Page 49 of Heatbound Hearts

Bronwyn shivers under my touch. "It's like wearing a piece of your world," she says softly.

I come around to face her, adjusting the fall of the fabric across her shoulders. "You are a part of my world now," I tell her, cupping her face in my hands.

Our eyes lock, and for a moment, the rest of Caelus fades away. I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, then each cheek, before finally claiming her lips.

When we part, both slightly breathless, I reach for the final piece – a delicate silver circlet. "This," I explain, "symbolizes the unity of all Nythorrans under the Seven."

I place it carefully on her brow, my fingers trailing down to caress her cheek. Bronwyn leans into my touch, her eyes shining with emotion.

"How do I look?" she asks, a hint of shyness in her voice.

I step back, taking in the full effect. The robe hugs her curves perfectly, the deep blue a striking contrast to her fair skin. The silver circlet gleams against her dark hair, making her look every inch a Nythorran princess.

"Breathtaking," I whisper, my heart swelling.

She grins, looking all too happy, and I decide now is the time to finally tell her something that has been weighing on me. We haven't talked again since she admitted she was falling for me…But for me, it is so much more.

"Bronwyn," I say, and she turns to face me. "Before we join the others, I need you to know something."

I take her hands in mine, marveling at how perfectly they fit. "Since the moment I found you in that forest, my world has changed. You've brought light into my life in ways I never imagined possible."

I pause, struggling to find words that can adequately express the depth of my feelings. "I've lived for centuries, but it's only now, with you, that I feel truly alive."

My wings quiver with emotion as I continue. "I know that we are going to go back to Terramyst after this. But I don't want this all to end her."

I watch as her eyes fill with tears, her lips parting in a soft gasp. "Zyx," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.

"I love you," I declare, the words bursting from me like a dam breaking. "I've always felt a connection to you, since I first saw you. And I just want you to know that leaving this island, it won't change that."

Bronwyn's response is immediate and passionate. She throws her arms around my neck, pressing herself against me. "I love you too, Zyx," she breathes against my lips. "You've given me a home, a purpose. You are everything to me."

Our lips meet in a searing kiss, full of promise and longing. I wrap my wings around her, cocooning us in our own private world. The kiss deepens, and I pour all my love, all my hopes for our future, into it.

When we finally part, both breathless, I rest my forehead against hers. "Now let's go enjoy our last night here."

26

BRONWYN

Istand beside Zyx, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as the ceremony begins. The air around us crackles with energy, making the hair on my arms stand on end. Zyx's warm presence beside me helps me feel grounded, and this time, I don't let the large crowd bother me.

As the rituals progress, the atmosphere becomes charged with an otherworldly power. The very air seems to shimmer and pulse with magic. I can't help but lean closer to Zyx, drawing strength from his unwavering calm.

Suddenly, a hush falls over the gathered crowd. The air grows thick, almost oppressive in its intensity. Then, in a blinding flash of light that forces me to shield my eyes, they appear.

The Seven gods materialize before us, one at a time as Zyx said, and with each, their presence becomes so overwhelming that I feel my knees go weak. Oltyx is first. And I'm not sure what that says for me when he's the only god I've prayed to. The only one who has blessed me.

I gasp, the sound barely audible over the collective intake of breath from the crowd. My hand shoots out instinctively, grasping Zyx's with a desperate intensity.

Zyx's fingers intertwine with mine, his grip firm and reassuring. He squeezes gently, a silent reminder that he's here with me. I cling to that touch, using it to ground myself as I struggle to comprehend the sight before me.

Each god is a vision of power and beauty beyond anything I could have imagined. Axarus, the God of War, stands tall and imposing, his very presence radiating strength and authority. Beside him, Xydra, the Goddess of Destruction, shimmers with barely contained chaos.

My eyes dart from one deity to another, trying to take in every detail. Oltyx, God of the Earth, seems to pulse with the very life force of Nythorra itself. Cither, God of Whispers, is harder to focus on, his form shifting and blurring at the edges.

Nosaos, God of Dreams, captivates me with eyes that seem to hold entire universes. Netia, Goddess of Chaos, swirls with colors I've never seen before. And Bizruer, God of the Forge, glows with an inner fire that makes me want to look away and stare forever all at once.

I turn to Zyx, my eyes wide with wonder and disbelief. He meets my gaze, a small smile playing on his lips. In that moment, I'm overwhelmed by gratitude - for him, for this world, for this incredible experience.

---