Drawn To You

"Why can't I remember anything?" Visenya asked.

"You had an accident," Lucian answered vaguely, still soothingly rubbing her back.

"An accident? What kind of accident?" She inquired.

He could tell her now... tell her everything. She'd probably look at him in disgust, declaring that she wants nothing to do with him, but at least she would know the truth. It would be the right thing for him to do.

"You fell from a tree, trying to pick berries," he replied, providing her with a half-truth.

"Oh, that sounds terrible... I don't feel like I fell from a tree though," she remarked. "I don't have any physical injuries. No cuts, bruises, or broken bones."

"We're not prone to such injuries... not like humans are," he explained. "Our bodies regenerate, and our wounds heal instantaneously... we're much more resilient."

"Does that have something to do with this?" She questioned, tracing her finger along his marking. "Is this what gives us those abilities?"

"You can say that," he replied.

"If we heal like you say we do, then is it possible for me to get my memory back?" She pondered.

He sure hoped not, and he knew it was wrong for him to think that way, but this was just so... convenient. Besides, this was clearly a mercy from the Gods. That's what he told himself, anyway. Visenya didn't need to remember her past; it would only bring her pain.

"I don't know," he answered honestly.

“Will you help me remember?” She pleaded, looking at him through hopeful eyes.

“Yes…” he responded, another lie slipping from his lips.

She smiled affectionately at him, gazing into his eyes as if she had lost something there. “What is your name?”

“Lucian," he replied softly.

"Lucian," she repeated, causing his heart to flutter at the heavenly sound of his name on her lips. "That's a lovely name," she complimented, her voice filled with admiration. "And mine is Visenya?”

“That's right,” he confirmed. “And you have a beautiful name.”

She bashfully averted her eyes, a blush creeping onto her cheeks under his intense gaze. He had never seen her respond to him in this manner before, and he cherished every moment of it. Perhaps, a little too much.

Sensing the need to regain his composure, he rose to his feet and offered her a helping hand. “Would you like to take a bath?” He suggested, gesturing towards the tub.

“A bath?” She echoed.

“Yes, this is a bathtub. You fill it with warm water and immerse yourself in it,” he explained.

Her laughter filled the room at his explanation. “I am familiar with the concept of a bath.”

“Oh... I wasn’t certain,” he chuckled nervously. “After your... incident, I did my best to clean you up. But perhaps you’d like to freshen up and relax while I prepare some food? I know how much you love your baths.” His words tumbled out in a rush as he soaked in her admiring gaze.

“I do?” She eyed him keenly, her gaze fixed on him as she bit that luscious bottom lip of hers.

“You do what?” He mumbled mechanically, his voice almost trance-like, as if she had him under some kind of spell.

She smiled, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Love baths?”

“Oh… yes, you do.” The context of their conversation came rushing back to him.

“Do you like them too?” Her tone was soft, her words carrying a hint of seduction. Or perhaps, he was just imagining that part, because if he didn’t know any better, he would think she was flirting with him.

Nope… not going there. He had enough on his conscience, and taking advantage of her in this vulnerable state was a line he wouldn’t cross. Of course, he was already sort of taking advantage, but he was going to tell her the truth when the time was right…
but not now.

“I’m more of a shower person, myself.” He tore his eyes away from her bewitching stare, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. With a determined flick of his hand, he flipped the nozzles of the tub to start running the bath.

He tested the water's temperature, ensuring it was warm enough, before adding in some bubbles. He turned his attention back to the exquisite woman whose eyes were still steadily fixated on him.

"I'll just be right downstairs," he informed her. "I'll be back shortly with some clean clothing for you."

She nodded, her gaze following him to the door. He forced another strained smile and left her to her privacy. Suddenly, he remembered the three women who were eagerly awaiting an update on their beloved Queen.

"It's time for you all to leave," was all he said, as he ushered them towards the door.

"But what about Visenya?" Emi planted her feet, resisting his nudge. "Is she going to be alright?"

"She's going to be fine," he reassured, guiding them out of the room and down the stairs. "Take some horses and gather any supplies you need, and speak to no one about any of this."

"But what about her memory? Are you going to tell her what really happened?" Grace asked, her voice filled with concern.

"In due time," he replied, his eyes revealing a different answer.

"You have to tell her the truth... you know that, right?" Emi pressed the matter.

Of course, he knew that, and he would tell her the truth... but not now.

"I hope you all have a wonderful life," he added, as he guided Emi out onto the grand palace doorstep, the others following closely behind.

"Wait!" Grace exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency. "Tell him what happened when the Queen woke up, Emi!"

Lucian's gaze shifted to Emi, his eyes filled with curiosity as she visibly shuddered, her mind replaying the strange events.

"What happened?" He probed, his voice laced with intrigue.

"Well," she began, her voice trailing off as she gathered her thoughts. "When she woke up and saw us, she started freaking out... like, really freaking out. The more we tried to approach her and calm her down, the more upset she got... and the more upset she got, strange things started to happen."

"What kind of things?" He asked, his curiosity piqued.

"All the windows slammed shut and the doors of the balcony burst open," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of unease.

Slightly skeptical, he shrugged nonchalantly. "That could have easily been the wind."

"That's not all," she refuted. "Her eyes lit up, just like yours do when you're angry. And then, all the lanterns in your room not only caught fire out of nowhere, but they all just... exploded and shattered into countless pieces."

"Is that normal?" Grace asked, her voice laced with alarm.

None of this was normal, he thought to himself. A Dragon Lord's complement never inherited fire-wielding abilities from the unification ritual. They only gained longevity and the power of self-healing.

It was highly unusual for her eyes to flare up like his, and even more extraordinary that her hair ignited the way it did when he brought her back. He had never heard of such a phenomenon occurring during the ritual. But then again, their pairing was far from ordinary.

"I'm sure it's nothing," he insisted, his tone trying to dispel their concerns.

He bid them farewell, then closed the door right in their faces. Now he could be alone with Visenya, and there was nobody around to intervene or tell her things that would only upset her.

He carefully rummaged through the clothing in the slave's quarters, desperately searching for something suitable for Visenya to wear. However, all he could find were worn-out rags that he couldn't bear to dress her in. Realizing the need for new garments, he made a mental note to send for them. In the meantime, he hastily grabbed a simple nightgown and some undergarments before rushing back up the stairs to check on her.

As he entered his chambers, his gaze immediately fell upon the broken lanterns scattered across the room. Even if Visenya had somehow gained powers from him, he had never been able to do anything of that caliber before.

Before stepping inside, he politely knocked on the lavatory door. To his surprise, he found Visenya engaged in a battle with her unruly hair. Adding to the chaos, the bathwater seemed to boil in response to her mood, leaving him utterly bewildered.

"I can't untangle my hair!" She exclaimed in frustration. "Why on earth do I even keep it this long?! Bring me the shears so I can cut it off!"

"No," he opposed. "I love your hair." Taking a seat at the edge of the tub, he extended his hand, silently requesting the comb clenched tightly in her fist. "May I?" He asked softly.

"It's no use... I'm warning you now," she said with a sigh, her voice filled with a touch of resignation.

She handed him the comb, and he gently glided it through the ends of her hair in a soothing rhythm. "My mother had long hair just like yours," he shared, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips. "She always started by brushing the ends first. That way, all the tangles at the top would comb right through."

As he worked the comb through her hair, he felt a sense of calm beginning to wash over her. The once-boiling bathwater seemed to still, matching the receding frustration in her eyes. He decided not to draw too much attention to that minor detail for now, as he was beginning to see the connection between her mood and these unusual occurrences.

"So," she finally spoke, her voice filled with curiosity. "Are we... married? You and I?"

"Marriage is a human tradition, not one that us drag..." He paused, correcting himself. "Not one that my people particularly follow."

"Why not?" She inquired.

"Because we are paired in the eyes of the Gods, and no worldly tradition can equate to the unifying of two souls that were destined for one another since birth," he passionately explained.

"You make it sound so magical when you put it like that," she replied with a warm smile.

He mustered another smile in her direction, determined to bury his dark thoughts deep within, so as not to be reminded of how he had taken this beautiful goddess for granted.

"There now, that's much better," he said, gently gliding the comb through her detangled curls.

"Thank you," she expressed graciously.

"You're welcome," he replied. "Are you ready to get out now?"

"I am," she confirmed.

He quickly fetched a towel from the shelf. As he turned around, he was taken aback to find her standing up in the tub, completely nude and dripping wet. Though he had seen her naked many times, he had never seen such longing and desire in her eyes before. She was clearly reacting to their bond as if it were the first time she had ever encountered it, and in her particular case... it was.

He took some deep breaths to calm his accelerating heart rate, or else blood was going to start rushing to other places, and he just couldn't have that right now. Gently, he draped the towel around her and assisted her out of the tub.

"I've laid out some clothes for you on the bed," he informed her. "I'll go fix you something to eat, and I'll be right back."

Visenya couldn't comprehend the overwhelming longing that surged through her, a longing that defied explanation. It went beyond mere proximity; it was a yearning to become one with him, to be entwined in every way imaginable. Her mind, body, and soul ached for his presence, yet she couldn't shake off the subtle resistance she sensed from him, leaving her with an unsettling feeling of being unwanted.

He managed to summon another smile before he reluctantly left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She found herself pondering why the man who was destined to be her soulmate kept her at arm's length.