I was still in shock—half terrified, half mesmerized—by how the entire kingdom celebrated the man standing beside me. Gideon. Their king.
Sure, he had an intimidating, commanding presence… but a king?
Apparently so, because the moment we stepped through the massive wooden gates, sharp curious eyes locked on me from every direction. Murmurs rippled across the grand entrance of this enormous jungle kingdom—voices echoing between towering trees and vine-woven bridges.
"Welcome back, sire!"
An elderly man with long silver hair, a staff carved from ancient bark, hurried toward Gideon. His eyes cut to me, assessing, sharp.
"How was the watch? It seems you've brought back something… unusual."
"Oh yes," Gideon replied casually. "I found this woman wandering the forbidden grounds. My senses detected no harm or corruption in her, so I brought her back. She says she needs help—and that she's not from here."
The old man frowned deeply.
"I am not sure we can trust an outsider, sire. We do not know if she carries ill intent toward our clan."
Excuse me?
I stepped forward, hands on my hips.
"Hi. Hello. Sir. Grandpa. Please don't judge a book by its cover. I promise I'm the sweetest, safest girl you'll ever meet. Girl Scout veteran, librarian, and part-time volunteer crosswalk guard." I said it with pride—because if anyone screams harmless, it's me.
His brows shot up. "What insolence—speaking without permission!"
Oh, that did it.
"Okay, listen," I snapped. "I don't want trouble. I just want to go home. I didn't even mean to be here."
I tried to step away, but Gideon grabbed my arm firmly.
"You have a knack for leaving whenever you want," he said, voice low but steady. "Stay. You are my guest. I told you—I will help you."
The old man—Morro, apparently—sniffed with annoyance.
"Sire, if she wishes to leave, let her."
Gideon's gaze hardened.
"Morro, are you questioning my authority—or my instincts? I have already said she is not a threat."
Morro shut his mouth immediately.
Gideon turned to the people gathered at the entrance and announced, in a clear commanding voice, "She is my guest. I see her as no threat—only as a friend."
The crowd parted instantly, creating a path.
As we walked deeper into the kingdom, I couldn't help observing everything: beasts in various forms—some human, some animal—jumping between colossal trees; bridges of vines weaving like living architecture; roots thicker than highways.
At the center stood massive redwood and sequoia trees intertwined so closely they formed a towering structure—a palace made by nature itself.
"This is the Ancient Tree of Life," Gideon said. "My home. And where you will stay until we meet the Oracle. She will help return you to your land."
"Thank you," I said, genuinely touched. "I… don't know how to repay you, but I will. I promise."
As we approached the palace, I realized something strange:
Everyone treated it like a communal home. Beasts climbed, crawled, swung, and leapt freely between branches. There were no stairs—only vines and thick wooden limbs.
I glanced upward.
"Uh… how exactly am I supposed to get to the top—?"
Before I finished, Gideon lifted me effortlessly and leapt from branch to branch, the wind whipping past us. He finally set me down on a wide wooden platform high above the ground.
"You may stay here until we see the Oracle," he said plainly.
A group of women nearby stared at me—some curious, others suspicious. Then one with fierce eyes and warrior braids walked over.
"Hi! I'm Sasha. Are you a bride candidate too?"
Instantly, the other women's expressions sharpened—competitive, deadly.
"Oh, uh… no? Pretty sure I'm not." I laughed awkwardly. "I'm just a guest."
Sasha sniffed me.
"You're lying."
More women approached, surrounding me.
"What do you mean I'm lying?" I asked, confused.
"He marked you," Sasha growled. "I can smell it."
"Mark? Me? Where?"
My hand flew to my neck.
She pointed. "Right there. Only the king's chosen bride carries his mark."
My eyes widened.
The lick.
The freaking lick.
"Oh my God—! If I had known that meant anything I wouldn't have let him! Please don't be mad, I swear I didn't know!"
Sasha glared, devastated.
"We have waited years. And he chooses… a newcomer?"
The tension exploded—women ready to attack me.
"I'll wash it off! I'll talk to him! I didn't ask for this, I promise!" I pleaded.
Then—
Gideon dropped down from above, swinging from a vine.
"Actually," he said calmly, "I've changed my mind. You don't belong here. Come with me—I'll take you to my dwelling."
Before I could react, he swept me into his arms.
The women behind me growled, whimpered, hissed.
"I'm sorry!" I yelled as Gideon leapt away.
His quarters sat at the very top—a breathtaking open space overlooking the entire jungle, glowing under a clear, star-filled sky. The air was warm, fragrant with blooming nightflowers.
"Wow…" I whispered. "This looks magical."
He whistled. Two beastly creatures swung over and handed him giant leaves. He laid them out neatly, making a makeshift bed.
"You can rest here," he said softly.
"In your room?!" I squeaked. "No offense, but that feels… wrong. And like a major insult to your, uh… bride candidates? They seem lovely, by the way. Maybe that's why you're struggling to choose—"
He stepped close, so close his warmth pressed against the air between us. His ears turned red.
"Why did you do that?" he murmured. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"What? No!" I nearly choked.
He rubbed his temple, exasperated.
Then I remembered the mark.
"Gideon… the lick. What does it mean?"
He sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"In Juno, marking someone means claiming them as your mate. It tells others you are taken—your scent carries my saliva."
I shot upright.
"You licked me to claim me? Without my consent?! Why me?"
His golden eyes softened.
"I don't know. When I saw you, my blood warmed. My chest pounded. I felt drawn to you. I simply… wanted you."
His voice was low, sweet, velvety. And it was very dangerous for my heart.
Stop it, Sienna.
Don't fall for him.
I pinched myself.
"We can't be together," I whispered. "I'm not from here. I need to go home."
He leaned in, so close I felt the heat of his breath flutter against my cheek.
He inhaled deeply.
"I love your scent," he murmured. "You smell… heavenly."
He took my hand gently, studying it, rubbing his thumb over my skin.
"Once the Oracle helps you… maybe there's a way you can come back." He lifted my hand to his lips—
And licked my fingers.
"I don't care if you're not from here," he whispered fiercely. "I just want you."
My whole body flushed with heat. I jerked my hand back, holding it against my chest. His eyes stayed on me—hungry, consuming.
I yawned, overwhelmed and exhausted.
"I… I need to sleep."
I curled up on the makeshift bed and covered my face with my hands. I wasn't even hungry anymore. Just tired. Emotionally destroyed. Sensory overloaded.
And despite everything, as I drifted into sleep…
I felt cold at first—
then suddenly, something warm curled around me, pulling me close.