Page 46 of A Soul’s Awakening

“But how is that working together?" I asked as Alex’s barrier dissipated around me. “That sounds more like I’m controlling it, commanding it to my will. I thought it didn’t like that.”

“You’re not wrong.” Alex walked over and took my hand in his. I could feel my magic reacting to his, like a cat purring with a tender chin scratch. “You feel that? This magic is invested in keeping you alive, just like it kept me alive all those years even after it no longer trusted me, because deep down it knew what happened was out of my control. It knows you, Theo. It’s sentient, remember? Your mission has become its mission, and as long as it believes in you, and you believe in it, it’ll help you achieve it.”

“You’re giving Caspian a run for his money in the inspirational speech department.” I chuckled.

Alright, let’s reset and try a new one.” Markus drew another array around my feet, and the torture continued.

For the next two days, Markus tested me against different arrays and runes, Alex using various types of barriers and shields, and Stella delighted in hoping she could land a hit on me. Although she came close several times, and landed a few minor hits, I was feeling rather smug that maybe I could pull this off after all. Ren, however, didn’t share the same confidence.

“Why do you always have to rush into things, Theo? Why does it always have to be you putting yourself in danger?” Ren’s voice was low, rough with tension as we lay in bed. He traced lazy circles over my chest, his body pressed close against mine. “You know the Syndicate is always one step ahead. Even if you think we’ve outsmarted them, you know we’re still at a disadvantage here, right?”

I shifted slightly, careful not to break the intimacy of the moment, although my mind kept buzzing with ideas of how everything could go wrong. “I know,” I murmured, brushing my fingers through his hair, feeling the heat of him beneath me. “If you have a better idea, I’m all ears, but I don’t see any other way.”

Ren groaned softly, turning to rest his forehead against mine and press a kiss to it. “There’s always another way,” he muttered, voice thick with frustration and something else … something raw, needy. His hands moved to pull me closer.

I could feel the tension radiating off him, fighting the plan as much as the desire burning between us.

“Ren,” I whispered, catching his jaw in my hand, “I need you with me on this. Last time …” My fingers cupped the back of his neck. “Last time, when I went after the Syndicate with Caspian, the only thing I could think about the entire time was why you weren’t there with me, how I wished I’d talked things out with you and listened to what you had to say. Maybe if I had, Caspian wouldn’t have died and you wouldn’t have been dragged into the underworld. I need to know you’re okay with this, Ren. And if … if you really aren’t, I’ll back down.”

He let out a long, shaky breath, and for a heartbeat, I thought he might tell me to call off the plan. But then his hands curled around my shoulders and he slowly pressed me back, letting the warmth and the intimacy override the fear gnawing at him.

“I don’t like it.” His warm breath brushed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “And I’d take your place in a heartbeat if I could. But I believe in you, Theo. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. Trusting you was never one of them.”

I laughed softly, muffled against his skin, letting my hands wander, letting the fire between us burn hotter. “You seem rather tense, Ren. Is that something I could help you with?”

Ren’s laugh was low and rough around the edges, but there was no protest in his words. “You’re unbelievable.”

“But you just said you believed in me.” I kissed him once, hard and claiming, swallowing the last of his hesitation. Then I slid down his body, letting him feel every inch of the descent under my lips. The tight lines of his stomach were already exposed, the shiny silver through each nipple driving me wild.

Ren’s breath hitched when my fingers found the elastic waistband of his sweatpants. He didn’t stop me. Didn’t speak. Just watched, eyes dark and glassy, chest rising and falling too fast.

I pulled down his pants, tugging his boxers just enough until he sprang free—thick, flushed, already glistening at the tip. The sight of him like this, hard and leaking for me, sent a fresh surge of want through my gut.

“Remember to keep it down. It’s late and everyone can hear us.” I wrapped my hand around the firm base and leaned in. The first slow lick from root to tip made his whole body jerk. A broken sound tore out of his throat.

“Fuck them,” Ren breathed, head dropping back against the pillow. One hand came up to cover his eyes like he couldn’t quite handle the intense feeling. “I refuse to hold back. Not sure I even can.”

I took him into my mouth properly, lips sliding over the head, tongue curling against the sensitive underside. Ren’s hips bucked once, involuntary, before he forced them still. “Shit, sorry. It just … feels really good.”

I hummed around him, low and encouraging, and felt the vibration ripple through him. His hand dropped from his face to fist my hair, not pushing, just holding on like he needed something solid.

I worked him slow at first, savoring the weight of him on my tongue, the salt and heat, the way he trembled every time I hollowed my cheeks and sucked. Then my strokes became faster. Deeper. Until the head bumped the back of my throat and his thighs shook under my palms.

“Theo—” His voice cracked. “I’m—fuck, I’m gonna—”

I didn’t pull away.

I took him deeper still, swallowing around him, letting my throat work him as he unraveled.

Ren came with a choked, shuddering groan, hips stuttering up into my mouth as he pulsed hot and thick over my tongue. I took every drop, milking him through it until he was gasping, his fingers trembling in my hair.

Only when the last tremor faded did I ease off slowly, pressing soft, open-mouthed kisses along the softening length, then up the sharp line of his hip, his stomach, until I could settle beside him again.

“Better?” I teased.

Ren’s chest was still heaving. His eyes were closed, lashes dark against flushed cheeks. For a long moment he didn’t move, didn’t speak, just breathed while he tried to regain his composure.

Then he turned his head, found my mouth with his, and kissed me slow and lazy, tasting himself on my tongue without a hint of hesitation.