The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 80

Heat-2

“We don’t know that, he replied silently.

Chaos didn’t sound convinced.

“Bond strong.”

Caleb exhaled slowly.

“Even if she is the Messenger… that doesn’t automatically mean she’s our mate.”

But Chaos pushed again.

“She feels right.”

Caleb stood up abruptly, walking toward the large windows overlooking the city.

Below, the world moved normally.

People commuting.

Cars flowing through traffic.

Normal lives.

Lives far simpler than his own.

He rested one hand against the glass.

“I know, Chaos, but you’re forgetting something,” he muttered.

Chaos remained silent.

Caleb’s eyes darkened slightly.

“We are the most valuable target in our entire species.”

Crown Prince.

Future King.

Every move he made had consequences.

Every relationship had political implications.

And the past had already taught him painful lessons.

His mind flashed back to the many women who had approached him over the years.

Women claiming destiny.

Claiming the Goddess had chosen them.

Claiming they were his fated mate.

+25 Points

1/9

Heat 2

Some had tried tears.

Others manipulation.

Others sorcery, magic

Some had tried seduction.

But in the end it had always been the same

When they looked at him-

They didn’t see Caleb.

They saw the crown.

The throne.

The power.

Or the unimaginable wealth that came with the Adama name.

He had learned the hard way.

Trust was expensive.

And foolishness could destroy kingdoms.

His voice was quiet when he spoke again.

“I won’t make that mistake again.”

Chaos rumbled low in his mind.

Not arguing.

But not fully agreeing either.

Caleb’s gaze drifted once more toward the hallway.

Toward the guest room she had slept in.

Then toward the elevator she had taken minutes earlier.

And despite all his logic…

Despite all his caution…

Despite the years of discipline he had built-

His body still remembered how she felt in his arms.

Soft.

Warm.

す

+25 Points

< Heat 2

Dangerously right.

He exhaled slowly.

“Ten days,” he repeated.

Because until the full moon-

He refused to believe anything.

Not even his own instincts.

–

The kitchen roared around her.

Metal clanged.

Water rushed through the industrial sinks.

Orders were shouted across the line in rapid-fire rhythm.

But Iva barely heard any of it.

Her hands moved automatically.

Plate.

Rinse.

Scrub.

+25 Points

Stack.

Repeat.

She had thrown herself into work the moment she arrived, hoping the physical exhaustion would drown out the chaos inside her mind.

It usually worked.

Work had become her refuge.

Her shield.

If she moved fast enough… worked hard enough… thought about nothing except the next dish, the next tray, the next stack of pans-

Then maybe she wouldn’t think about him.

Caleb.

Just the thought of his name made something dangerous flutter inside her chest.

Stop it, she scolded herself.

319

Heat 2

Fecus

She grabbed another heavy pot and shoved it under the spray nozzle.

Hot water blasted over her hands.

Steam rose in thick clouds around her face.

Normally she didn’t mind the heat.

After days in this kitchen, her body had adapted.

But today-

Something felt different.

Her skin was burning.

Not from the kitchen.

From inside.

A deep warmth spread through her veins, pooling low in her stomach.

She shifted her weight uncomfortably.

Why is it so hot today…

The kitchen felt like a furnace.

Her breathing had become shallow.

Her heart thumped harder than usual.

A bead of sweat slid down the side of her neck.

Another wave of heat washed through her body.

Stronger this time.

Iva paused.

Her hand tightened around the sponge.

That was… strange.

Her body felt restless.

Sensitive.

Almost like electricity humming beneath her skin.

Avalon stirred uneasily inside her mind.

“Iva…”

+25 Points>

< Heat 2

“know,” she muttered under her breath while scrubbing harder.

“I feel it too.”

She forced herself to continue working.

Stack.

+25 Points

Scrub.

Rinse.

Stack.

But the warmth kept growing,

Slowly.

Relentlessly.

Then suddenly-

A sharp stab of pain twisted through her lower abdomen.

Iva gasped quietly.

Her hand slipped.

A plate clattered loudly in the sink.

“Careful!” one of the line cooks barked from across the kitchen.

“Sorry!” she called quickly.

But she had already gone pale.

Another stab of pain twisted through her stomach.

She pressed a hand lightly against her abdomen.

“Great.”

Her shoulders sagged slightly.

“My period is coming,” she whispered to herself.

The realization brought a small wave of relief.

That explained the discomfort.

The heat.

The strange sensitivity.

It had probably been delayed because of stress, poor food, and lack of sleep.

5/9

< Heat 2

Her body had been through hell these past weeks.

Of course her cycle would be messed up.

She wiped her damp hands on a towel.

“I need a bathroom break,” she told one of the servers passing by.

The girl barely glanced at her.

“Make it quick.”

Iva nodded and hurried toward the hallway leading to the staff restrooms.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

The warmth inside her body had not faded.

If anything, it was getting worse.

Her heart beat faster.

Her breathing deepened.

Something felt… off.

She pushed the bathroom door open and quickly slipped into one of the stalls.

The moment she locked the cubicle door-

Another violent stab of pain cut through her abdomen.

“Ah-!”

The sound escaped her before she could stop it.

Her knees buckled.

She dropped onto the toilet seat, clutching her stomach.

Cold shivers suddenly raced across her skin.

Her entire body trembled.

“What the-”

Another wave of heat slammed into her.

Much stronger.

Her breath hitched.

Sweat broke out across her neck and back.

Her heart began pounding harder.

+25 Points

6/9