Page 8 of Dark Bonds

I gulp for breath, and I order my tears to stop.

For a long moment, we stare at each other, the tension crackling between us like a live wire. I expect him to choke me with his large hands and continue the cycle of pain and betrayal, but instead, his eyes soften, filled with a mix of regret, fear, and something else… something that makes my heart race for reasons I can’t quite understand.

The air around us seems to thicken, charged with an energy that makes my skin tingle. Dorian’s grip on my wrists loosens, and his thumb traces small circles on my skin. His other hand moves from my throat to cup my face, his touch gentler than I’ve ever felt from him.

“Frankie,” he whispers, his voice hoarse. “I’m sorry for everything. For not being there when you needed me. For keeping secrets. For… For not telling you how much you mean to me.”

The confession hangs in the air between us, heavy with implications. I search his face, looking for any sign of deception, but all I see is raw, honest emotion.

Without warning, his lips crash against mine. It’s not just a kiss—it’s an eruption, a release of all the anger, pain, and need we’ve both been drowning in. His kiss is desperate and raw, andI meet him with equal force. We’re not gentle, we’re two storms colliding, seeking solace in the destruction.

Every brush of his lips against mine is a question, a demand, and a plea. I grab his shirt, pulling him closer, needing to feel something, anything, other than the pain that’s been festering inside me for years. In this moment, we aren’t enemies or even friends—we’re two broken souls clinging to each other in the darkness.

As his lips devour mine, a tidal wave of emotions floods through me. Anger at the secrets kept, fear of this new reality, and a desperate need for connection all swirl together in a dizzying cocktail. Part of me wants to push him away and hold on to my rage and hurt, but another part, a part I’ve kept locked away for so long, craves this intimacy and raw honesty. We both need this release, an outlet for the pain and betrayal that has been festering within us for far too long. The years of secrets and lies are no longer contained, and we both find solace in each other’s arms.

I’ve been hurting for too long.Far too long.

The water laps against the rocks around us, creating a rhythm that matches the pounding of our hearts. Neither of us wants to be the first to break away, because we both know that when this moment ends, we’ll have to face the harsh reality surrounding us and the unknown future that lies before us. For now, though, under the rippling surface of the spring, we are safe from the world’s demands and scrutiny.

My tears mingle with the water as I cling to him, my grip on his shirt never loosening. His hands travel up my back and rest at the nape of my neck, holding me even closer to him.

As we continue our desperate kiss, the weight of the world disappears, if only for a fleeting moment. The churning emotions inside me, the betrayal and hurt, melt away as Ilose myself in the heat between us. I crave the closeness, the connection that had been missing from my life for so long.

I moan into his mouth, only for him to swallow each sound as though they are a decadent dessert.

Dorian’s lips leave mine and trail hot kisses down my jawline, sending shivers down my spine despite the cool water around us. His large hands leave bruises on my hips as he pulls me tighter against him, as if he, too, is terrified of letting go. He seems just as lost in this as I am, his breathing ragged in my ear.

He gently pushes me back to face him, our noses centimeters apart. His eyes are stormy and full of unspoken words that mirror my own turmoil. “I’m sorry,” he whispers hoarsely. “I’m so damn sorry for everything you’ve been through. I wanted to tell you, to protect you, but the magic bound us all. That’s still no excuse. I should have found a way.”

For a moment, the anger in his eyes softens, and it’s replaced by a vulnerability I’ve never seen before. His hand gently cups my cheek as his thumb wipes away a tear. In that brief touch, I feel a connection that goes beyond the physical—it’s a promise of understanding and support, and it’s both terrifying and comforting all at once. I find myself leaning into his touch, just for a moment, before the reality of our situation crashes over me.

The word “home” echoes in my mind, hollow and mocking. Home. What is that? A place to sleep or feel safe? I haven’t had that in… I can’t even remember.

My throat constricts, and I choke on words I can’t voice. Dorian’s eyes search mine, and I see a flicker of understanding in their depths. He opens his mouth as if to speak then closes it, seemingly at a loss.

The silence stretches between us, thick and oppressive. I feel like I’m drowning in it, in the weight of all that’s been revealed. My mind races, grasping for anything familiar to cling to.

“Tori,” I whisper, the name a lifeline in this sea of uncertainty. “I need to see Tori.”

I hope like hell she has something better to say about all of this than Dorian, because I need her friendship. I need her and her home, because if I don’t have one, then maybe she will let me borrow hers to heal.

Dorian doesn’t say a word, only pulls me out of the healing spring and carries me out of the cave. As we emerge, the cool air of the shadow realm hits my skin, causing goosebumps to erupt along my arms. The world outside is a stark contrast to the cave—dark and misty with strange, twisting trees and an eerie, otherworldly beauty that both fascinates and terrifies me.

The sky above is a swirling mass of deep purples and blues, punctuated by stars that seem to pulse with their own inner light. The ground beneath Dorian’s feet shifts and changes, sometimes solid or seeming to ripple like water. In the distance, I hear haunting whispers carried on the wind, voices that seem to call my name.

I cling to Dorian, my face buried in his chest, as he navigates this alien landscape. His warmth is the only familiar thing in this strange new world, and despite my anger and confusion, I’m grateful for his presence—until he shifts into a giant black dragon.

Chapter 3

Frankie

Nerves rattle my entire body,but it’s more than just the cold air whipping past me—it’s the sheer disbelief that I’m being carried by a dragon.

A dragon.

My mind reels, trying to reconcile the stern, composed, human Dorian I know with this magnificent, terrifying creature. How many other impossible things have been hiding in plain sight? The world I thought I knew crumbles around me, replaced by one filled with dragons and shadows and secrets.

Don’t look down.

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