Chapter 362

• We paused just five steps from the bottom of the staircase, where Leonardo greeted the crowd with a warm smile that effortlessly commanded attention. A flush crept up my cheeks at the intensity of his presence, a stark contrast to the calm and collected demeanor he maintained—even as he flooded my mind with suggestive images that left me squirming.
• “For those of you who do not hail from the Water Court, thank you for making the journey,” Leonardo began, his voice steady and resonant. “Let today mark the beginning of a new era—one where more of us discover who we are and where we come from. An era where our bonds strengthen, and the term true mate is no longer a whispered rumor.”
• I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering to him, from the confident way he stood to how his tunic hugged the breadth of his chest and shoulders. A flutter of heat stirred low in my stomach, and I bit back a smirk when his words faltered, the rush of my desire crashing into him like a tidal wave. His gaze cut to me, sharp and warning, as he cleared his throat.