Lysaa’s POV
I felt him before I heard him.
It wasn’t the sound of his footsteps-I couldn’t hear those. Lorien moved with the stealth of a predator, quiet and calculated. No, it was the shift in the air, the sudden warmth that tickled the back of my neck, and the unmistakable hum of his presence that gave him away.
“Nice try,” I said, smiling as I tilted my head slightly. “But you forget-I can always tell when it’s you.”
A low chuckle rumbled in my ear, deep and smooth like molten gold. “You’re getting too good at this,” Lorien murmured, his breath warm against my skin.
Before I could respond, his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest. A shiver ran down my spine as his lips brushed the side of my neck, lingering just long enough to make my breath hitch.
“Lorien…” I whispered, my voice shaky but soft.
His grip tightened slightly, his body heat enveloping me in a cocoon of warmth. Every nerve in my body seemed to come alive at his touch. When you’ve lost your sight, the other senses sharpen, and with Lorien, it was overwhelming in the best way. I could feel every tiny movement, every subtle shift in his breathing, the steady thrum of his heartbeat against my back.
He pressed another kiss to my neck, this one slower, more deliberate. His lips were soft but insistent, and a quiet hum escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“You like that?” he teased, his voice low and laced with mischief.
I tried to keep my composure, but the flush creeping up my cheeks betrayed me. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, though there was no bite to my words.
“I know,” he said, chuckling softly. “But you love it.”
I did. I really did. Lorien was everything I didn’t know I needed-protective but playful, intense but tender. He could be a bit much sometimes, but I never minded. I liked the way he clung to me, how he always seemed to be touching me, whether it was holding my hand, playing with my hair, or kissing my neck like he was doing now. It made me feel… wanted.
And after everything I’d been through, that was a feeling I never took for granted.
He sighed softly, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I just wish…”
I tensed slightly, sensing the shift in his mood. “What is it?”
“I just wish you could see me,” he said quietly, his voice thick with frustration. “Really see me.”
His words hung in the air, heavy and raw, and for a moment, neither of us said anything.
I knew how much it upset him, though he rarely voiced it aloud. He hated that I was blind, not because he saw me as broken but because he thought I deserved better.
“I want you to see me,” Lorien murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “To look into my eyes and know exactly how much you mean to me. I want you to see the way I look at you, Lysaa.”
His words made my heart clench painfully in my chest.
“And when I finally make love to you,” he continued, his voice dropping into that deep, velvety tone that always made my knees weak, “I want you to keep your eyes on me, to watch me as I rail you into the bed.”
My entire body heated at his words. I felt my cheeks burn, and I swatted his chest lightly, flustered.
“Lorien!” I scolded, my voice a breathless whisper.
He chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. “What? Just speaking the truth, my little fire.”
“Stop saying things like that,” I muttered, turning my face away in an attempt to hide how hot it had gotten.
But he wasn’t done. His arms tightened around me again, his breath warm against my ear.
“I want you to see everything, Lysaa,” he murmured.
His tone softened, and the heat from earlier faded into something more tender, more aching.
“I want you to see our hatchlings after they hatch. To watch them grow, to see them smile.” His arms held me close, as though he were trying to shield me from the ache in his own voice. “I want you to see everything.”
He didn’t have to say it, but I knew what he was thinking. He wished he could fix it.
I swallowed hard, trying to push down the ache that rose in my throat. I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want him to know how much it hurt because, deep down, I had already accepted it.
Or at least, I was trying to.
“There’s nothing we can do about it, Lorien,” I said gently, reaching up to place my hand over his. His skin was warm, his palm rough against my smooth fingers. “This is my life now. It’s not perfect, but… we’ll make it work. We’ll find our happiness. We’ll build a future together, and it’ll be beautiful, even if I can’t see it.”
My voice was steady, but I could feel the cracks underneath. I was coping. I’d been coping for months, and some days were easier than others. But the truth was, I missed seeing the world. I missed colors and sunlight and faces. I missed being able to look at my own reflection, to watch my friends laugh, to see Lorien when he smiled at me.
But I couldn’t dwell on it. I couldn’t let myself spiral.
To lighten the mood, I forced a teasing smile. “Besides, you’ve got to admit, it’s a little funny. My mate is the most gorgeous creature in existence, and I’m the only person who can’t appreciate it.”
Lorien huffed a laugh, though I could tell it was half-hearted.
“And hey,” I added with a grin, “at least you never have to worry about me checking out other guys. I wouldn’t know where to look.”
That earned a real laugh, low and rumbling, and I felt his chest shake against my back.
“You’re impossible,” he muttered, echoing my earlier words.
“I try.”
His laughter faded, and for a moment, we just stood there in comfortable silence. I leaned back against him, savoring his warmth, his scent, his steady presence.
And then, just when I thought we were moving past the heavy stuff, Lorien dropped a bombshell.
“What if there’s a way to fix it?”
I froze.
“What…?”
He loosened his grip on me slightly, just enough for me to turn around and face him-or at least, face the general direction of where I knew his face would be.
“What did you say?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“What if there’s a way to restore your sight?” he repeated, his tone serious. “A way for you to see again.”
For a moment, I didn’t breathe.
“Lorien…” I shook my head, forcing out a shaky laugh. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
I faltered, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.
“You can’t be serious,” I whispered. “There’s no cure. There’s nothing anyone can do. I’ve seen the doctors, I’ve tried everything-”
“This isn’t something a doctor can fix,” he interrupted gently. “It’s ancient magic, Lysaa. Draconian magic.”
I frowned. “What kind of magic?”
He hesitated, and I could sense the tension in him, the weight of whatever he was about to tell me.
“There’s a ritual,” he said slowly, as if choosing his words carefully. “It’s called the Soul Binding.”
“Soul Binding?” I repeated, confusion lacing my voice.
“It’s an ancient Draconian ritual,” Lorien explained. “It’s dangerous, and it’s only been done twice in our entire history. But if it works… it would bind us together completely. Body, mind, and soul.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“Bind us…?”
“It’s like the werewolf mate bond, but deeper,” he said. “Once it’s established, we’ll be connected in every way. We’ll be able to feel each other’s emotions, share each other’s pain. Our heartbeats will be in sync. And if one of us dies…” He trailed off, his voice tight. “So does the other.”
I swallowed hard, trying to process what he was saying.
“But what does that have to do with my sight?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
He took a deep breath. “Because if we share everything… you’ll share my sight too. You’ll be able to see through my eyes, Lysaa. You’ll see everything I see.”
His words hung heavy in the air, and I felt my breath hitch. Share his sight?
He wasn’t finished yet. “But love,” he said carefully, “you need to understand how dangerous this is. There have only ever been two people in Draconian history who successfully completed this ritual. They were like the Romeo and Juliet of Solaria-just that sure of their love.”
“That dangerous?” I echoed softly, tilting my head toward him.
“Very dangerous,” he confirmed. “The ritual is ancient magic, Lysaa. If something goes wrong…” He paused, as though searching for the right words. “The consequences are irreversible. Even lethal.”
I swallowed hard, letting the gravity of his words settle over me.
But despite the risk, despite the danger, my mind couldn’t stop spinning at the possibility.
I might be able to see again.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I could almost imagine it-the darkness receding, the fog lifting. I could see Lorien’s face, really see him. I could see the sunrise again, my friends, my family, my mate. My future children.
The thought filled me with so much joy that tears welled in my eyes.
“I… I could see again,” I whispered, my voice cracking. I tried to keep my composure, but my hands trembled as I gripped his.
Lorien squeezed my hands tightly. “Yes,” he said softly. “You could.”
I could hear the tension in his voice, the concern. He wanted to give me hope, but he was terrified of what might happen if things went wrong.
He pulled me into his arms again, resting his chin gently on top of my head.
“I’ll give you time to think about it,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “This isn’t something you should decide lightly.”
But I didn’t need time. I already knew what I wanted.
I pulled back just enough to face him-or at least tilt my head in his direction. My heart raced as I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it.
“Lysaa,” he murmured, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “I don’t want you to feel pressured. This is your choice. You don’t have to-”
“I want to,” I interrupted, my voice firm despite the trembling in my chest.
His breath hitched. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” I said, nodding. “I want to do this, Lorien. I want to see you.” My voice broke slightly, and I forced myself to keep going. “I want to see my friends, my family… our children when they hatch.”
He sucked in a sharp breath at my words, and I felt his hands tighten on my waist.
“I know it’s dangerous,” I continued, “but Lorien, I’ve been living in darkness for so long. And I trust you. If anyone can guide me through this, it’s you.”
He was silent for a long moment, and I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
Then, slowly, he exhaled.
“Alright,” he said quietly. “If you’re absolutely sure…”
“I am.”
And just like that, the tension seemed to drain from his body. He pulled me close again, holding me tightly as though he were afraid to let go.
“You’re so damn brave,” he murmured against my hair. “You know that?”
I smiled softly, feeling warmth bloom in my chest.
“Only because I have you.”
That was all it took for his lips to capture mine in a fierce, passionate kiss.
Heat bloomed between us as his mouth moved against mine, slow at first but quickly deepening. His hands slid up my back, pulling me closer, and I felt a soft moan escape my lips as he tilted my head to deepen the kiss.
My senses were on fire. Every touch, every caress, every brush of his lips felt amplified, electric.
Lorien kissed me like he was trying to pour all his love, all his devotion, into that one moment-and I kissed him back with just as much fervor.
When we finally pulled away, we were both breathless, our hearts racing in sync.
“Whatever happens,” he said softly, his forehead resting against mine, “we’ll face it together.”
“Together,” I whispered back, my heart full.
And in that moment, I knew with absolute certainty that we were making the right choice.