Page 30 of Mane Attraction
“All correct,” Lev confirmed, impressed despite himself.
“Do you know what those tests entail specifically?” she asked, leaning forward with the intensity of someone preparing for battle.
Lev’s mouth curved into a rueful smile. “The elders change it up so you can’t really study for it or know what to expect. They want it to be challenging, to test the candidate under pressure.”
Xelene’s jaw tightened with determination. “Then we’ll just have to prepare in every way we can think of for each test and hope it’s enough.”
The fierce loyalty in her voice, the way she said ‘we’ as if his success was her personal mission, made Lev’s chest warm with something deeper than gratitude. This incredible woman was choosing to stand beside him, even after everything that had gone wrong.
“Thank you,” he said quietly, letting sincerity replace his usual charm. “For everything. Truly. For not bolting, even though I would have understood if you had.”
Xelene’s expression softened. “I never leave a job incomplete, no matter how challenging. And this is certainly proving to be the most challenging assignment I’ve ever taken.”
The light filtering through his windows was growing golden, painting her face with warm hues that made her look less like the polished consultant and more like the woman he’d held in his arms. Lev stood abruptly, needing movement before he did something foolish like reach for her.
“Would you like to go for a walk through the city?” he asked, hoping his voice sounded casual rather than desperate. “Just to take your mind off things, get to know the place better.”
Xelene considered for a moment, then nodded. “Sure. I could use some fresh air.”
“I could too,” Lev admitted. “It’s been a long, eventful day.”
Eventful was certainly one way to describe burying his father and accidentally completing a mate bond with the mostfascinating woman he’d ever met. As they headed toward the door, Lev found himself hoping that showing Xelene his kingdom might help her see what he was fighting for—and maybe, just maybe, help her understand why he needed her beside him for all of it.
TWENTY-ONE
XELENE
The setting suns painted Nova Aurora’s sky in brilliant shades of coral and gold as Xelene walked beside Lev toward the heart of his kingdom. He’d pulled on a simple black t-shirt before they left, the fabric stretching across his broad chest in a way that made her pulse quicken despite her efforts to remain professional. She’d offered to change into something more formal, but he’d waved off her concern with that easy confidence that seemed to radiate from him.
“Comfort is fine,” he’d said, his deep voice carrying that hint of authority that made her stomach flutter. “It’s just a stroll through the city to relax after a long day.”
Now, as they approached the main thoroughfare where pride members moved about their evening routines, Xelene felt anything but relaxed. The mate bond hummed between them like a live wire, growing stronger with each step they took together.
“We’ll still need to maintain our cover in public,” she said, keeping her voice neutral despite the chaos in her chest. “People will expect to see us acting like a couple.”
Lev’s blue eyes flicked to hers, and she caught the golden gleam that meant his lion was close to the surface. “Even though you’ve decided to put the mate bond on hold?”
The question carried an edge of challenge that made her spine straighten. “Yes. The charade is part of rehabilitating your image, remember?”
Though how I’m supposed to act like this is all a charade when this bond won’t stop pulsing between us is beyond me,she thought, fighting the urge to rub at the mate mark on her hip that seemed to burn with awareness of his proximity.
Lev had warned her that the completed bond would only intensify with time, changing them both in ways neither could control or manage. The thought terrified her—losing control was her greatest fear, and this supernatural connection threatened to strip away everything she’d carefully built for decades.
But he’d promised not to push, and she was grateful for that boundary even as her body betrayed her with every breath.
As they reached the bustling main street, Lev’s warm hand suddenly enveloped hers. The contact sent electricity racing through her, and she had to bite back a gasp at the intensity of sensation.
“For appearances,” he murmured, his thumb brushing across her knuckles in a gesture that felt far too intimate.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. Through the bond, she could feel his awareness of her—the tension coiled in her muscles, the way her pulse had spiked at his touch, and the desire she was desperately trying to suppress.
Could he also sense how her carefully maintained composure was fracturing with each passing moment?
As they walked hand in hand, she realized no job or crisis she’d ever faced had involved her soul being bound to a man who looked like he’d been carved from her deepest fantasiesand whose mere presence made her forget why she’d sworn off emotional entanglements.
Lev guided her past shops and cafes that glowed with warm light, pointing out landmarks with the easy pride of someone who truly loved his home. When they stopped in front of a charming bakery with windows that showcased an array of colorful pastries, his face lit up with boyish enthusiasm.
“You have to try the Nova Aurora pastries,” he said, squeezing her hand gently. “They’re absolute heaven.”
