Page 13 of Chains of Nightshade

The cool night air wraps around me, settling deep into my bones. My heart races with anticipation, replaying the thrill of my small act of defiance with the spindleworm. The memory of the dark elf's disgusted face brings a smile to my lips as I close my eyes.

The dreamscape materializes around me, and there he is – Aurel. His massive form coils in lazy loops, scales gleaming in the ethereal light. Those piercing eyes fix on me, green fire dancing in their depths. Something in his gaze makes my breath catch.

"You've been busy today." His voice carries an amused undertone.

My magic surges beneath my skin, reaching for him like an eager puppy. "I tried what you taught me."

"And?" He shifts closer, his massive form casting shadows over me.

"It worked." I can't keep the excitement from my voice. "The spindle worm actually listened."

"Of course it did." His hand reaches out, fingers brushing my cheek. The touch sends electricity through my body. "You're starting to believe in yourself."

"Is that why my magic feels so... alive right now?"

"Your power responds to your confidence." His thumb traces my jawline. "And to me."

The intensity in his gaze makes me shiver. My magic leaps and dances under my skin, drawn to him like a moth to flame. His serpentine body shifts closer, coiling around me without touching, creating a private space that feels both intimate and dangerous.

"Tell me more about what you did today," he whispers, his breath cool against my ear.

I feel dizzy with his proximity, but in a good way. Like standing at the edge of a cliff, knowing you could fall, but trusting your feet to keep you steady.

My throat tightens as I watch him move. Every ripple of muscle beneath his skin, every graceful coil of his serpentine body sends shivers down my spine. I've never felt this way before - this magnetic pull that makes my skin flush and my heart race.

"Your magic is responding well," he says, his voice like silk sliding over steel. "Come closer."

I step forward, drawn by something deeper than mere obedience. My eyes trace the strong lines of his jaw, the breadth of his shoulders, the way his human torso melds seamlessly into gleaming scales. He's beautiful in a way that defies everything I know about beauty.

His emerald eyes lock onto mine, intense and knowing.

Heat floods my cheeks. He's not even human - he's something ancient and powerful and dangerous. And yet... or maybe that's exactly why my body responds to him this way. The alienness of him, the raw power he exudes… my heart hammers wildly.

My feet move on their own, drawing me closer to his massive form. The dreamscape shimmers around us, but all I can focus on is the heat emanating from his scales, beckoning me forward. My fingers twitch with the urge to touch him, to feel if he's as warm as he looks.

"I... I want to learn more." My voice comes out barely above a whisper. The words feel clumsy on my tongue, but the strange energy inside me pulses stronger with each step.

His emerald eyes track my movement, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Then let us begin." He shifts, making space beside him. "Come. Sit."

I hesitate, then settle next to him, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body but not quite touching. My heart thunders in my chest.

"Hold out your hand," he instructs, his voice low and rich. "Feel the energy around you. It's like... a current in the air."

I extend my trembling fingers, trying to focus past my awareness of his proximity. There's something there - a slight tingling sensation that dances across my skin.

"That's it," he murmurs, and I can hear approval in his voice. "Now reach for it. Draw it toward you."

The energy responds to my call, sending pleasant shivers up my arm. A small gasp escapes my lips as tiny sparks of light dance around my fingertips.

"Good," he says, and his praise makes my chest tighten with an unfamiliar warmth. "You're a natural."

The sparks of magic dance around my fingers, and for the first time in my life, I feel... alive. Whole. Like I've been sleeping all these years, and only now am I truly waking up.

"Beautiful," Aurel murmurs, his eyes fixed on the display of light. "You see? You're capable of so much more."

My chest tightens at his praise. No one has ever looked at me like this before - like I'm something precious, something worthy.The dark elves see me as property, a defective tool. But Aurel... he sees potential.

"I never knew I could do this." The magic responds to my wonder, pulsing brighter. "Why me?"

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