Marked By Fire

Visenya slipped into her robe as Lucian slid into a pair of undershorts. He settled onto the floor in the center of the common area, motioning for her to join him. She eased onto his lap, feeling his strong, possessive arms wrap around her as he traced kisses along her neck.

Their lips met in a deep kiss, his appetite for her never waning, as if he simply couldn’t get enough. “You’re my everything, Visenya,” he whispered against her ear. “I can’t fathom a life without you. I’d rather die than let anyone or anything come between us.”

“Why are you talking like this?” Her expression etched with unease and confusion. “As if you’re uncertain of our future together?”

“I’m not uncertain,” he assured her. “I just need you to know how much I love you and that there is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do for you.”

Visenya turned around to face him, her legs wrapping around him as she cradled his face in her hands. “And there is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do for you, my love,” she said softly. “We have already established that I would travel through space and time for us to be together.” Her eyes sparkled with sincerity as she leaned in to kiss him tenderly, sealing their bond with a promise of unwavering love and devotion.

Their lips parted, and Lucian leaned in, resting his forehead against hers, his eyes gazing deeply into hers. “Are you ready?” He asked softly, his voice filled with tenderness and anticipation.

She nodded, her wolf stirring in her eyes, revealing their shared determination. “I’ve been ready since the moment I learned that you were mine,” she replied, her voice steady with conviction. “Now, mark me as yours, my fiery Dragon Lord,” she added, her tone laced with desire and longing.

He tenderly kissed her forehead, then closed his eyes, summoning his power within. When he reopened them, his eyes blazed as bright as the morning sun. Gently tilting her chin upwards, he leaned in, both of their lips parting in preparation. As their lips met, he blew his fire into her, branding her with his essence and leaving his permanent mark upon her soul.

Her eyes widened, and she began to push against him, a feeling of suffocation overtaking her. Despite her struggles, he held her firmly, his resolve unyielding, as he pressed on with the marking. She fought against him, her movements growing more frantic with each passing moment, her desperation palpable. Yet, he tightened his grip, knowing he had to see it through to the end.

With a final exhalation, he broke the kiss, and as he did, flames ignited in her eyes, her face contorting in unbearable agony. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his eyes filled with remorse.

A scream tore through the air as she surrendered to the excruciating pain that consumed her mind, body, and soul. Her hands shot to her chest, her fingers clawing at her skin as his mark etched itself into her flesh. She thrashed in agony, feeling as if her blood had turned to liquid fire. Lucian reached out to comfort her, but she pushed him away, unable to bear the touch of another body against hers in her current state. Her body felt like it was engulfed in flames, every nerve ending ablaze with pain.

With a cry of torment, she freed herself from his embrace, collapsing to the floor in pure agony. Her arms and legs flailed uncontrollably as she writhed in pain, the intensity of the marking overwhelming her senses.

“It’s almost over,” Lucian reassured her, his voice strained with helplessness.

As the marking continued, the lights in the room began to flicker uncontrollably. Outside, the sky roared with thunder, and lightning danced across the horizon. Visenya’s hair turned a bright scarlet, crackling with energy as if charged with electricity. She continued to claw at her skin, desperate to alleviate the searing pain, but Lucian gently pulled her hands away, holding them firmly in his own.

As Visenya’s agony reached its peak, her inner wolf instinctively responded, her claws extending and piercing through the flesh of Lucian’s palms. He clenched his teeth, suppressing a painful groan as blood trickled from the wounds. Meanwhile, all the lights in the cabin went out, plunging the room into complete darkness.

In that moment, Visenya’s parents and Lucian’s father entered the cabin, drawn by the disturbance. They could see nothing but the bright glow of Visenya’s eyes and hair amidst the dark void.

Then, with one final exasperated cry, Visenya’s body went limp in Lucian’s arms, her consciousness slipping away as she passed out from the unbearable torture.

"What in the Gods?!" Caden exclaimed, surveying the cabin.

Sarai rushed over to her daughter, reaching out to caress her cheek, only to recoil quickly. "She's burning up!" She exclaimed with alarm.

"This is all normal," Lucian tried to reassure her.

"All the lights are out in the kingdom; that's not normal," Caden remarked.

"And the storm," Ezra added, his tone reflecting his growing unease. "It just came out of nowhere."

"I told you... Visenya is different," Lucian said, cradling her tightly in his arms. "She's special."

Sarai observed Visenya’s scarlet-colored hair with a furrowed brow. “Is her hair going to stay like that?”

Lucian sighed softly, his gaze lingering on her fiery locks. “It didn’t stay this way the last time.”

Ezra took a moment to relight a few candles and placed them above the mantel. “Let’s leave them be,” he suggested, motioning for Sarai and Caden to make their way towards the exit.

“How long will she be out?” Sarai inquired, concern etched in her voice.

“A couple of days,” Lucian reassured them, his resolve steady. “I’m not leaving her side.”

Sarai nodded understandingly, casting a final glance at her daughter before turning to leave. “I’ll send the help over in the morning to see if you need anything.”

Lucian acknowledged her offer with a nod, then quietly watched as they exited the cabin, granting them their privacy.

Gently, he carried Visenya back into the bedroom, laying her down on the bed before slipping under the covers beside her. His fingers traced over her newly ingrained marking, marveling at the profound connection it ignited between them. With her own mark now adorning his skin, their bond felt deeper and more complete than ever before.

As he brushed a strand of her now scarlet-hued hair away from her face, he leaned in and tenderly pressed his lips against hers. He pulled her close, snuggling her tightly as he whispered softly in the darkness, “mine.”
———

Meanwhile, the storm raged on, its fury lashing out across the lands and plunging all three kingdoms into darkness. Yet, just as swiftly as it had erupted, the tempest began to subside, mirroring the emotional state of the one who had ignited it.

The two young guards, whom King Ezra had assigned to watch over the temple, sought shelter from the raging storm within its walls. Drenched from the downpour, they huddled together as thunder boomed overhead.

“We shouldn’t even be in here,” Finn muttered, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. “If the Alpha finds out we entered the temple, he’ll be furious.”

Liam glanced at his companion with furrowed brows. “What were we supposed to do? The winds were blowing harder than your mother out there.”

Finn sighed and ran a hand through his damp hair. “I really hope the Alpha pairs me with someone else next time,” he muttered.

Liam smirked, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “Aye, I’d prefer your mother’s company over yours any day.”

Finn shot him a mock glare. “You seriously need a mate… badly.” He pushed himself up from the cold stone floor. “I’m going to see if the storm has calmed enough for us to leave.” With a shudder, he added, “Being in here with those dragons is giving me the creeps.”

As Finn exited the temple, Liam decided to explore deeper into its shadowy depths. The roaring storm outside drowned out the audible hissing of gas flowing from the vents. Despite the darkness, Liam’s keen wolf vision allowed him to discern the chilling figures lying motionless on the floor. He chuckled softly, unfazed by the dragons in their unconscious state.

Absent-mindedly, he retrieved a cigar from his tin case, placing it between his lips. With a deft motion, he produced a match, ready to ignite it against the striking surface. Just as he was about to strike it, Finn’s voice interrupted him.

“The storm’s easing up, maybe just a few more—”

Finn’s words caught in his throat as he spotted the match in Liam’s hand. Panic surged through him. “Liam, no!”

But it was too late. With a swift strike, Liam ignited the match in the temple filled with flammable gas. In an instant, the air erupted into a blaze of fire, and the temple exploded with a deafening roar.

Finn awoke to a world of agony, his wolf form struggling amidst the wreckage of the explosion. He struggled to crawl out of the debris, the pain searing through his body with each movement. Horror struck him as he realized that several of his limbs were missing, torn away by the force of the explosion. As he scanned his surroundings, his eyes locked onto Mordecai, the eldest of the dragon council, holding his mate Sylph’s lifeless body in his arms.

Mordecai’s once majestic form was now marred by the devastation, half of his face obliterated by the blast, turning him into a grotesque figure straight out of a nightmare. He roared in anguish, his cry frantic with confusion and pain.

But as grief gave way to fury, Mordecai’s roar of anguish transformed into a thunderous declaration of vengeance. “Caden!”

In Finn’s desperate attempt to crawl away from the scene, he caught the attention of the wrathful dragon. Mordecai’s ears pricked up, and he turned his gaze towards Finn, a sneer of malice twisting his features as murder gleamed in his eyes.

Mordecai rose from the rubble, his monstrous form casting a shadow over Finn’s trembling figure. Finn scrambled desperately, trying to crawl away faster. But Mordecai was swift, closing the distance with predatory grace. With a sinking feeling of dread, Finn knew there was no escaping his fate.

Rolling over, his heart pounding with dread, Finn performed one final act of loyalty to his King. He opened his mindlink. “I have failed you, Alpha,” he whispered, the words heavy with regret and resignation.

Before Finn could finish his message, Mordecai’s vice-like grip seized his throat, and Finn’s vision blurred into an abyss of eternal darkness.