Page 51 of Chains of Love

White-hot pain lances down my spine, like molten metal being poured through my veins. My back arches and I can't hold back the cry that tears from my lips. A candle knocks to the ground as I stumble backward. The flame sputters against the stone floor, casting wild shadows that dance like the chaos in my heart.

"STOP!" Darak's voice thunders through the chamber, raw with desperation.

25

DRAKAR

"Stay back!" Seth's tail whips out, blocking his path. "The circle must remain unbroken. Interfering could destroy your own bonding."

"She's hurting!" Kaelor's growl reverberates off the stone walls.

"Liri?" Seth's voice carries a tremor I've never heard before. "We can stop?—"

"No!" I grit my teeth tighter, steadying myself. "I won't... won't waste this chance."

The ancient chamberfills with an eerie green glow as Lirien begins the ritual. Her hands tremble as she traces symbols in the air, her silver hair floating around her face. I watch, mesmerized, until her first scream tears through the silence.

Liri!My mind screams her name, my mouth unable to form the words.

Kaelor lunges forward, his massive form casting shadows on the stone walls.

Sethrys's tail whips out, blocking the beast-man's path. "Stay back! The circle must remain unbroken. Interfering could destroy your own bonding."

They argue with each other, but all I can do is stare at Lirien. At the tears forming in her eyes as she resists the pain, the heartbreak.

Another scream rips from Lirien's throat, her back arching as tears stream down her face. The bond between us writhes like a living thing, burning through my veins. My stomach churns, acid climbing up my throat.

"I will still love you," Lirien gasps between sobs.

I hold her gaze, and the pain in those green eyes cuts deeper than anything I've ever known. Her fingers clutch at empty air, reaching for something I can't see. Magic crackles across her skin, leaving angry red marks in its wake.

My skin crawls, every instinct screaming that this is wrong. I shouldn't feel like this – like poison seeping into my soul. Lirien's next scream sounds like it's being torn from her very core.

"STOP!" The word explodes from my chest. "Stop the ritual!"

But she doesn't listen. The sensation burns brighter, and I have to force myself up onto my feet through the weight pressing on my shoulders. I grab her shaking hands.

"For fuck's sake, stop this!" I scream again. "Stop, Lirien! Stop—I don't want to break the bond!"

The magic dissipates like smoke in wind. Lirien crumples, and my heart stops. I drop to my knees, catching her before she hits the ground. Her skin burns against mine, silver hair plastered to her tear-stained face.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, pulling her close. The words tumble out between shaky breaths. "I'm so sorry. I didn't understand. I don't want to break it. Please, Liri. I can't lose you."

She trembles in my arms, fingers clutching my shirt as sobs wrack her body. My own tears fall, dropping onto her cheeks and mixing with hers. The bond flickers between us, raw and exposed. Wounded.

"Can you forgive me?" My voice cracks. "For being such a blind fool? For causing you this pain?"

Lirien's hand finds my face, her thumb brushing away a tear. "The pain would have been worth it." Her voice is hoarse from screaming. "To give you your freedom?—"

"No." I press my forehead to hers. "I don't want freedom. Not anymore." The truth of it settles in my chest like an anchor. "I want you."

I capture her lips with mine, pouring everything I can't say into the kiss. Her surprise melts into need as she kisses me back, her fingers tangling in my hair. The bond sings between us, stronger than ever.

Seth mutters something behind us. Kaelor growls. I ignore them both, lost in the taste of Lirien's lips and the feeling of finally, finally being exactly where I belong.

Lirien pulls away, her eyes glistening with tears. "Don't. Please don't say these things out of pity. I couldn't bear it if?—"

"Pity?" A laugh escapes me, raw and honest. "You think this is pity?" I cup her face, thumb tracing the scar I gave her that first day. "I could never hate you, Liri. Even when I wanted to, I couldn't."

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