Kamrynn’s POV
Lorien watched me intently, his grip iron as if expecting me to wrench my arm away and run now that I got what I wanted. But I don’t hesitate.
“Relax, will you? How am I supposed to bless you if you break my arm?” I tut.
He low-key glares at me but grudgingly lets go.
“Could you crouch for me a little? You’re built like a pole while I happen to be on the shorter side.”
His lips twitch like he’s about to retort but seems to decide against it, crouching down so he’s at my level.
I place my hand on his head, resisting the urge to run my fingers through his silky hair. A deep hum vibrates in my chest, low and ancient, as if something far greater than myself stirs within me. Aryna is quiet, letting me take full control, but I can feel her power threading through my veins.
The air shifts. A soft, silvery glow seeps from my fingertips, spreading across Lorien’s forehead like liquid moonlight. The moment it touches him, something cracks open in the space between us-a tether forming, unseen but undeniable. The energy pours from me into him, a divine force weaving itself into the very essence of his being.
“I bless you, Lorien,” I say, my voice carrying the weight of something beyond mortal. “With this gift, you will feel the pull of your mate, just as any other creature bound by fate. And when you find her, you will not be denied the bond meant for you. You will be whole. And if you so desire, you will bring life into this world-children, as many as your heart desires.”
Lorien shudders beneath my touch. His breath comes out sharp, his eyes widening in shock. The glow around my fingers pulses once before fading, leaving behind only a faint shimmer that lingers in the air before vanishing.
For a long moment, he says nothing. Then, he exhales deeply, almost in disbelief.
“I felt that,” he murmurs, rising back to full height and lifting his hand to his chest as if something inside him had shifted. “Something changed.”
A flicker of something unreadable passes through his gaze, and then he looks at me-truly looks at me, for the first time not as an enemy or a nuisance, but as something else entirely. Gratitude, perhaps.
“Thank you,” he says simply.
Then, as if that’s the end of it, he turns away. Probably expecting me to be on my merry way.
I don’t move.
Lorien glances over his shoulder, frowning. “What? Is there something in this house you’re attached to or did you change your mind?”
“We’re not done yet.” I cross my arms, standing my ground. “You still owe me.”
He fully turns now, arching a brow. “Owe you? I just gave you what you wanted.”
“And you took me from my family. You threw me into this mess. So, you’re going to fix it.” I step forward, unwavering. “You’re taking me back.”
Lorien stared at me quizzically, arms crossing over his chest as if expecting me to chuckle and admit I’m joking. “You want me to take you back?”
I nod, unwavering. “That’s right.”
His lips twitch, amusement flickering in his gaze. “And what makes you think I’d agree to that?”
I arch a brow. “Guilt, maybe? The fact that you owe me for kidnapping me, erasing my memories, and nearly ruining my life?”
Lorien snorts. “You’re acting like I locked you in a dungeon and fed you scraps.”
I give him a pointed look. “You wiped my mind and lied to me for a month.”
He exhales through his nose, rolling his shoulders. “Details.”
“Big details.” I step closer, tilting my head. “But since you’re my friend now, I’m giving you a chance to make things right.”
Lorien laughs, low and rich, shaking his head. “That’s bold of you to assume we’re friends.”
“Oh, we are friends,” I say matter-of-factly. “You don’t get to traumatize me and then just go our separate ways like nothing happened. Nope. We’re bonded for life now, buddy.”
His smirk widens, eyes gleaming. “And here I thought you’d want nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I still want to strangle you a little.” I flash him a sweet smile. “But that can wait until after you take me home.”
Lorien hums, tapping a finger against his chin as if considering. Then he leans forward slightly, voice dropping into something almost playful. “And if I say no?”
I meet his gaze, unflinching. “Then I make your life hell.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Selene help me.”
“Selene helps those who do the right thing.” I pat his arm. “So be a good dragon and take me home.”
Lorien sighs dramatically, as if I’ve just asked him to hand over his soul. “Fine. But only because I don’t feel like having you haunt me for the rest of eternity.”
I grin. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
He mutters something under his breath before rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet, you like me anyway.”
Lorien huffs a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, yeah. Get ready, little wolf. We leave at dawn.”