547- Magnetite Hearts and Eternal Bonds
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
"Oh wow, Myrion, I'm so sorry for hurting your feelings," I mocked.
He placed a hand over his chest.
"I don't know if I'm capable of forgiving you for that."
"I hope the Christmas spirit helps with that."
Anton laughed, finding my banter with his brother amusing. Aurelka and Lana approached us.
"Let me see if I get this right: Myrion is monopolizing the night, as he always does?" asked Aurelka.
He huffed.
"Who needs enemies when you have a sister like that?"
We laughed out loud.
The days with them were lighter and more fun. I taught at the school, telling my students the same stories my father had passed on to me one day. Afterward, I spent some time with Anton at home, cooking, watching some television program, enjoying each other's company. Sometimes we went to Anca's bar with them, to have fun. Or we'd have some dinner at home, where Myrion would usually pass out drunk.
Life was simple, light, without any storm. I felt protected, loved, valued.
When I missed some silly thing or something more human, Anton would take me to the city, alternating our schedule, always doing everything to see me happy and satisfied.
"Let's open the presents?" shouted Lyris.
Mira and Nerea started screaming, excited and eager. Celindra gathered several presents from under the tree and handed them to the twins, who tore the wrappers without any patience.
"Great strategy, or soon Vladren's mischievous twins will destroy everything," Myrion whispered, watching the little ones making the biggest mess.
I bit my cheeks, suppressing a laugh.
Anton was quiet beside me, his eyes observing the room with the same attention as mine, but there was something different in the way he looked at me when I turned my gaze back to him. He smiled sideways, that smile that made my heart race, and then, slowly, he turned to me with a different gleam in his eyes.
"There's something I wanted to give you," he said, his voice low, just for me, as his hand slipped into his pants pocket.
My eyes followed his movements, curious. He took out a small blue velvet box, and for a second, my heart stopped. Anton opened it carefully, revealing a simple but beautiful necklace. At its center, a dark stone, in a shade between black and gray, shone softly under the room's light. It wasn't like any other stone I had ever seen. It seemed to pulsate, as if it had a life of its own.
"Anton…" I murmured, not knowing exactly what to say.
He took the necklace delicately, his fingers touching the gold chain as he approached me, his eyes never leaving mine.
"This stone has a special meaning," he said, his voice low and husky as he placed the necklace around my neck. I felt the cold metal touch my skin, but it soon became warm, almost as if adjusting to my energy. He pulled back just enough to show me what he was wearing under the red sweater. He pulled out a similar chain, and the stone hanging on his chest was identical to mine. "They are magnetite stones," he explained, his fingers touching the stone on his own necklace. "Myrion and I went to a remote region, a place few dare to go, to find them. They say these stones are as old as time itself and were used by those who had a fated bond… like us."
My throat went dry, I couldn't even breathe.
"Gods!" I gasped.
He and Myrion had gone on a week-long trip a few days ago. He hadn't explained much about where he was going, just said it was related to wood export. I didn't question or doubt it, so I let the matter go.
"These stones attract each other when they're close, like magnets. They symbolize the connection that exists between two souls who belong to each other. No matter the distance, they will always find each other."
He leaned in slowly, and as soon as he was close enough, something incredible happened. The stones, which had been loose on our necklaces, began to move, as if they had a life of their own. I felt their gentle force pulling, and in an instant, the two united with a soft click.
My chest tightened with emotion. Seeing the stones attract each other like that, so naturally, made me feel as if everything we had been through, all the struggles, all the losses, had led us to that moment. It was destiny, sealed there, between us.
He smiled, that gentle smile that always disarmed me.
"Now, no matter where you are, Little Beast," he murmured, his lips close to mine. "These stones will always guide us back to each other. They are the symbol of what we are. Not just fated mates, but united in everything… body, soul, and heart."
I couldn't speak, the words stuck in my throat. All I could do was lean into him, my lips touching his with silent urgency. The world around us disappeared, and all that existed was that moment, the force of attraction between us, just like the stones, unbreakable, eternal.
Not even in my deepest dreams did I imagine I would live something like this: overwhelming, complex, magnificent.
I pulled back and caressed his face, rubbing my fingers over the grown hairs of his beard.
"I love you so much," I whispered.
"I loved you first." He winked.
I couldn't hold back, I let the tears stream from my eyes.
The first time I heard that same phrase was from the first man who loved me, the one who brought me into the world and prepared me not to accept anything less than that.
And he succeeded, fulfilled the desire he had, and unwittingly delivered me to the love of my life.
I wiped the corners of my eyes with my fingertips and cleared my throat.
"I didn't prepare anything for you, I didn't know you exchanged presents," I warned, feeling a little frustrated and embarrassed. "I'm sorry."