed with the feeling of his chosen mate in his arms.

“If I had not frozen the land, the males we killed would’ve taken you from me.” Kole’s blood thundered in his veins at what could have happened to this female. What remained of humanity tended to serve cruel actions on unprotected females.

She revered back, regarding him. “From you?”