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My feet become tangled, something strong and powerful wrapping around my legs and hips.

Then I'm thrust into the air. I scream, remembering to take a breath before I crash back into the water, and look down to see Malachi with a cheeky grin on his face.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I lunge towards him, all the wrath and fury of a siren painted on my face, my hair wildly slinging around my shoulders.

He just laughs, catching me easily as I fall against his chest. I try dunking him, pushing down hard on his broad shoulders, but the strong Alpha has firmly planted his feet in the stand and is impervious to my attacks.

I settle for crashing my lips to his just as another wave crashes over us. The taste of salt is strong on his tongue, the warmth a contrast to the cold water that streams from our hair and down our cheeks. His hands wrap around my slim waist tightly, warming my bare skin. I shiver and wrap my legs around his hips, clinging to him as the surge of water buffets us.

He is my anchor, holding me close, ensuring nothing can knock me down or wash me away. He carries me out beyond the breakers, and we spend the last remaining hours of glorious sunshine floating, treading water, ducking under the waves, and whispering secrets against each others lips.

As the sky burns orange and magenta, violet hues streaking from the horizon, and the first stars begin to shine in the cornflower sky above us, we make our way out of the water and laugh at our wrinkled skin.

With his hand in mine, the cool breeze caressing our skin, and the evening shadows wrapping us in secrecy, I feel so peaceful and content. I am finally home. No matter where on earth I am, as long as Malachi is with me and our bond is strong and unhindered, I will be perfectly happy.

There's no need for words as we make our way back up to our room. A silent understanding exists between us, our minds linked in such a beautiful way even before we have consummated our love and bond.

At that thought, a coil of nervousness twists in my stomach, and I'm sure Malachi senses the change in my mood as his hand tightens around mine.

"You okay?"

"Sure," I give him my best smile and do all I can to block the fear and doubt in my mind from him. "I'm just cold. I might take a hot shower, then we'll get some food, hmm? I'm hungry after all that swimming," I say, quickly grabbing a clean towel, some clothes, and my bathroom bag. I slide the bathroom door shut before my mate can even respond. As I raced around the artfully decorated room, I felt his eyes on me, a blazing hot scrutiny as I brushed him off. But I ignore it and pray he'll understand in time.

As I stand with a beach towel wrapped around my shivering body, taking a moment to catch my breath, I hear a knock on the door and jump in startlement. Hesitating to open it, I call out, "What?"

"What?" he echoes.

"What what?" I release the towel from around me and keep staring at my messy reflection in the mirror, hoping he'll go away.

But I should know by now—my mate isn't easily deterred. "What what what?"

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" I sigh dramatically at his childishness and open the door, raising an eyebrow as I lock gazes with him.

He is standing right at the threshold, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his broad chest and an aggravated look on his face. "Why did you close the door on me?" He too raises an eyebrow as we stare at each other.

"So I could have a shower," I say quickly, folding my own arms over my chest to mask a small shiver. A rush of cool air swirls around me from the open doorway, brushing lightly on my bare skin.

"And you closed the door because..." he queries, looking down at me with such intensity in his eyes.

I hesitate, then swallow quickly before replying with the truth. "Because I'm not ready for this," I motion between us. "I'm still all sandy and gross." Well, that's partly the truth. I just want a nice warm shower to clean myself and calm my mind, but mainly I want to delay the moment that I am craving and dreading with the same heartbeat.

The scar over my heart is like a summer sun in my eyes; bright, glaring, and all consuming. The heat of embarrassment threatens to cover me like molten lava, the clammy fear about to drag me under like a rogue wave catching me unawares.

He takes a step into the bathroom, and I take one back. With a shrug, he says casually, "Well, so am I."

"You're anything but gross." The words slip past my lips on their own accord, my eyes unashamedly travelling over his muscled chest and toned abdominals. The firm muscles ripple under tanned golden skin with each step he takes towards me, wrapping him in the honed strength of a predator, and I back up until I feel the cold porcelain sink at my back.

I look up to meet his gaze. Immediately, I am snared by his eyes that are so dark, his smirk so sure, his lips so kissable.

"I want you, Dreamer," those lips move ever so slowly, lazily.

His words, as they reach my ears and sink into my mind, are possessive, territorial, heated. And they only fan the spark that catches fire in my belly. It flashes through my body, sending even more shivers over my arms and legs. I want to fight it, but I feel myself weakening with each moment that passes, each step he takes closer to me. "I want you, too." Something about his unrelenting gaze has my lips spilling the truth.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Again, his eyebrow rises, his eyes hinting at mirth. "I'm all yours," he opens his arms, ready for me to step into them.

But I hold back, and continue to keep my arms crossed as if they are my last defence between my mate's body and mine. "For my heart to stop thumping like a hundred tribal drums. It feels like a freight train is hurtling through my chest and I can't stop it. I can't breathe."

He shakes his head, his eyes never leaving mine, and his lips nudge up in a small smile. "It's okay to be nervous. I feel the exact same way," he reaches for my hand and tugs it towards his chest.

Placing it over his heart, I feel the heavy pounding that matches my own. I tap my fingers over the skin, feeling the rhythmic thumping increase, the tempo kicking into a rapid dance like a hummingbird. I let my fingers trail down to the top of his ribs, and my eyes widen as I see a mark over his own heart. There, on the skin in the middle of his chest, is a light pink scar a few centimetres long.

I don't get time to wonder what this means, because with a sharp pull, he tugs me closer until I fall against his chest. I screech in shock and surprise, but the sound is muffled as his lips come crashing onto mine. His kiss is determined, passionate, and gentle. I let him control it, loving the way my body melts into his, the way his arms wrap so securely around me. The feel of his skin on mine causes all thoughts to flee from my mind, except one.

I want him. All of him.

When his fingers trail up my back and fiddle with my bikini straps, I let them, until he tugs away the material and there is no longer anything between us. We are one step closer to becoming truly one. I want this and need this. For so long, we have been apart and it has nearly ripped our relationship into something irreparable. My mind wars with itself, but I realise I shouldn't let one small insecurity stand in our way of bliss and completion.

He pulls back from the kiss, his eyes searching mine for any fear or hesitancy. After finding none, he lets his gaze wander over my body. I close my eyes, feeling the heat of his gaze on my skin as if burning fingers were instead touching me. I don't want to see the shadow that creeps in when he sees the scar. I don't want to see disappointment at the ruination of my once beautiful body. I don't want to—

"Is this what you are afraid about?"

His warm voice snaps me back to reality, and I see him looking at me with concern, his eyes darting down to my chest before colliding with my gaze again. He sighs gently, a soft exhale that lingers on my skin and tangles with the fine hair on my neck.

"Yes," my voice is thready and weak. My eyes drop to the floor, a blush staining my cheeks. "It hasn't seemed to heal since the fight. I'm left with an ugly scar that ruins my skin."

"Ariella," he cuts me off, his fingers trailing gently over the offending mark. His touch is so light, so pure, that my heart beats wildly just millimetres beneath the tip of his finger. "My dear, dear Ariella. Scars are nothing to be ashamed of."

My whole body shudders from his touch as much as his deep and rough voice. "But it reminds me every day of what happened. Of how they were so cruel to me. To us." I don't mention his mother is the reason for this, knowing it would hurt that much more. The blame of my death is laid on the countless demons there that night.

Tears prick my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I refuse to show how weak I feel on the inside.

"Shhh, no, that's not it." He slides a hand up the curve of my side, over my shoulder, and to the nape of my neck. Pulling me closer, he angles my face so I'm looking directly into his eyes. "That's not what I am reminded of. This scar shows your courage."

I bite my lip to stop it from trembling. "But it's still horrible, and I don't want to see it for the rest of my life. The reminder of that night will haunt me forever."

He shakes his head, his eyes darkening as he wills me to see this from his perspective. "It doesn't have to. You have so many amazing things to dream about instead," he tells me firmly. "I'll be with you every night, holding you close whenever a nightmare attacks. And this scar," he looks down at it again and my breath stalls in my throat. "This scar is proof of your bravery and loyalty.

It tells of how far you went to claim what is yours. You fought the very darkness in our hearts so we could be together. You saved me. I am yours, and you belong to me just as much as I belong to you forever. Can't you see, your death proved that?"

I listen to his words, wanting to believe them, knowing they are true but my mind still fights against the goodness of them. What he tells me is more than I can stand to believe. Tears blur the vision of my mate, his beautifully handsome face shining as he tries to make me understand.

He goes on, "Besides my mark on your neck, which proves to everyone of my claim on you, this scar on your chest proves to me of your love and devotion to me. It is the most powerful claim, that you've given your life for me. You've claimed me, and no one on earth, or in heaven, or in any other realm, can tear us apart. That's what I see when I look at your scar.

The heart beating underneath beats for me, with life given by our King. You were taken from me by the hate of others, but returned with undying love and strength. Remember that when you look at your scars." He tenderly kisses my forehead, before resting his head against mine. "They don't define you. They defy the world that tries to tear us apart."

His fingers continue to run in small patterns over my skin, and I feel tears sliding down my cheeks from his gentle ministrations. His words run over me like warm honey, healing my wounds and cleansing the caverns of dark fears and doubts. I cling to him, my cheek pressed against his, my mouth so close to his own. We share the same air; our hearts share the same rhythm; our souls connect in a place so pure I am beginning to fathom the true depth of his love for me.

He tilts his head until his lips close over mine, and I taste every single emotion he is feeling through our connection. Desire so strong, love so deep, happiness that fills his heart, pride in my bravery and strength, peace that we can finally be together, and determination to never let me go no matter what battles come our way in this darkened world.

I smile into the kiss before biting his lower lip as he presses me impossibly closer to himself. I am beyond grateful for his understanding of my insecurity. He has soothed my anxiousness in a way I never dared to hope for.

He didn't tell me the scar didn't matter, or that he didn't even see it. He didn't say the painful reminder of my death was barely noticeable, or that his eyes would skim over it every time he admired my body. He didn't try and pretend it wasn't there, or say tender words to diminish its presence on my skin.

Instead, he told me of its true meaning, of the beauty of it. He showed me the depth of its significance in our lives, and how it shaped our relationship for eternity. He made me feel wanted and desired because of it, not despite it.

So with every fear and inhibition released from my soul; with every wall and barricade broken down between us; with every dark corner of our minds filled with a radiant light that transcends the very reality of us, we give ourselves to each other in the purest of love and selflessness. In every way we become one heart, one body, and one mind.

Our souls are forever entwined and bonded for an eternity that stretches beyond what we can even comprehend.