The night was quiet again, broken only by the crackle of fire and the soft rustling of leaves outside the cottage. Kai sat cross-legged near the hearth , his eyes fixed on the dancing flames. They reminded him of Lucien's eyes—burning, sharp, and always watching.
Lucien leaned against the wall across from him, his arms loosely crossed, but his posture relaxed. Something had changed between them. It wasn't just the bond. It was the comfort, the way the silence no longer felt heavy.
Kai shifted a little, feeling the warmth from the fire on his face. "That book we read today…" he began quietly.
Lucien raised his brow. "The one about magical bondmarks?"
Kai nodded. "It said some connections are ancient. Not just magic... but something that lives inside blood and fate."
Lucien's voice was soft. "Yes. Those bonds don't break easily. They're older than the kingdoms that tried to suppress them. Sometimes... they lead people to pain. Other times, to their other half."
Kai looked at him, the firelight catching the edge of Lucien's jaw. "Which one are we?" he asked. It wasn't teasing. It was a real question.
Lucien's gaze met his, steady and deep. "I don't know yet," he admitted. "But I've stopped wishing it wasn't real."
That made Kai's heart thump louder. He looked down, tracing his fingers against the warm stone beneath him.
"I thought I wanted to run," Kai murmured. "But each time I step away from you… my body fights me."
Lucien stood and walked over slowly, kneeling beside him. "That's the bond," he said gently. "But it's also us. I feel it too."
There was no pressure in his voice, no demand. Just truth.
Kai met his eyes. "Do you regret it?"
"No," Lucien said without hesitation. "Even if it hurts… even if the curse takes more from me—" he broke off, breath catching. "You're the only part of this that feels like a reason to keep fighting."
Kai's chest tightened. He wasn't used to words like that. He wasn't used to anyone wanting him like this—with fire, with softness, with pain and still choosing him.
Lucien sat fully beside him now. The firelight wrapped around them both like a spell. He reached out, brushing a strand of Kai's hair behind his ear.
"You're shaking," he said softly.
Kai swallowed. "I'm not cold."
Lucien's lips curled faintly. "No. You're not."
His fingers lingered against Kai's cheek, and Kai didn't move away. He leaned into the touch just a little, eyes fluttering shut for a second. Everything was quiet—his thoughts, his fears, the world.
"You smell like fire and earth," Kai whispered.
"And you smell like wild rain," Lucien replied, leaning closer. "The first storm after a long drought."
Their bond pulsed between them. A golden light shimmered faintly under Kai's skin where Lucien's hand touched him. It didn't hurt. It warmed.
"Is this… magic?" Kai asked.
Lucien nodded. "Our bond waking up. It responds to trust… and closeness."
Kai blinked slowly. "So if I touched you…?"
Lucien reached for Kai's hand and placed it over his own chest. The heartbeat under it was strong.
"You already are," Lucien whispered.
For a moment, they stayed like that—quiet, breathing in sync. Then Lucien leaned forward and rested his forehead gently against Kai's. His breath was warm, lips just inches away. It wasn't a kiss. Not yet. It was something more fragile. More electric.
Kai didn't pull away.
The magic curled between them like smoke. Their bondmarks lit softly in response, shimmering with matching golden threads.
"Why do I feel safe with you?" Kai asked, voice almost broken.
Lucien's voice was just as low. "Because we were made to find each other in the dark."
The fire snapped gently behind them, casting flickering shadows across the walls. Lucien finally brushed his lips across Kai's forehead—a touch filled with promise, not pressure.
"We should sleep," he said. "Tomorrow… we begin again."
Kai nodded, heart still loud. "Can I stay close tonight?"
Lucien didn't answer with words. He just pulled Kai gently into his arms, letting him rest against his chest as the fire slowly died down. No demands. Just warmth. Just the bond between them, growing stronger with each quiet heartbeat.
In their sleep, the bond glowed even brighter. And far away, something dark stirred—something that had waited centuries to feel that light again.