ACROSS THE DEPTHS OF THE UNIVERSE

Asher's First Glimpse of Valeria

*** author's pov***

Asher's steps were slow and deliberate as he approached the dais, each footfall echoing softly on the ice beneath him. The other elemental kings watched him in silence, sensing the gravity of the moment. This was the first time Asher was seeing Valeria with his own eyes, the woman who had haunted their dreams and hearts, the mate they had lost and found once more.

Valeria sat in the center of the dais, her legs crossed, hands resting on her knees, her eyes closed in deep meditation. Her long hair cascaded down her back, catching the light of the crystals and glowing with a silver sheen. Her face was serene, almost ethereal, as if she were a part of the very magic that filled the coven. Even in this state of tranquility, there was an undeniable strength to her, a silent power that radiated from her being.

Asher's eyes traced the gentle curve of her cheek, the soft arch of her brows, and the delicate shape of her lips. There was a sense of familiarity that stirred within him, a connection that transcended time and space. He felt his heart tighten, a mix of awe and longing washing over him. For so long, he had felt her presence in his soul, like a whisper in the wind, but seeing her now made the bond real, undeniable.

His gaze drifted to the sword resting by her side, The Destroyer, glowing softly as if attuned to her very essence. The sight of it confirmed everything Emilia had said-Valeria was powerful, and that power was tied to her past, to Zelerious, to the battles and loves of a life she had forgotten. Yet, to Asher, she was more than her past. She was the woman they had sought, the one who completed them, the one they would fight for, no matter the cost.

Asher knelt before Valeria, his eyes never leaving her face. He reached out a hand, hesitating just above her skin, afraid to break the spell of the moment. He could feel the warmth of her, the steady pulse of life that beat beneath the surface. **"Valeria,"** he whispered, his voice filled with a softness that surprised even him. "Can you hear me?"

Valeria's eyelids fluttered, a slight frown creasing her brow. Asher's heart leapt at the small sign of recognition. He leaned closer, his hand gently brushing against hers, a tentative touch filled with the hope of a new beginning. "It's me, Asher," he continued, voice barely more than a breath. "I'm here, and I'm not going to leave you. We're all here for you."

Her eyes slowly opened, revealing a depth of blue that seemed to hold the entire sky within them. For a moment, they were unfocused, lost in the haze of meditation. But as they cleared, Asher saw confusion and a flicker of something he couldn't quite place. Pain, perhaps, or the echoes of memories long buried.

"Asher?"Valeria's voice was soft, almost unsure, as if she were testing the sound of his name on her lips.

A rush of relief and warmth flooded through Asher, and he couldn't stop the small smile that curved his lips. "Yes, Valeria. It's me. I've been waiting a long time to meet you."

Valeria's gaze held his, and for a moment, the world around them faded away. There was only the two of them, suspended in the magic of the coven, connected by the threads of destiny that had woven their fates together. Asher felt his own power respond to hers, the elemental energy within him rising like a tide, drawn to the force that Valeria exuded without even trying.

"Why?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with confusion and something else-hope. "Why are you all here? Why do you care so much?"

Asher's expression softened, his eyes reflecting the warmth and sincerity he felt. "Because you are our mate, Valeria. We've loved you before we even knew your name. And now that we've found you, we will do everything in our power to protect you, to help you find your way. We're not just here for ourselves, but for you. Always for you."

Valeria blinked, emotions flickering across her face-fear, uncertainty, a yearning she couldn't quite name. The depth of their bond, the truth of his words, stirred something within her. It was as if his voice, his presence, was awakening a part of her she had long kept hidden.

The silence that followed was charged with unspoken words and the weight of their shared pasts. Asher remained kneeling before her, patient and steadfast, his hand still resting lightly on hers. In that moment, he silently vowed that no matter what lay ahead, no matter the darkness they might face, he would be her anchor, her shield.

And perhaps, in time, Valeria would come to see that their love, like the magic of the coven, was a force that could not be denied.