Page 45 of Chains of Love

Through our bond, his confusion crashes against me like waves. "Valentia blessed me with this gift. Each year, at the site of her sacrifice, I offer my devotion, and she rewards me with love."

Seth's scales rustle as he shifts closer. "Tell him about us, pet. About how lost you were."

"I was alone," I admit, my voice softening. "The first time, with Seth, I couldn't believe it had worked. I'd spent years being beaten down by my coven, told I was worthless, dangerous. But Seth..." I reach out, brushing my fingers against his scales. "He showed me everything I'd been missing. Taught me what it meant to be wanted."

"And then you bound another," Darak's voice is tight with anger.

"The following year, yes. The bond with Seth was so beautiful, so perfect. I wanted more. Needed more. And Seth encouraged me." I can feel his rage building through our connection, but I press on. "Valentia understood. She gave me Kaelor."

Kaelor growls softly, pressing his muzzle against my shoulder. The gesture is possessive, protective.

I run my fingers through Kaelor's coarse fur, drawing comfort from his familiar presence. "With Kaelor, everything was different. Seth had been my first, but bringing Kaelor in meant adding to what we'd already built." My eyes drift to Seth, whose scales shimmer as he shifts closer. "I wanted to be fair, to give him a real choice."

"Hmph," Kaelor rumbles, nuzzling against my neck. His hot breath sends shivers down my spine, and I can't help but smile at the endearment.

"I offered him freedom," I continue, meeting Darak's burning gaze. "The chance to break the bond if it wasn't what he wanted. To walk away and never look back."

Kaelor's chest vibrates with a low growl. "As if I would ever abandon such perfect prey." His claws trail gently down my arm, possessive but careful not to break skin.

The love flowing through our bonds wraps around me like a warm blanket. "He chose to stay," I whisper, remembering the moment Kaelor had sworn himself to me, to us.

A harsh laugh cuts through the tender moment. "Choice?" Darak's voice drips with venom. "There is no choice when you've poisoned our minds with your magic. When you've twisted everything we are into this... this obsession."

The accusation stings, but I hold my ground. His rage beats against our bond like a storm against glass, threatening to shatter everything we've built.

"It's different with each of you," I explain, desperately willing Darak to understand. "Seth's calculating mind, Kaelor's wild heart, and now your warrior spirit. You complete me in ways I never knew I needed."

Darak's pacing makes me dizzy, his boots scraping against stone with each turn. "You'll never be satisfied, will you? There will always be another warrior to bind, another soul to chain to your collection. You're nothing but selfish."

"Yes." The word echoes off the chamber walls. "I am selfish. I was alone for so long, starving for connection." I press my hand to my chest, feeling the thrum of our bonds beneath my skin. "But Valentia understands. She knows the depth of devotion, the endless capacity for love."

"Valentia?" He spits the name like poison. "Your false goddess of obsession?"

"Of love," I correct him, standing taller. "She fed armies with her devotion, kept men alive through winter and war with nothing but the strength of her heart. She knows when enough is enough. When I'm complete."

Seth's tail curls around my ankle, a silent show of support. Kaelor's fur brushes my arm as he shifts closer.

Darak stops his pacing, turning to face me with such raw pain in his eyes that it steals my breath. "After everything, after all of this... I thought..." His voice cracks. "I thought I loved you."

The words pierce my heart like arrows, but before I can respond, his face hardens. "I was wrong. It was just your magic, your manipulation."

"No." I step forward, reaching for him through our bond. "The magic doesn't create feelings, Darak. It only opens a connection to what's already there, lets us feel each other more completely."

"Bullshit," he spits.

The tension in the shrine crackles like lightning as Seth glides forward, his scales catching the dim light. "She's right, you know." His forked tongue flicks out as he tastes the air. "The door's right there, elf. No one's stopping you from walking out."

My breath catches as Seth's hand slides along my lower back, his touch familiar and possessive. "Though I must say, your loss would be my considerable gain. More of our lovely Lirien for me."

Heat floods my cheeks at his words, memories of countless nights spent wrapped in his coils flooding through our bond. Seth's answering chuckle sends shivers down my spine as his fingers trace patterns against my skin.

To my surprise, Kaelor's rough voice cuts through the tension. "Stay for dinner at least." He shifts his massive form,amber eyes fixed on Darak. "Even if you're fool enough to walk away from the best thing that'll ever happen to you, might as well eat first."

I reach up to ruffle the coarse fur between his ears, earning a pleased rumble. Before I can respond, Kaelor's powerful arms wrap around me, pulling me into a deep, hungry kiss that steals my breath away. When he finally releases me, I'm dizzy with the force of his desire pulsing through our bond.

"Sorry," he growls, not sounding sorry at all. "Been too long. Can I have another?"

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, gentle and genuine. Through our bonds, I feel Seth's amusement and Darak's simmering anger. "Later," I promise, scratching behind Kaelor's ear. "We have matters to settle first."

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