The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 87

Engagement Bond-1

For a moment that felt impossibly long, time itself seemed to stop

Caleb did not move.

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He kept his teeth embedded in the soft skin of her neck, exactly as the ancient instructions had described, his senses straining to capture every possible reaction, every shift of energy that might reveal the truth hidden beneath all the confusion of the past days.

The cold water continued to fall around them in relentless streams, soaking their hair, their clothes, the tiled floor beneath their feet, yet Caleb barely felt it anymore, because all of his awareness had narrowed to the fragile body in his arms and the strange pulse of power that had erupted the moment his teeth had broken her skin.

Then suddenly-

Iva’s body went completely limp.

The change was so abrupt that for a fraction of a second pure panic flashed through him.

His fangs withdrew instantly as his arms tightened around her.

“Iva?”

No answer.

Her head fell slightly against his shoulder, her breath slow but steady, her entire weight suddenly resting against him without resistance.

Caleb’s heart gave a sharp, unpleasant jolt.

For a split second the terrifying thought crossed his mind that he had hurt her far more than intended.

But the next moment reason returned.

Shock.

It had to be shock.

Between the heat, the pain, the overwhelming surge of bond energy, and the sheer unexpectedness of what he had just done, it was hardly surprising that her body had simply given up the fight.

Still, the sight of her unconscious form stirred something deeply uneasy inside his chest.

“Damn it,” he muttered quietly.

Carefully, Caleb shifted his grip and lifted her fully into his arms, supporting her head against his shoulder as he stepped out of the shower.

Water dripped from them both, leaving a wet trail across the marble floor as he moved through the bathroom and into the bedroom beyond.

The large room was quiet, dimly lit by the afternoon light filtering through the wide windows, the bed still

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<Engagement Bond- !

neatly made from earlier that morning

Caleb crossed the distance in long strides before lowering her gently onto the mattress.

For a moment he simply stood there, looking down at her.

Her hair was soaked.

Her clothes clung heavily to her skin.

And that was when the next problem made itself painfully obvious.

They were both drenched.

Completely.

And if she stayed like that much longer-

She would get sick.

Caleb ran a hand through his wet hair with visible irritation.

“Perfect,” he muttered under his breath on an ironic tone.

He moved first.

Practicality demanded it.

His shirt came off quickly, the wet fabric peeling away from his skin with an unpleasant chill before he tossed it aside.

Next went the rest of his clothes, each piece removed with efficient movements until he stood bare except for the water still dripping from his hair and shoulders.

He crossed quickly to the walk-in closet and pulled on a pair of dark shorts before returning to the bedroom.

And that was when the real problem presented itself.

Iva was still lying exactly where he had placed her.

Unconscious.

Breathing softly.

And still soaked from head to toe.

Caleb stopped at the side of the bed and stared at her for several seconds.

“This is going to be a problem,” he muttered.

Because there was only one logical solution.

And he knew it.

Yet he still hesitated.

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<Engagement Bond-1

He rubbed the back of his neck slowly, clearly annoyed with the situation.

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