Lorien’s POV
She was mine.
My mate. My fated one. The woman the universe had carved from its very essence just for me.
The moment she uttered that single, undeniable word-“Mate.”-everything inside me snapped.
Instinct screamed at me to take her. To claim her, mark her, and bury myself so deep inside her that she would never forget who she belonged to. My body burned with an uncontrollable need, my muscles tensing as I prepared to pounce-
But then, she spoke again.
“What’s your name?”
Her soft voice was like ice-cold water dousing the raging inferno in my veins. My claws, halfway extended, retracted. My hands, which had been reaching for her, curled into fists at my sides.
What the fuck was I doing?
She was blind. Vulnerable. And no matter how much my instincts clawed at me to claim her, no matter how much my blood roared for her, I could never-would never-force her.
I exhaled slowly, forcing the burning ache in my gut to subside as I straightened.
Then, with all the poise and restraint I could muster, I bowed slightly and introduced myself, my voice deep and steady.
“I am Lorien Vaelaris De Solaria. Crown Prince of the Solarian Kingdom. Kamrynn’s friend-I brought her back here. It’s a pleasure to meet you, mate.”
Her lips parted slightly in surprise, then she smiled-a soft, shy thing that made my chest ache in a way that had nothing to do with desire.
“Lysaa Crestin,” she murmured, tilting her head slightly.
Lysaa.
The name settled over me like a whisper of fate.
I reached for her hand, marveling at how small and fragile it felt in mine, and brought it to my lips. I kissed her knuckles, lingering just a second longer than necessary before gently guiding her palm to my face.
The moment her fingers brushed my skin, she gasped.
I felt the slight tremble in her touch as she ran her fingertips along my jaw, over the sharp planes of my cheekbones, across my brow. She was memorizing me, creating an image of me in her mind the only way she could.
My heart lurched.
I wanted to hold her so badly it was painful.
Lysaa’s cheeks flushed, a delicate pink that made me want to scoop her into my arms and never let go.
“Your scent… it’s weird,” she mumbled, almost to herself. “You don’t smell like a werewolf at all.”
I chuckled, my grip on her hand tightening just slightly. “That’s because I’m not a werewolf, Lysaa.”
Her fingers stilled against my cheek.
“I’m a dragon.”
She froze.
I smirked, amused by her reaction. “Not just any dragon, either. I’m the last surviving Draconian of Solaria. The crown prince of my kingdom.”
Lysaa inhaled sharply, her expression stunned.
“A dragon? A prince?” She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it. “I never… I never would have expected my mate to be a dragon. Especially not someone of your status.”
A frown tugged at my lips. Something about the way she said that bothered me.
“And why the hell not?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
She hesitated.
I caught the subtle drop in her shoulders, the way her lips pressed together, the quiet doubt in her posture.
Then it hit me.
“It’s because you’re blind, isn’t it?”
The way she flinched told me everything I needed to know.
I cursed under my breath.
Not liking the distance between us, I scooped her into my arms in one fluid motion.
“Ah-!” Lysaa gasped, her hands grasping at my shoulders in alarm.
“Why would you ever think you’re not worthy of me?” I asked, carrying her into the room before kicking the door shut behind us.
She had no answer.
Gently, I set her down on the bed, leaning over her so she had no choice but to listen to me.
“I don’t care that you’re blind, Lysaa. It doesn’t change who you are. It doesn’t make you any less than mine.”
Her lips parted, but she didn’t interrupt.
I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my voice dropping lower. “I don’t care about what you can or can’t do. I don’t care about what you possess or what you lack. All I care about is you-all of you. Your fears, your vulnerabilities, your very essence bared completely to me. Because once a dragon takes a mate, it’s for life.”
Lysaa swallowed hard, clearly flustered.
“That’s… that’s a really beautiful thing to say,” she murmured. But then her expression dimmed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. “But… I’ll never be able to see your face.”
My chest tightened.
“I’ll only ever imagine what you look like. Anticipate your touch. Treasure your voice…”
The sadness in her tone was like a blade to my gut.
I didn’t like it.
I hated it.
My hand slid to her thigh, fingers brushing over the soft skin just beneath the hem of her dress.
She stiffened.
“Then let me make sure you never feel like you’re lacking,” I murmured, lowering my head and pressing a lingering kiss to the inside of her thigh.
Lysaa shuddered, heat spreading across her cheeks.
“Y-You…” She swallowed hard, then let out a breathless laugh. “You naughty dragon. You’re already trying to have sex with me when we’ve only just met.”
I smirked. “I wouldn’t call it trying. More like… offering.”
Her blush deepened.
Adorable.
I leaned in, my fangs grazing the tender flesh of her inner thigh. I felt the sharp inhale she took, the way her breath hitched as my grip on her leg tightened.
Then, before she could protest-
I bit.
Her gasp was sharp, her body jerking slightly at the sensation. The taste of her blood-rich, warm, intoxicating-hit my tongue, and I groaned.
Fucking hell.
I licked the wound slowly, savoring every drop as the heat in my veins roared back to life. The bite would heal within hours-dragon fluids contained healing properties-but that didn’t matter.
Because now she carried my mark.
Now, everyone would know she was mine.