The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134: She Splashed. He Dunked.

Serena jumped off Velkaris, boots hitting stone before Dex could help her.

"Where are we?"

"This is where I come to clear my mind," Dex answered, landing next to her.

He grabbed her hand again and began walking.

A laugh escaped her lips at his persistence.

She laced her fingers in his fully. Dex pretended not to notice. But Serena could feel his elation through their matebond as soon as she did that.

He led her through a narrow path, cliffs pressing in tight on either side. The close stone swallowed sound.

When the path opened, they stood on a wide cliff with a basin stretching beneath them, too warm to be natural at this altitude. A waterfall poured like silver fire from the rock face, vanishing into a crystal pool below.

Steam drifted from the surface, lazy and glowing. Vines glittered along the stone.

Serena exhaled. "It’s beautiful."

Dex’s eyes didn’t leave her. He watched the way her breath caught, the way the glow from the basin framed her stunning face, and it struck him again with brutal clarity that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He would never get used to it, not in a thousand lifetimes.

His gaze lingered on her a moment too long, heavy with words he wanted to say.

When she finally noticed and met his eyes, he tore his attention away too fast, clearing his throat as if that could mask it.

"The Drakenvault Falls. Only accessible by Dragon," he said with a grin that tried to play off the moment.

Serena couldn’t help but grin back at him. His smile was contagious.

Dex stepped forward, and looked over his shoulder. "It’s also deep."

"We’re jumping," he said with a smirk. "No parachutes. Your favorite way to do it."

Her mouth parted but no words came out, realizing he was serious.

She stepped to the edge, looking down. The basin lay a hundred feet below, maybe more.

"You are mad," she said.

Dex laughed. "You’ll survive. Probably."

She huffed, unimpressed. But the mist kissed her skin like a dare.

Then, without warning, he leapt.

"Dex!"

Serena cursed under her breath and followed.

Her body cut through the air like a blade. The wind screamed past her.

Cold water hit her like a wall, knocking the breath from her lungs.

The current was far stronger than she expected. It seized her instantly, yanking her sideways and twisting her thin body. Lungs burning, she kicked upward. But the water curved against her like it meant to keep her. She felt herself being dragged under and panic flared in her chest.

And then she felt a hand. Sturdy. Strong. Warm. Dex had found her in the dark. But he didn’t pull. He only held her hand for a heartbeat, just long enough to say that she wasn’t alone.

Then he let go. She could feel that through their matebond, the effort it cost him to open his fingers.

She stopped fighting, letting the current move her. Not against it. Through it. She turned her body, shifted her limbs, rolled with the pull. Magic flickered under her skin. Like her soul aligned with the water.

She broke the surface with a gasping breath, water streaming down her face. Dex surfaced an arm’s length away.

"You might be the craziest woman I’ve ever met," he panted.

She blinked, her lips parting in a soft oh. "Oh... that’s why. Some water turns gold when I enter it."

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