I swallowed, staring up at him. His face was so close now. Up close, he was even more unreal—his white hair dripping against his chest, his markings glowing faintly like light under his skin.

“I…” My voice broke. “I don’t know.”

For a heartbeat, everything went silent. The forest. The stream. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Before I could blink, he moved. His hand slid from my cheek to the back of my neck, fingers wrapping firmly but not painfully.

His mouth crashed against mine, and for a heartbeat, my mind went completely blank.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t sweet. It was fierce, demanding, and it made...