Chapter Seven
TYNE NEEDED TIME ALONE, so he was glad when Meyer eventually left.
He might have accepted that Meyer wasn’t Peyton and that Peyton was never coming back, but he needed to grieve.
He’d known he would never get Peyton back when they’d started finding their dragons, but for decades before that, he’d hoped.
As much as he hated Peyton, he thought that maybe, after everything that happened, Peyton would have changed his mind.
Tyne had prayed they would get a second chance.
They wouldn’t.
Peyton was gone for good.
That didn’t mean Tyne couldn’t get a second chance with Meyer, though.
He glanced at the door that connected their rooms.
He hadn’t moved since Meyer had left half an hour ago.
He didn’t have the strength to get up from the couch.
He should go to bed and rest because they were flying home tomorrow, but instead, his mind was stuck on the knowledge that Meyer was behind that door and that no matter how much he looked like Peyton, he was a completely different man.
Tyne had loved Peyton, but he hadn’t been blind to Peyton’s shortcomings.
Sometimes, he thought that they’d gotten together way too early.
They’d already been dating when they were fifteen, which wasn’t unheard of for a mage and their dragon, but usually, that kind of relationship came with age.
Most people met and fell for their shields when they were in their twenties, and Tyne thought it would’ve been better.
He’d been blinded by love, though, and maybe Peyton had been, too.
Maybe they hadn’t been supposed to be together.
If they hadn’t fallen in love so young, Tyne could have found another shield, and Peyton could have been happy with Amber.
Thinking about that was pointless.
Peyton was gone.
Tyne had lost him, but then, he’d already lost him before Carlyle took his memories.
Tyne was left with Meyer, and he had to make a decision.
That meant more thinking, which he wasn’t sure he had in him.
He finally got up from the couch and took off the clothes his mother had chosen for him to wear at dinner.
He dumped them in a corner, not planning on taking them with him when he left.
He was relieved to find that someone had left a plain t-shirt and a pair of shorts in the dresser, and he quickly pulled them on.
He’d showered before dinner, so after brushing his teeth, he was ready for bed.
But his brain wouldn’t settle.
It was going round and round in a cycle of thinking about Meyer and Peyton, and Tyne knew he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep.
He tried for about half an hour before getting up again and striding toward the balcony door.
That was the one thing he missed about this place.
The balcony opened on the garden, and even though summer was ending, he could still smell the flowers.
He loved living at the castle, but there wasn’t a garden there.
Everything was made of stone, which was great for protecting the people who lived there but not so great for growing plants.
He almost turned around when he saw that the balcony was shared between the two bedrooms and that Meyer was leaning against the railing.
Unfortunately, Meyer heard him and turned.
He changed, too.
He looked relaxed, and Tyne desperately wanted to reach for him.
He stopped himself before he could, then wondered why he should.
He and Meyer hadn’t talked about what kind of relationship they could have, and Tyne was terrified that Meyer would hurt him as much as Peyton had, but they might not have a lot of time left.
There was no way to know if they would both survive the fight with Carlyle.
Tyne had every intention of being the person to kill Carlyle, but what would Meyer do?
This might be Tyne’s one chance.
Meyer opened his mouth, possibly to ask Tyne how he was feeling because he always worried about that, but Tyne didn’t give him time to speak.
He reached out and grabbed Meyer’s arm, pulling him close.
Meyer made a surprised sound, but he came easily, and he didn’t push Tyne away when their lips met.
It was like being thrown back into a memory, but at the same time, it felt completely new.
Tyne recognized the shape of Meyer’s jaw when he touched it.
He recognized the softness of his lips.
But he didn’t recognize the gentleness in Meyer and how cautious he was.
Peyton had always been one to forge ahead and get what he wanted, but Meyer felt like he didn’t want to risk hurting Tyne.
He was careful, even though Tyne had been the one to kiss him first.
Maybe if Peyton had been different, if he’d been more like Meyer, he wouldn’t have left Tyne.
Tyne would never know, and that was okay.
He didn’t need to know.
Peyton was gone, and he had Meyer in his arms.
He gently guided Meyer toward the door he’d left open.
Meyer moved backward, clinging to Tyne’s forearms with both hands.
He didn’t hesitate to follow Tyne’s lead.
It was as if he trusted Tyne, which was humbling after what Tyne had put him through.
Tyne wasn’t going to break Meyer’s trust.
He might not know what the future held for them, but he knew what he wanted, and he was done fighting it.
He had a second chance to be with his shield.
He wouldn’t waste it.
MEYER COULDN’T BELIEVE this place was where Tyne finally accepted him.
He didn’t like that he’d had to come all the way here and that Tyne had needed to put himself through this mess, but it felt like they were finally getting somewhere, so he couldn’t regret it too much.
He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him, like the air before a storm.
The last few weeks had been a blur—returning to a life he couldn’t remember and trying to piece together bits and pieces of what had happened from people who didn’t know everything.
Tyne had been cold and distant and had refused to give Meyer the answers he was looking for.
But now, Meyer knew.
“What do you want, Meyer?”
Tyne asked.
Meyer hesitated.
He hadn’t planned this.
He hadn’t known they were anywhere near it happening.
He’d been relieved when Tyne had finally told him what Peyton had done, but considering how hurt Tyne still was over it, Meyer hadn’t expected this to happen.
Tyne’s hands trembled as he reached for Meyer’s face to cup his cheeks.
Meyer’s chest ached at the thought that he’d hurt him.
As Meyer, he’d never do something like that.
He couldn’t understand how Peyton had managed to let go of Tyne the way he had, and he didn’t think he ever would, but he didn’t have to, did he.
“I know I hurt you,”
he murmured back, half afraid that if he spoke more loudly, Tyne would get startled and run.
Tyne shook his head. “Not you.”
“I know,”
Meyer said quickly. He’d been trying to make Tyne see that, and he didn’t want them to slide back.
“But I need you to know that I’m here, not Peyton. That I’m not going anywhere. I don’t remember what happened between us, but I want to make things right.”
Tyne’s breath hitched, his eyes flickering with something Meyer couldn’t quite place.
“You’re serious,”
he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”
He wanted Tyne to know that as long as he could make decisions, he’d always choose to be with him.
For a moment, Tyne stared at him, his expression unreadable.
Meyer wondered if he’d made a mistake, but he hadn’t said anything he hadn’t told Tyne before.
Then, taking Meyer by surprise, Tyne closed the distance between them to grip the front of Meyer’s shirt.
“You’re an idiot,”
he said, his voice shaking.
Meyer was about to ask why Tyne thought that, but he didn’t get the opportunity.
Tyne’s lips were on his, fierce and desperate, his hands tangling in Meyer’s hair.
Meyer froze, his mind reeling, before instinct took over.
He kissed Tyne back, finding Tyne’s waist with both hands and pulling him closer.
The kiss was raw and filled with all the pent-up emotions that had been building between them since Meyer had moved into the castle.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless, but Meyer still wanted more.
“I know what happened between us now,”
Meyer said, his voice rough.
“And I still want this. I want you.”
Tyne’s eyes searched his, his expression softening.
“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
Maybe Meyer didn’t. Maybe he was underestimating how complicated this would be.
He didn’t care.
“Then show me,” he said.
For a moment, Tyne hesitated, his gaze flickering with uncertainty. Then, with a sharp intake of breath, he grabbed Meyer’s hand and pulled him toward the bed.
Meyer stumbled, his heart pounding as Tyne pushed him down onto the sheets. The room was spinning around him, but all he could focus on was the man above him.
Tyne’s hands trembled as he touched Meyer’s body, his touch tentative at first but growing more confident. Meyer’s breath hitched, his skin burning where Tyne’s fingers brushed against him.
“I’ve missed this,”
Tyne whispered, his voice barely audible.
“I’ve missed you.”
Meyer’s chest tightened.
He didn’t know what to say or how to respond.
All he could do was reach up and tangle his fingers in Tyne’s hair to pull him down into another searing kiss.
Their bodies pressed together, their movements frantic, desperate, as if they were trying to make up for lost time.
The heat between them was unbearable, their breaths coming in short, shallow gasps.
Meyer’s hands roamed over Tyne’s back, his fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt, trying to pull him closer.
It wasn’t enough.
He needed more. He needed everything Tyne was willing to give him.
Tyne seemed to sense it.
He fumbled with the buttons of Meyer’s shirt, his breath warm against Meyer’s skin as he kissed his way down his chest.
Meyer’s heart pounded as he arched his body into Tyne’s touch.
“Tyne,”
he gasped.
“I know,”
Tyne whispered, his hands stilling for a moment.
When he looked up, his eyes caught Meyer’s—they were dark, intense, and filled with a need that mirrored Meyer’s.
He leaned in close, his lips brushing against Meyer’s ear.
“Let me show you.”
That was when things changed.
Meyer felt a surge of magic between them that hadn’t been there before.
He’d never really thought about how the bond between them would feel, but maybe he should have.
It was like a living thing that spread through him and pulled him even closer to Tyne. The bond felt alive, and it was demanding to be acknowledged.
The realization hit Meyer with a force that left him breathless.
Of course the magic connecting them wanted to be acknowledged.
It had been ignored for decades.
Meyer had felt it sometimes, but it had been faint, and before meeting Tyne, it had been easy to ignore. He’d felt like he’d been missing something, but he’d thought it was his memories and everything he’d lost with them.
It hadn’t been.
This was what he’d been missing.
This was what he’d been searching for.
Tyne.
“You feel it, don’t you?”
Tyne asked.
“Our bond.”
Meyer nodded, his chest tightening with emotion.
He couldn’t speak.
All he could do was pull Tyne closer, his hands trembling as he explored the planes of Tyne’s back.
Meyer’s breath hitched as he pulled away slightly, his eyes searching Tyne’s face.
He could see the fear in Tyne’s eyes and the uncertainty that lingered in his gaze.
That wasn’t all, though. He could also see a longing that mirrored his own, and he wanted both of them to give in to it.
He cupped Tyne’s face.
Tyne’s skin was warm beneath his touch, and Meyer could feel the faint tremor in Tyne’s body.
His voice was soft, almost a whisper, as he spoke.
“I know you’re scared, but I’m not going anywhere.”
He didn’t care how many times he had to reassure Tyne. He’d do it until Tyne finally believed him.
Tyne’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat.
He looked at Meyer as if he was trying to reconcile the man Meyer had been with the one he was now.
Meyer didn’t expect him to believe him yet, but Tyne nodded. “I know.”
The words hung between them.
Meyer’s heart raced, his chest tightening with a mix of relief and desire.
He wanted to say more, but anything he could say would be useless.
Instead, he leaned in, his lips brushing against Tyne’s.
Tyne’s hands found their way to Meyer’s chest, his fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.
He kissed back with a desperation that matched Meyer’s own, their lips moving together.
Meyer could feel the heat building between them, the intensity of their connection growing with every passing second.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing heavily.
Meyer’s hands moved to Tyne’s shoulders.
He felt like Tyne might disappear if he didn’t hold on to him.
Meyer kissed Tyne with more urgency.
His hands slid down Tyne’s back, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them.
The bond between them thrummed, a constant reminder of the connection they shared.
Meyer had forgotten it once, but he wouldn’t allow anything or anyone to take him away a second time, not even Carlyle.
Tyne moaned into the kiss.
Meyer could feel the heat radiating off Tyne’s skin and hear the rapid thud of his heart.
He wanted to memorize every sound, every sensation, and every moment.
He wanted to make Tyne feel cherished.
Their movements became more desperate.
They discarded their clothes with no finesse in a flurry of hands and lips, and when their bodies came together, it was in a way that felt both familiar and brand new.
Meyer explored every inch of Tyne’s skin.
He wanted to make sure Tyne knew how much he was wanted.
He wasn’t sure it was love yet, but it would be as long as Tyne gave them a chance.
Now that Meyer had experienced this, more than ever, he was convinced that even if Tyne retreated into himself, he’d need to keep pushing. He couldn’t give this up, whatever happened.
Tyne’s breaths came in short, ragged gasps as Meyer’s lips found a sensitive spot just below his ear. His hands tangled in Meyer’s hair, pulling him closer and urging him on. “Meyer,”
he whispered, his voice trembling with need. “Please.”
His voice sent a shiver down Meyer’s spine, and he pressed a kiss to the base of Tyne’s throat.
“I’ve got you,”
he murmured.
“I’m here.”
Their bodies moved together as if they’d done this hundreds of times, and in a way, they had. Meyer might not remember it, but his body seemed to. It felt right in a way nothing had since he’d woken up without his memories.
Meyer’s breath caught in his throat as he came.
He could feel the magic of their bond surging through him, connecting them on a level that went beyond the physical.
He didn’t think he could describe it if anyone asked.
Luckily, he wouldn’t have to because everyone he was close to already knew.
He’d been so jealous of the other dragons when they’d gotten with their mages, but he didn’t have to be anymore. He had Tyne, and Tyne had him.
Both of them were breathless, and their bodies tangled together in a mess of limbs and sheets, but Meyer didn’t want to move.
He took Tyne’s hand, lacing their fingers together even though they would eventually have to get up.
He pressed a kiss to Tyne’s forehead, his lips lingering against the soft skin.
“I’m not going anywhere,”
he whispered again. He needed to hear it as much as Tyne did. He wasn’t going to screw up this time.
Tyne’s response was a soft, contented hum as his body relaxed against Meyer’s. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was a sense of peace between them that told Meyer that things were finally as they should be.
There was still more to be said and to be done.
The past Meyer and Tyne shared was still there, and as much as Meyer wanted to believe that everything would be okay, he knew that it wouldn’t be that simple.
No matter what Tyne said, Meyer was sure he could truly believe that Tyne knew he wasn’t leaving again.
There was also Carlyle to contend with, and that wouldn’t be easy, either.
There was nothing Meyer could do about Carlyle, but now also wasn’t the moment to continue talking about what had happened between Tyne and Peyton.
Meyer didn’t think they could do so again without hurting Tyne, and he didn’t want to do that.
It wouldn’t solve anything, anyway.
The only way to convince Tyne that he was nothing like Peyton would be to show him, and that would take time.
Time Meyer hoped they’d both have.