Chapter 210 Side Story 3

Chapter 210 Side Story 3
Lysaa's POV

A little while later, after we dropped the kids off with Kamrynn (and made sure she knew where we kept the fire extinguishers), Lorien led me outside to the open field behind our home.

“Are we walking somewhere?” I asked, curious.

“Not exactly,” he said, flashing me a grin.

Before I could ask what he meant, he began to shift.

Even after all these months, watching Lorien transform into his dragon form was something I never got tired of. One moment, he was standing in front of me, tall and handsome and completely at ease. The next, his body began to change—his skin darkening to a deep crimson as his limbs elongated, his wings unfurling from his back with a soft, leathery rustle. His tail whipped out behind him, and his eyes glowed like molten lava as he completed the shift, towering above me in all his dragon glory.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“Show-off,” I teased, but my voice was a little breathless.

Lorien lowered his massive head until it was level with mine, his scarlet eyes gleaming with amusement. Then he lowered one of his forelegs, inviting me to climb on.

I hesitated for a moment, still getting used to the idea of flying. But when I looked into his eyes, I felt a rush of warmth and confidence. I knew he would never let anything happen to me.

With a deep breath, I climbed onto his back, settling between the ridges just behind his wings. The scales were surprisingly smooth and warm beneath my hands, and I felt a thrill of excitement as Lorien spread his wings, preparing to take off.

“Hold on tight,” he rumbled, his voice vibrating through my entire body.

And then we were airborne.

The ground fell away beneath us as Lorien launched himself into the sky, his powerful wings beating against the air with rhythmic precision. The wind rushed past me, cool and exhilarating, and I let out a laugh, the tension melting from my body as we soared higher and higher.

Below us, the forest stretched out in every direction, a sea of green dotted with patches of sunlight. The sky was a brilliant blue, and I felt like we were the only two people in the world, flying above it all.

The skies stretched wide and endless above us as Lorien carried me effortlessly through the air, his massive wings cutting through the breeze with a power and grace that still made my breath catch. I had flown with him multiple times, but there was something different about today— was it something in the air? Or maybe because it was finally my one day of freedom?

I leaned forward on his back, feeling the familiar warmth of his scales beneath my hands. It was a comforting, grounding sensation, even as we soared higher, leaving the bustling world behind. The only sound was the rhythmic beat of his wings, steady as my heart in his presence.

He hadn’t told me where we were going. All I knew was that it was somewhere special. Somewhere just for us.

Below us, the landscape began to change. The forests grew denser, their treetops forming a thick canopy that blocked out everything below. The air smelled fresher here, like pine and earth and distant rain, and as we flew lower, I caught glimpses of wild rivers winding their way through the land like silver threads.

Finally, Lorien began to descend, angling his wings to slow our speed. My pulse quickened as I spotted a secluded glen tucked between two hills, hidden from view by towering oaks and thick, flowering vines. At the heart of the glen was a shimmering spring, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the sky and trees in perfect, glassy detail. A soft waterfall trickled down from a rocky ledge at the far end, filling the air with its gentle murmur.

Lorien landed gracefully on the grassy bank, his talons barely making a sound as they touched down. I slid off his back, my feet sinking into the cool, dewy grass as he shifted back into his human form.

For a moment, I just stood there, taking it all in. The spring. The waterfall. The wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. It looked like something out of a dream.

“Welcome to our little paradise.” He grinned.

“Lorien… it’s beautiful,” I whispered, turning to face him.

He was watching me, his crimson eyes glowing softly in the dappled sunlight. His long red hair tumbled over his shoulders in loose, tousled waves, and there was something almost shy about the way he smiled at me—a quiet, vulnerable kind of smile that he didn’t show to anyone else.

“I found this place a long time ago,” he said, his voice low and thoughtful. “After the destruction of Solaria, when I was roaming the world below… I stumbled across this glen by accident. It felt like a sanctuary. A place untouched by the chaos and destruction I’d left behind.”

He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “I told myself I’d come back one day, when I had something—someone—worth sharing it with.” His voice softened, and I felt the weight of his words settle over me like a warm, protective cloak. “I never imagined that someone would be you.”

My throat tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. All I could do was look at him, my heart aching with love and gratitude and the overwhelming sense of rightness that I always felt when I was with him.

Before I could find the words, he reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers and pulling me gently toward the edge of the spring. There was a soft blanket already spread out on the grass, along with a small wicker basket and two glasses of sparkling golden liquid that looked suspiciously like faerie wine.

“You planned all this?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

His lips curved into a slow, wicked grin. “Of course. I wanted everything to be perfect.”

And it was.

We settled down on the blanket, sitting close enough that our knees brushed together. Lorien poured the wine, handing me a glass before raising his own in a silent toast.

“To us,” he said softly, his eyes holding mine.

“To us,” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper.

The glasses chimed softly as we clinked them together, and I took a sip, savoring the sweet, floral notes that lingered on my tongue. It tasted like wild honey and summer sunlight, and I couldn’t help but smile.

For a while, we just sat there, talking and laughing and stealing little kisses between sips of wine. Lorien told me more stories about his adventures after Solaria, about the strange and wonderful places he’d seen and the creatures he’d encountered along the way.

“You must have been so lonely,” I said softly, resting my hand on his arm.

“I was,” he admitted, his expression turning serious. “But I think… I think I was meant to be. I had to lose everything to find you.”

My chest tightened, and without thinking, I leaned in and kissed him. It was a slow, lingering kiss, full of all the love and gratitude I couldn’t put into words.

When we finally pulled away, we were both a little breathless. Lorien’s eyes were darker now, his pupils blown wide with desire as he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.

“I love you,” he murmured, his voice rough and low and full of promise.

“I love you too,” I whispered, my fingers brushing lightly over his cheek.

He smiled then, that devastating, lopsided grin that always made my knees go weak. “Do you trust me?”

“With my life,” I said without hesitation.

His smile widened, and before I could ask what he meant, he scooped me up in his arms and waded into the spring, the cool water lapping at his legs as he carried me toward the deeper part.

I squealed, laughing as I clung to his neck. “Lorien! What are you doing?”

“Making sure you never forget this day,” he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

And then, with no warning at all, he tossed me into the water.

I came up sputtering, wiping water from my face as I glared at him. But I couldn’t stay mad—not when he was laughing like that, his head thrown back and his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“You’re going to pay for that,” I warned, swimming toward him with a determined look.

His grin turned even more wicked. “I’m counting on it.”