Promise Me

"Where are you taking me?" Visenya asked, her voice carrying a touch of restlessness. "It feels like you're whisking me away to the other side of the world."

"We're almost there, and remember, no peeking," Lucian gently reminded her, his tone laced with anticipation.

"My eyes are sealed shut," she assured him, her excitement building.

Lucian reached their destination and carefully chose a spot to land. "Alright, you can open your eyes now and climb down... but be careful," he instructed.

As Visenya's eyelids flung open, she couldn't help but gasp, completely captivated by the breathtaking view that unfolded before her.

"You brought me to an island?!" She exclaimed, her voice brimming with delight as she eagerly slid down from Lucian's wing.

Lucian transformed back into his more attractive form, a charming smile adorning his face, reflecting his own satisfaction with her enthusiasm.

"It's not just any island," he added, his voice filled with a touch of pride. "This island is known as the Abode of the Gods, and it happens to have the highest number of dolphin sightings in the world."

“You brought me to swim with the dolphins?!” She jumped into his arms and smothered his face with kisses.

"Well, at the very least, we can try to catch a glimpse of them," he said with a hopeful tone. "I don’t know how inclined they’ll be to make close contact.”

"Let's go find out!" She exclaimed, her excitement evident in her voice.

Eagerly, she took hold of his hand and turned her gaze towards the beach. However, much to her surprise, Lucian stood rooted to the ground, his feet refusing to budge.

Confusion furrowed her brow as she looked back at him. "Wait, are we not going to see the dolphins?"

A heavy sigh escaped Lucian's lips, his heart sinking at the thought of missing out on this experience with her. "I'm afraid I can't go any further than this without scaring them away," he revealed.

"What do you mean?" She questioned.

"Animals don't particularly... like dragons," he explained with a hint of dejection in his voice. "The moment they sense us, their natural instinct is to flee as far away as possible. You go ahead though, I’ll be right here; there’s nobody on this island except you and me, so you’re safe here.”

He could sense her disappointment as she looked between him and the ocean. "But... I want you to be there with me," she pleaded.

"I can't, darling," he replied softly. "They'll only swim away if I do."

"No..." She clenched her fists in frustration. "I refuse to accept that. We are going to see the dolphins together, and they are going to adore you. In fact, they will swim right up to you and eagerly allow you to pet them." A fire flickered in her eyes as she spoke.

With unwavering resolve, she pulled him towards the beach, despite his protests that she was ruining everything by bringing him along. But as they approached the water, something extraordinary unfolded, leaving him utterly astounded. Contrary to his expectations, the dolphins did not flee. Instead, they seemed to be drawn towards the shore, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their new visitors.

Visenya gracefully walked out onto the cape, her fingers intertwined with Lucian’s, gently tugging him along to get up close and personal with the playful sea animals. Lucian, still in utter disbelief, felt like he was caught in a mesmerizing dream. Never before had he been this close to an animal without it spazzing out in fear.

With a sense of wonder, Visenya moved towards the edge of the cape, gracefully kneeling down and extending her hand towards one of the dolphins.

“I don’t think they like to be touched, Visenya,” Lucian cautioned, his voice tinged with concern.

But much to Lucian's surprise, the dolphin inched closer, extending its head towards the palm of her hand. Visenya delicately traced the tips of her fingers along its snout and over its forehead, forming an unexpected connection.

“You were saying?” She smirked, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

Drawn by Visenya's magnetic presence, several other dolphins eagerly approached her, yearning for the gentle touch of her hand.

“Well, look at that…” Lucian's eyes widened in amazement. “They love you.”

"Come here," she beckoned him, her voice laced with a hint of allure.

"I'll stay right here," he said with confidence. "Let's not ruin a good thing."

"Lucian Demaris, you come here this instant!" She exclaimed, her voice filled with authority.

He raised an eyebrow at her, his dominant nature not too keen on taking orders from his woman. However, she remained completely unfazed by his domineering masculinity. With an unwavering gaze, she held his stare until he caved in and did as he was told.

"Very well... if it'll please you to watch me scare them off," he conceded, a hint of amusement in his voice.

He went to sit down next to her, still completely mind-blown at how close he was to these magnificent creatures. Visenya took his hand and gently guided it towards the snout of one of the dolphins.

However, the dolphin flinched away from his touch, causing Lucian to withdraw completely. "Don't, Visenya. You're making it uncomfortable."

"No," she shook her head, refusing to accept defeat. "He's very comfortable with you. He wants you to pet him."

She spoke with strong conviction, as if her words held the power to shape reality. With determination, she gently guided Lucian's hand back towards the dolphin's snout. To his surprise, the dolphin leaned into his touch, inviting him to run his palm along its smooth, rubbery skin.

Lucian huffed in astonishment, never imagining he would see the day he found himself petting a dolphin, or any other creature for that matter. Glancing at Visenya, he couldn't help but notice the radiant smile on her face, clearly pleased with herself.

"How did you..." he whispered under his breath, his voice filled with a mix of awe and intrigue.

"I told you they would love you," she said with a smile. "If I love you, how could they not?"

She quickly jumped to her feet, a surge of excitement coursing through her veins, as she swiftly removed her clothing.

"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice filled with concern.

In response, she playfully tossed her final article of clothing at him. "I'm going swimming, of course."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Visenya," he said, his brows furrowing. "There are way too many of them. I didn't expect there would..."

Before he could finish his argument, she fearlessly dove into the water. His heart leapt into his throat as the dolphins swarmed all around her, their playful antics captivating her attention. They tugged on her legs and wrists, pulling her beneath the water's surface, carrying her several feet away from the safety of the shoreline.

"Visenya!" Lucian's voice trembled with panic, his protective instinct urging him to jump in after her.

Moments later, she emerged from the water, her face beaming with pure joy and exhilaration.

"Alright, Visenya, that's enough," he said, his tone a mix of relief and gentle reprimand. "Out... now."

“Oh, come on, relax, will you?” She said, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “They’re just playing with me.”

“I don’t like the way they're playing. They're being way too aggressive,” he said, his concern evident. “Let’s not forget that these are wild animals.”

“You're a wild animal, and I handle you just fine,” she countered, a playful glint in her eyes.

“This is not a joke, Visenya. I won't tell you again, get out of there right now,” he said firmly.

“My god, Lucian, you sound like a nagging mother,” she sassed, a teasing smile curling her lips, as she gracefully climbed onto the back of a dolphin.

“No... you are not riding that damn dolphin. Get off of it,” he commanded sternly.

She flashed him a devious smile, tauntingly, right before she disappeared into the water again, sending him into another panic attack.

“Visenya?!” He called out, his voice filled with worry.

He rushed to the edge of the cape, his heart pounding in his chest, and his mind consumed with a mix of concern and frustration. He desperately scanned the surface of the water, trying to catch a glimpse of her amidst the playful pod of dolphins, but she seemed to have vanished.

“Visenya?!” He shouted frantically, realizing that she had been submerged for over a minute now.

Right as he was about to dive in, Visenya emerged with the dolphin, and it spit a large stream of water directly at Lucian, soaking him entirely.

“Oh, that was so good!” Visenya was tickled with laughter.

The dolphin squealed in joy, sharing her amusement. However, Lucian stood there, drenched in dolphin spittle, glaring at the innocent animal as if he had a personal vendetta against it.

“Don’t be angry at her,” Visenya noticed his frown. “It was all my idea.”

“Oh, you talk to dolphins now, do you?” His tone oozed with sarcasm.

“I know it sounds bizarre, but I literally thought up everything before it happened,” she explained. “I couldn’t help but think how funny it would be, and it was like… she read my mind or something.”

A skeptical look crossed Lucian's face as he narrowed his eyes at her, attempting to rationalize her words. The truth was, there were no logical explanations for these strange incidents, at least not as far as she was concerned.

“Alright, you’ve had your fun. Will you please get out now?” He requested.

“Now, was that so hard? All you had to do was ask nicely,” she playfully taunted him.

He pulled her up out of the water and stole a passionate kiss from her lips. "I have another surprise for you," he whispered, his voice tinged with a hint of playfulness. "But I'm not sure if you deserve it after your little rebellion."

A mischievous smile played on her lips as she bit her bottom lip seductively. "Perhaps," she teased, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I just need a good spanking."

"Don't tempt me, woman," he warned, a mixture of desire and amusement dancing in his gaze.

He helped her back into her clothes and flew her to a quaint little dwelling nearby. It was a cute, two-story cottage with a cozy kitchen and a comfortable sitting room on the lower level, while a serene bedroom awaited them upstairs.

"It's truly lovely," she exclaimed, doing a little spin around the room, soaking in its beautiful atmosphere.

The cool breeze flowed in through the windows and filled the room with its fresh ocean scent.

"How did you find this place?" She asked, plopping down on the sofa, making herself right at home.

"This island belonged to my empire," he replied, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "This is where Dragon Lords would take their mates after the Unification Ritual."

"What's a Unification Ritual?" She leaned closer, eager to learn more.

"It's a very special and magical ceremony where a Dragon Lord's soul is merged with that of his mates," he explained. "It's how you obtained my mark on you," he added, pointing to her chest.

A wistful smile tugged at her lips. "I bet ours was special," she mused, a hint of longing in her voice. "I wish I could remember it."

He was glad that she didn't, because it was anything but special. It damn well should have been though, if he had only done things right from the very beginning. All of her first experiences should have been special, loving, and gentle because she was special, loving, and gentle, and deserved nothing less.

"What's wrong?" She asked, concern lacing her voice as she pulled him out of his darkness.

"Let me show you the bedroom," he offered, scooping her up in his arms and effortlessly carrying her up the stairs.

"Lucian, why do you always do that?" She inquired, her tone gentle yet probing.

"Do what?" He responded, his voice tinged with confusion.

"You go to this really dark place in your head and refuse to talk to me about it," she explained, her worry evident.

"It's nothing," he dismissed, his words lacking conviction.

"It is not nothing," she persisted. "I can sense this battle that you're having within yourself, and I think I know what it is."

"I don't think that you do," he countered, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

"Of course, I do," she affirmed. "It's quite obvious that you blame yourself for my accident."

"That's because it was my fault... all of it," he admitted, his voice heavy with guilt.

"It was nobody's fault. That's why it's called an accident," she reasoned, her voice soft yet firm. "So, please stop blaming yourself, okay? For me?"

He gazed into her beautiful, pleading eyes, torn between the depths of his love for her and the crushing weight of his guilt. With a heavy sigh, he whispered, "I'll try," fully aware in his heart that fulfilling her wish was an impossibility for him.

A satisfied smile graced her lips as he led her up to their room. Though the space was a bit smaller than the one they shared back at the castle, the view from the balcony was unparalleled in its beauty, offering a majestic vista of the ocean. Eagerly, she scurried out onto the balcony, the wind playfully tousling her hair like a summer dream, stealing his breath away in that moment.

"You like it?" He asked, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

"Like it? I absolutely love it!" She exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.

In a tender gesture, he took her hands in his and drew her closer, savoring the sweet scent of vanilla and honey that enveloped her. "We can stay here, you know? Just the two of us... forever."

"Just the two of us?" She echoed, a touch of hesitation in her voice. "On this secluded island, with no contact with the outside world? Completely disconnected from civilization?"

He paused for a moment, contemplating her words. "You make it sound like a bad thing," he responded, a disheartened frown playing on his lips.

"Lucian, I don't want to hide away from the world forever," she confessed, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

“Maybe you should,” he interjected softly. “We don’t need anyone else, we just need each other.”

She stared into the distance, lost in her thoughts, a sense of yearning blossoming within her. He sensed that being with him alone wasn't enough for her. He ran his fingers through his hair, frustration welling up inside him, not directed at her, but at himself.

Here he was, seeking ways to isolate her, avoiding the daunting truth that one day she would want to explore the outside world. And when that time came, she would discover who she truly was, and his own dark secrets—the things he had done to her.

He didn't want her to find out in that way; he had to confess everything to her. But not yet. Just a few more precious days with her, he silently pleaded... just a few more days. As if in response to his inner turmoil, she gently touched his chin, drawing his attention back to her.

"I love that you brought me here, and I wouldn't mind us visiting often. But I have this strange feeling that I'm needed back home," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "It's like there's some kind of unfinished business there. I know it doesn't make much sense, but being this far away, it feels like I'm separated from an important part of myself."

"You don't owe me any explanation," he replied, his voice gentle and understanding. "I just want you to be happy, even if it means being without me."

"Without you? Why would you say such a thing?" She exclaimed, her eyes searching his for answers. "There is no happiness for me without you. Lucian, I love you, and I want to be with you forever."

He rested his forehead against hers, his mind wandering to that dark place that would forever be his personal purgatory.

"Can I ask you for one thing?" He whispered.

"Anything," she replied, her voice filled with sincerity.

"Promise me that you'll remember me this way," he said, his words laced with a bittersweet longing. "Promise me that you'll always remember how much I love you because... I do love you, more than you'll ever know."

She smiled up at him, finding his request a bit silly but endearing. "I promise, I'll always remember you just like this."

He forced a smile, hoping that when the time came, she would be able to hold on to that promise.

"Happy Birthday, darling," he said, his voice filled with warmth and affection.

"Today's my birthday?!" Her whole face lit up with surprise, and he responded with a nod, his eyes sparkling with delight.

Just as she never forgot his birthday, he never forgot hers either. He had made it his mission to ensure that this day was extra special for her. He prepared her favorite foods for breakfast, whisking her away to a secluded island to witness the playful dance of dolphins, and later, he surprised her with a romantic picnic on the sandy shores of the beach.

But he had one more surprise up his sleeve. He whisked her away to a hidden paradise, a magnificent waterfall nestled deep in the heart of nature. As they waded into the crystal-clear waters, the cool mist from the cascading falls enveloped them, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

Underneath a canopy of a thousand stars that lit up the night sky like a blanket of sparkling diamonds, they made love, their hearts and souls intertwining in a moment of pure bliss. It was a day that surpassed all expectations. It was perfect, it was magical, it was enchanting... and it would forever be etched in their memories as one of the most extraordinary days of their entire lives.