26. Drakar
ONE YEAR LATER
I pace the stone floor, my boots scuffing against the worn surface as anxiety churns in my gut. The bond throbs with a dull ache, stretching thin across the distance between us. A month without Lirien feels like an eternity.
The emptiness in my chest where Lirien's presence usually radiates feels wrong. This past year has filled me with a completeness I never knew existed – like finding a piece of myself I hadn't realized was missing.
Watching her grow, and learn, and love has been the center of my world for the last year, and now it's been disrupted. I don't blame her for it. In fact, I understand more now than I ever did before. But the Day of Valentia is only minutes away and she's still not here, not home, safe in our arms.
While our bond has strengthened over time, my connection to Sethrys and Kaelor is different. Still strong, but intuitive rather than passionate. It's as though we come together to sense what Lirien needs most. A team. Her protectors.
"She should be back by now," I growl, running my fingers through my hair for the hundredth time. My boots wear a path in the stone floor. "She's been gone longer than she was with me."
The anxiety churning in my gut spreads outward, but a wave of tranquility washes over me. Seth's scaled hand lands on my shoulder, his touch cool against my feverish skin.
"Our little human knows what she's doing," Seth says, his forked tongue flicking between words. "The bond tells us she's safe."
"The bond tells us she's alive," I snap, shrugging off his touch. "What if someone took her? What if she's hurt and we can't reach her? What if the one Valentia chose for her?—"
A rumbling laugh cuts through my spiral of fears. Kaelor emerges from the kitchen, chunks of raw meat caught in his silver-streaked fur. "You worry even more than I did. Very funny."
I roll my eyes, ready to defend my concerns, but Seth steps between us, his emerald scales catching the lamplight.
"If anything had happened, the bond would have shattered us all," Seth says, his forked tongue flickering. "You know this, Darak. You've felt how it works."
"That doesn't mean—" The words die in my throat as warmth spreads beneath my skin, a familiar tingling sensation that makes my heart race. The bond hums through my blood like a forgotten melody suddenly remembered.
Kaelor's massive form straightens, his ears swiveling forward as his amber eyes brighten. Even Seth's constant movement stills, his tail freezing mid-sweep across the stone floor.
A grin splits Kaelor's wolf-like features, exposing sharp teeth as he bounces on his haunches. "She's here." His voice carries all the excitement of a child receiving a gift, his claws clicking against the floor as he shifts his weight.
The bond is stronger now, and I know he's right. After a month of emptiness, Lirien's presence fills the void in my chest. My fingers itch to touch her, to verify she's real and whole and safe. The warrior in me wants to check for injuries while the bound part of me just wants to hold her close and never let go.
My heart hammers against my ribs as footsteps echo down the corridor. Through our bond, I sense Lirien's presence growing stronger with each step, but there's something else – someone else – with her. The air crackles with unfamiliar magic.
The questions burning in my mind threaten to overwhelm me: Who has Valentia chosen? Will he accept the bond? Will he hurt her when he learns the truth?
The chamber door creaks open, and Lirien steps through with a tall, willowy man at her side. His blonde hair falls past his chin in perfect waves, his features delicate yet masculine. Despite his obvious beauty, there's something unsettling in his ice-blue eyes – a knowing look that seems out of place for someone who should be confused by this situation.
"Darak!" Lirien's voice rings out across the chamber, her face lighting up as she breaks into a run. Her silver hair streams behind her, those green eyes I've missed so much glowing with joy.
I catch her as she launches herself at me, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her close. The familiar scent of herbs and magic fills my senses as I bury my face in her hair. Her body fits against mine perfectly, like she was made to be there. Or perhaps that I was made to hold her.
"I missed you," she whispers against my neck, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
I watch as Seth slithers closer, his emerald scales catching the lamplight. "You're cutting it close, pet," he scolds, though his lips curl into an affectionate smile. His forked tongue flicks out between words, a habit I've grown oddly fond of over our time together.
Lirien laughs, the sound like wind chimes in a summer breeze, and pulls away from my embrace. She throws her arms around Seth's torso, her small frame dwarfed by his serpentine form. "I missed you all so much." Her voice cracks with emotion as Seth's tail curls protectively around her.
Kaelor crowds in next, his massive furry form engulfing both of them. The bond between us all pulses with warmth and contentment, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. I feel it in my chest, a golden thread connecting us all to Lirien, humming with renewed strength now that we're together again.
"My boys," she muses in a sigh of satisfaction.
When she finally extracts herself from their embrace, she moves back to the stranger's side. My jaw tightens involuntarily as she places her hand on his arm. The bond twists with something that feels like jealousy – from all three of us.
"This is Alaric," she says, her green eyes bright with an emotion I can't quite read.
Kaelor's massive form tenses beside me, his nostrils flaring as he scents the air. The silver streaks in his dark fur catch the lamplight as he circles Alaric, studying him with predatory focus.
"Vrakken," Kaelor growls, his amber eyes narrowing. "A blood-drinker."
A soft chuckle escapes Alaric's perfect lips. "Indeed I am." His ice-blue eyes sweep over our mismatched group, lingering on each of us in turn. "And I must say, your little family is exactly as fascinating as Lirien described."
My hand instinctively moves to my sword hilt. "You know the truth and you're still here?" The words come out sharp, challenging. "Impressive."
Alaric's arm slides around Lirien's waist, pulling her closer. The bond twists with anticipation – I feel it echo through Seth and Kaelor as well. Through our connection, I sense Lirien's mix of pride and nervousness.
"Your lover's summoning spell did more than just call me here," Alaric says, his thumb tracing circles on Lirien's hip. "It broke a curse that's bound me for centuries. I'm forever in her debt."
I watch as Lirien leans into his touch, her green eyes bright with something that looks suspiciously like triumph. The bond reflects her satisfaction.
"And if she wants to be bonded, I wouldn't have it any other way." Alaric's voice carries the smooth confidence of centuries, his ice-blue eyes gleaming with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
Through our shared connection, I feel the surge of Lirien's joy rippling outward like waves in a pond. The sensation floods my chest, mingling with Seth's cautious interest and Kaelor's protective curiosity. The bond stretches, not painfully, but with an elastic warmth that suggests room for more.
Lirien's gaze darts between us, her silver hair catching the lamplight as she turns. Her lips curl into that familiar smile – the one that first captured my attention on the battlefield. The bond reveals the level of her satisfaction, her love for each of us distinct yet harmonious, like instruments in an orchestra.
I watch her green eyes darken with desire as she looks at each of us in turn. The bond thrums with increased intensity, carrying hints of her growing arousal. My breath catches as her emotions wash over me – over all of us. Seth's tail twitches, Kaelor's fur bristles, and even Alaric's perfect composure slips for a moment.
"Well?" Lirien purrs, her voice thick with promise. The words hang in the air like incense, heady and intoxicating. The bond between us practically sings with anticipation.
A wicked grin breaks out on my face, knowing the bonding ritual is rewarded with heightened pleasure.
She meets my gaze like a seductress. "Shall we?"