Chapter 188 Chapter 188
Lysaa’s POV
And then, just when I thought we were moving past the heavy stuff, Lorien dropped a bombshell.
“What if there’s a way to fix it?”
I froze.
“What…?”
He loosened his grip on me slightly, just enough for me to turn around and face him—or at least, face the general direction of where I knew his face would be.
“What did you say?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“What if there’s a way to restore your sight?” he repeated, his tone serious. “A way for you to see again.”
For a moment, I didn’t breathe.
“Lorien…” I shook my head, forcing out a shaky laugh. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
I faltered, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.
“You can’t be serious,” I whispered. “There’s no cure. There’s nothing anyone can do. I’ve seen the doctors, I’ve tried everything—”
“This isn’t something a doctor can fix,” he interrupted gently. “It’s ancient magic, Lysaa. Draconian magic.”
I frowned. “What kind of magic?”
He hesitated, and I could sense the tension in him, the weight of whatever he was about to tell me.
“There’s a ritual,” he said slowly, as if choosing his words carefully. “It’s called the Soul Binding.”
“Soul Binding?” I repeated, confusion lacing my voice.
“It’s an ancient Draconian ritual,” Lorien explained. “It’s dangerous, and it’s only been done twice in our entire history. But if it works… it would bind us together completely. Body, mind, and soul.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“Bind us…?”
“It’s like the werewolf mate bond, but deeper,” he said. “Once it’s established, we’ll be connected in every way. We’ll be able to feel each other’s emotions, share each other’s pain. Our heartbeats will be in sync. And if one of us dies…” He trailed off, his voice tight. “So does the other.”
I swallowed hard, trying to process what he was saying.
“But what does that have to do with my sight?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
He took a deep breath. “Because if we share everything… you’ll share my sight too. You’ll be able to see through my eyes, Lysaa. You’ll see everything I see.”
His words hung heavy in the air, and I felt my breath hitch. Share his sight?
He wasn’t finished yet. “But love,” he said carefully, “you need to understand how dangerous this is. There have only ever been two people in Draconian history who successfully completed this ritual. They were like the Romeo and Juliet of Solaria—just that sure of their love.”
“That dangerous?” I echoed softly, tilting my head toward him.
“Very dangerous,” he confirmed. “The ritual is ancient magic, Lysaa. If something goes wrong…” He paused, as though searching for the right words. “The consequences are irreversible. Even lethal.”
I swallowed hard, letting the gravity of his words settle over me.
But despite the risk, despite the danger, my mind couldn’t stop spinning at the possibility.
I might be able to see again.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I could almost imagine it—the darkness receding, the fog lifting. I could see Lorien’s face, really see him. I could see the sunrise again, my friends, my family, my mate. My future children.
The thought filled me with so much joy that tears welled in my eyes.
“I… I could see again,” I whispered, my voice cracking. I tried to keep my composure, but my hands trembled as I gripped his.
Lorien squeezed my hands tightly. “Yes,” he said softly. “You could.”
I could hear the tension in his voice, the concern. He wanted to give me hope, but he was terrified of what might happen if things went wrong.
He pulled me into his arms again, resting his chin gently on top of my head.
“I’ll give you time to think about it,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “This isn’t something you should decide lightly.”
But I didn’t need time. I already knew what I wanted.
I pulled back just enough to face him—or at least tilt my head in his direction. My heart raced as I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it.
“Lysaa,” he murmured, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “I don’t want you to feel pressured. This is your choice. You don’t have to—”
“I want to,” I interrupted, my voice firm despite the trembling in my chest.
His breath hitched. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” I said, nodding. “I want to do this, Lorien. I want to see you.” My voice broke slightly, and I forced myself to keep going. “I want to see my friends, my family… our children when they hatch.”
He sucked in a sharp breath at my words, and I felt his hands tighten on my waist.
“I know it’s dangerous,” I continued, “but Lorien, I’ve been living in darkness for so long. And I trust you. If anyone can guide me through this, it’s you.”
He was silent for a long moment, and I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
Then, slowly, he exhaled.
“Alright,” he said quietly. “If you’re absolutely sure…”
“I am.”
And just like that, the tension seemed to drain from his body. He pulled me close again, holding me tightly as though he were afraid to let go.
“You’re so damn brave,” he murmured against my hair. “You know that?”
I smiled softly, feeling warmth bloom in my chest.
“Only because I have you.”
That was all it took for his lips to capture mine in a fierce, passionate kiss.
Heat bloomed between us as his mouth moved against mine, slow at first but quickly deepening. His hands slid up my back, pulling me closer, and I felt a soft moan escape my lips as he tilted my head to deepen the kiss.
My senses were on fire. Every touch, every caress, every brush of his lips felt amplified, electric.
Lorien kissed me like he was trying to pour all his love, all his devotion, into that one moment—and I kissed him back with just as much fervor.
When we finally pulled away, we were both breathless, our hearts racing in sync.
“Whatever happens,” he said softly, his forehead resting against mine, “we’ll face it together.”
“Together,” I whispered back, my heart full.
And in that moment, I knew with absolute certainty that we were making the right choice.