My Marked Luna (Apphia and Nicholas) novel Chapter 42

**In Fragile Moments We Discover Strength Hidden In Stillness by Tao Cole Rynn**

**Chapter 42**

The chill in the air wraps around me like a cold blanket, yet across the room, Blade is drenched in sweat, his forehead glistening as if he has just run a marathon. “Oh, men, it’s so cold in here, yet you’re sweating buckets,” he quips, a teasing grin plastered on his face.

“He’s in heat,” my father murmurs, his voice low and serious, as if he’s discussing something grave.

“Get out, please,” I manage to say, my voice barely a whisper, filled with a mix of embarrassment and urgency.

Blade’s laughter rings out, sharp and mocking. “Are you jerking off every five minutes?” he chortles, clearly enjoying my discomfort. I scowl at him, my frustration bubbling over, and grab a pillow, hurling it in his direction with all the force I can muster.

“Dad, kick him out,” I implore, my eyes pleading for some semblance of relief from this torment.

“Blade, stop teasing. It can be fatal,” my father interjects, a flicker of concern crossing his features. He looks deeply worried, and I can sense the tension in the room thickening.

“Should we tell his mate then? They need to do it to end the heat,” Blade suggests, his playful tone falling away, replaced by something more serious.

“No! I’ll get through this,” I assert vehemently. “I don’t want her to feel pressured into anything,” I add, desperation creeping into my voice.

“I understand, son, but—” my father begins, but I cut him off.

“Dad, please. She doesn’t need this right now,” I beg, my heart racing. My father exhales deeply, a sigh of resignation, and turns to Blade.

“Blade, mind link someone to bring buckets of ice and pour it on him,” he orders, his voice firm. Blade nods and swiftly exits the room.

“Savannah is an earth witch and knows about potions. Your mother has gone to see if she can make something to suppress the heat,” my father explains, his tone softening slightly.

Blade returns a moment later, flanked by two other men, each carrying large buckets filled with ice. They approach my bed and, without hesitation, dump the frigid contents over me. The ice clatters and splashes, but it melts almost instantly, leaving me feeling even more desperate. I never thought I would long for the cold so much. My body betrays me again, responding to the heat coursing through me, and I try to force my mind to wander to repulsive thoughts, anything to alleviate the pressure, but it remains unyielding.

As they pour another bucket of ice over me, I can’t take it anymore. I bolt from the room, my heart pounding in my chest. I stumble into the bedroom, and just like before, the moment my mate’s beautiful face floods my mind, I’m undone. I gasp, panting heavily, my back pressed against the wall as I slide down to the floor, my hands tangled in my hair. The heat is overwhelming, maddening.

—

“I reached up to kiss him…” I begin, the heat of embarrassment creeping up my cheeks. Why did I let myself act on impulse?

“And he pulled away?” she finishes for me, her voice empathetic.

“Yes,” I reply, feeling the sting of rejection all over again.

“And how did that make you feel?” she inquires, her tone encouraging.

“Bad… He said he had feelings for me, Lily, but then he didn’t want to kiss me. Did those feelings vanish? Or perhaps he doesn’t like me as much as he claimed, and the kiss shattered whatever spell we had,” I blubber, my emotions spilling over.

“Oh, sweetie, he loves you. Nicholas… was just overwhelmed at the moment. He regrets pulling away and leaving you so abruptly,” she reassures me. But deep down, I can’t shake the image of him running away, as if he had encountered a monster.

After spending some time there, we make our way back to the castle. My heart feels heavy, and all I want is to retreat to my room, to sleep, and to forget that awkward kiss. I rush straight to my room, Lily trailing closely behind. I fling the door open, leap into bed, and pull the covers over me, closing my eyes tightly. After a while, I sense Lily’s presence beside me, but she eventually leaves, and I am left alone with my thoughts.

I lie on my back, staring at the ceiling, replaying the events of the day. I had my first kiss today. My fingers instinctively reach up to touch my lips, caressing the spot where his mouth had brushed against mine. A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. Today, in Nicholas’ favorite place by the lake, I experienced something profound—something that now feels like a bittersweet memory etched in my heart.