The air inside the temple had thickened, almost suffocatingly so, as Ava and Alexander walked deeper into the ruins. The weight of the Heartstone in her palm pulsed with every beat of her heart, reminding her of the responsibility it carried. The gods were closing in, their presence palpable—closer with each step. But it wasn't the gods that consumed her thoughts. No, it was the way Alexander's proximity seemed to stir something deep within her. Something she couldn't ignore.
She felt it every time he looked at her. The intensity, the raw power that he exuded without even trying. It was like he knew exactly how to unravel her. To ignite the fire inside her, one touch at a time.
Her pulse quickened. She shouldn't be feeling this way. This wasn't the time for emotions, for distractions. Yet, with every step, the pull between them became more undeniable. The air felt heavier, charged with energy that wasn't entirely the Heartstone's doing.
"Ava," Alexander's voice was a low murmur, breaking the silence. He'd been walking slightly ahead of her, but now he turned, his gaze locking with hers. His eyes glinted with something dangerous, something that set her nerves on edge. "Are you okay?"
Ava swallowed, trying to push down the surge of warmth that spread through her chest. "Yeah. Just… just thinking."
He stepped closer, his movement effortless and smooth. The space between them closed, and Ava's heart skipped a beat. "What are you thinking about?"
Her breath caught in her throat as he came to stand so close she could feel the heat radiating off his body. His presence was overwhelming, his proximity both comforting and dangerous. She could feel the pull—the chemistry—between them like a force field, tightening with every passing second.
"I'm thinking about how we can stop this. How we can beat the gods," Ava said, her voice steadier than she felt. She tried to turn her gaze away, but she couldn't escape his magnetic presence.
"I know," Alexander replied, his voice rougher now. "But what if the real battle isn't with the gods?" His eyes searched hers, searching for something. "What if the real battle is with… ourselves?"
Ava's breath hitched as his words hung in the air like a charged storm. The tension between them was so thick, she could almost taste it.
"What do you mean?" she asked, barely above a whisper, but her voice shook.
He took another step closer, his breath warm against her skin. "I mean… this." He reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm, the softest of touches that sent a jolt of electricity through her body. "You think the gods are your biggest enemy, but maybe it's the things you're too afraid to face inside yourself that will destroy you."
Ava's mind raced, her thoughts clouded with confusion, desire, and a storm of emotions she couldn't quite control. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. The truth of what he said hit her harder than she expected.
Alexander's gaze didn't leave hers, his face inches from hers now. There was no denying the spark between them—the tension that had been building since the moment they'd met. Every part of her wanted to reach out, to close the gap, to give in to the undeniable attraction that pulled her in like gravity.
But she couldn't. Not now. She was supposed to be focused. The fate of the world depended on her. She had to fight.
But then he did something unexpected.
He kissed her.
The moment his lips brushed against hers, it was like the world stopped spinning. Time slowed. Her heart skipped a beat, then a thousand beats in rapid succession. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, like a question, a promise. But it quickly deepened, turning into something more urgent, more hungry. The heat of it consumed her, and for a moment, she forgot everything—the gods, the Heartstone, the mission. All she could feel was him.
Her hands found his chest, pressing into the solid warmth of him as she responded, as her body moved instinctively against his. It was all-consuming. She could feel the fire from within her building again—the fire Veyron had ignited, the fire that had never really gone away.
And just like that, it was gone. Alexander pulled back, his breathing heavy, his eyes dark with something unreadable.
Ava stood frozen, her lips tingling from the kiss, her mind spinning in every direction. She had never felt something like this before—this raw, passionate pull. This connection that was too intense to ignore.
"Sorry," he murmured, his voice a little hoarse. "I couldn't… I couldn't help myself. I've been fighting it too, Ava."
Ava's chest tightened. Her mind was a whirlwind. This wasn't the time. This wasn't the place. But the fire between them was undeniable, and she had no idea how to fight it.
"I… I don't know what to do," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Alexander reached out, his hand gently cupping her face. "You don't have to do anything. You don't have to fight this. I'm not going anywhere. But you need to know that this—us—this is real. And it's not just about the Heartstone, or the gods. It's about you and me. No matter what happens."
Ava closed her eyes, fighting the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She had always been in control. Always had a plan. But now, with Alexander so close, her mind was clouded, her heart conflicted.
"Ava," Alexander whispered, his lips brushing against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Trust me. Trust yourself. This fight isn't just about what's outside—it's about what's inside. And we'll face it together."
The words felt like a balm to her soul, but they also made everything more complicated. She wanted to trust him. Wanted to give in to the fire. But could she afford to?
Before she could respond, a low rumble echoed through the temple, cutting through the silence between them.
The ground shook, and the air thickened with power. It was the gods. They were closing in. The final battle was beginning.