************
The room was quiet, the fire long faded into glowing embers. Moonlight painted silver lines across the floor, softening the shadows. Kai lay curled under a blanket, his body still tingling from the warmth of Lucien beside him. But sleep didn't come easy tonight. His bond… it pulsed. Quietly at first, then warmer, thicker—like magic stirring under his skin.
Then came the dream.
Smoke.
Flames licking up through dark trees. The scent of ash filled the air. Kai stood in the middle of the forest, alone, barefoot. His breath came in clouds, but the fire was too close—too real.
He turned.
Lucien stood on his knees in the clearing, chained in silver. Blood dripped from his mouth. His eyes met Kai's—not angry, not scared.
"Run," Lucien whispered. And behind him, something moved. Shadows—no, people—cloaked and hooded. Their voices echoed with hunger and magic. Then Kai felt it—heat curling up his back. His body burned, heart slamming against his ribs, like the fire was inside him now—
He woke with a gasp, chest damp with sweat.
Lucien stirred. "Kai?" he whispered, voice thick from sleep.
Kai tried to speak, but his throat closed. He only nodded.
Lucien reached out slowly, fingers brushing the back of Kai's neck. "It's okay," he murmured."You're safe."
Kai leaned in, resting his forehead against Lucien's chest. "There was fire. You were chained. I couldn't reach you."
Lucien's arms wrapped around him, firm and grounding. "Dreams tied to the bond can show pieces of truth," he said softly. "But not everything is certain."
Kai closed his eyes. "It felt real."
Lucien kissed the top of his head. "Then we'll find answers before it becomes real."
Their magic pulsed between them—like a quiet heartbeat shared by two souls.
*************
The morning sun peeked through the trees, casting golden light on the floorboards. Kai sat on the edge of the bed, hands folded in his lap, still shaken from the dream.
Lucien was near the fireplace, strapping on a light pack. "There's a place," he said, voice calm but steady. "Old. Hidden in the northern forest. My mother called it the Heart of the Wild. She believed it held answers for cursed bonds… maybe even a way to break them."Kai looked up slowly. "You think we'll find something there?""I think," Lucien replied, meeting his eyes, "if your dream was a warning, we shouldn't wait for it to come true."
They packed quickly—just enough food, water, and supplies. Lucien carried a map etched with ancient symbols. Kai tucked a book into his satchel, the same one they read days ago, the one that hinted at soul-bound flames.
As they stepped outside, the air felt different—thicker, charged. The trees swayed gently, but the leaves didn't rustle. Everything felt too still. They moved through the forest with quiet footsteps. Birds sang overhead, and soft mist curled along the path. Lucien led with sure strides, his senses sharp. Kai followed close, feeling the way the bond tugged between them. It was like a string of warmth, stretched between their hearts. Not painful, not urgent—but always there.
Hours passed. They crossed shallow rivers, stepped over fallen logs, and paused only for a bite of dried fruit. Lucien always made sure Kai stayed close, his hand sometimes brushing Kai's lower back as they moved together. But every now and then, Kai felt something else.
Eyes.
It wasn't Lucien—it was deeper, colder. Watching them from the trees. He turned once, catching a glimpse of dark movement behind the branches. When he blinked, it was gone. "Lucien," Kai whispered. "Something's… following us." Lucien stopped walking. His jaw tightened. "I know."
Kai's stomach turned. "Then why aren't we running?" Lucien glanced over his shoulder, golden eyes glowing faintly. "Because I want it to follow us somewhere I can tear it apart."For a moment, Kai didn't breathe. Then Lucien gave a small smile, low and full of promise."Besides, nothing's taking you from me. Not while I'm alive."
Kai's cheeks burned—but it wasn't just from the words. It was the way Lucien said them.
Like he meant every damn one.
**********
The sun dipped low behind the trees, painting the sky in soft amber. By nightfall, they reached a small village hidden deep in the forest. It wasn't on any map—just a circle of wooden cottages wrapped in ivy and glowing lanterns. Lucien stopped near the edge of the path. "We'll rest here tonight. Safe enough."
Kai nodded, still feeling the odd pressure in the air—like something had been trailing them for miles. His boots ached, and the chill crept through his jacket. Rest sounded perfect. They found an inn tucked between tall trees. A fire burned inside, and the scent of bread and stew drifted from the windows. It was warm, welcoming.
Too welcoming.
As they stepped in, Kai noticed the looks. Mostly curious glances—villagers trying to place strangers. But one man, tall and sharp-jawed with pale eyes, watched Kai a little too long. His smirk was slow, crawling across his face like oil.
Lucien noticed too.
They sat at a small table, Kai sipping warm broth while Lucien kept his body angled protectively. He didn't speak much—but his eyes never stopped scanning. The man came closer. "Didn't think wildflowers grew this deep in the forest," the stranger said, voice slick and casual, eyes pinned on Kai. Kai stiffened, unsure what to say.
Lucien stood.
The shift was instant. From calm to danger. His shadow stretched, and the bond between them flared like heat.
"Walk away," Lucien said, low and sharp, like a blade unsheathing. The stranger raised an eyebrow. "Relax, alpha. I was just being friendly." Lucien stepped forward. "You don't get friendly with what's mine."
The room went silent.
Kai's breath caught. Something in him twisted—heat, surprise, and something deeper. The man backed off with a scoff, muttering as he turned away. Lucien didn't sit right away. He stood over Kai for a moment longer, his hand resting on the back of Kai's chair like a claim. Only after the tension faded did he sit, jaw still tight.
Kai looked at him. "You didn't have to go that far." Lucien didn't look at him. "Yes, I did." And in that moment, Kai felt it again—his bond glowing soft under his skin.
Not because of danger.
Because of desire.
**************
The room upstairs was small, with low golden light flickering from a lamp on the wall. The bed was wide and soft, draped in deep red sheets that smelled faintly of roses and old firewood. It used to be a brothel room—Kai could tell by the mirror on the ceiling and the way the walls were padded to keep secrets inside.
Lucien stood by the door for a long moment, his body tense, his breath low. "I shouldn't have said that," he murmured. "That you're mine."Kai turned, slowly. "Why not? Isn't that how the bond works?" Lucien looked at him then—like he was trying to find the right words but couldn't. So instead, he stepped forward and cupped Kai's face with both hands. "I don't want to own you," he whispered. "I want you to choose me."
Kai leaned into his touch. "Then stop standing so far away." That was all it took.
Lucien kissed him—slow and deep, like it meant something more. Like it had been waiting for too long. Kai's hands gripped Lucien's shirt as warmth flooded his chest, his belly, his thighs. Their breaths mingled, tongues exploring, tasting, claiming. Lucien's fingers trailed down Kai's spine, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
They moved together toward the bed, shedding layers in the soft firelight. Every touch felt like magic sparking under skin. When Lucien's fingers grazed over Kai's stomach, Kai gasped—not in fear, but in aching need. Lucien whispered, "Tell me to stop.""I won't," Kai breathed, pulling him closer.
They fell into the bed in a tangle of limbs and heat. Lucien's hands slid over Kai's hips, gentle but firm, learning every inch of him. Their bodies pressed close, skin to skin, warm and bare. Kai's thighs parted, and Lucien nestled between them, kissing down his chest slowly—tasting, breathing him in.
Kai moaned softly, arching under the attention. He had never felt so seen, so wanted. Lucien licked and sucked on Kai's nipples, drawing out moans that echoed through the room. "Is this okay?" he asked, voice husky. Kai nodded, eyes heavy with trust. "Yes. Just… don't stop."
Lucien trailed lower, his tongue flicking over Kai's belly button before dipping lower still. He licked and sucked on Kai's hard cock, taking it deep into his mouth. The sensation was overwhelming, and Kai gripped the sheets, his hips bucking."Lucien…" he gasped. Lucien pulled back, a wicked grin on his face. "You taste amazing,"he said, before moving lower still, licking and sucking on Kai's balls, then tracing a line up to his ass.
Kai spread his legs wider, inviting more. Lucien obliged, his tongue circling Kai's hole, teasing and probing. Kai's breath hitched as Lucien's tongue pushed inside, the sensation electric. "Lucien," Kai moaned. "I need you."
Lucien smiled, his eyes dark with desire. "You have me," he said, before moving up and positioning himself at Kai's entrance. He pressed in slowly, his cock stretching Kai open. Kai gripped Lucien's shoulders, his breath coming in short gasps. "You're so tight," Lucien groaned, his hips moving slowly, giving Kai time to adjust.
Kai nodded, his eyes locked on Lucien's. "Don't stop," he whispered. Lucien began to move, his hips thrusting in and out, his cock filling Kai completely. The bed creaked with their movements, their moans filling the room. Lucien's hands gripped Kai's thighs, spreading him wider, going deeper.
"Faster," Kai gasped, his hands moving to grip his own cock. Lucien obliged, his thrusts becoming harder, faster. The slap of skin against skin filled the room, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Kai's cock was hard and leaking, his hand moving in time with Lucien's thrusts. "I'm close," Kai gasped.
Lucien reached down, his hand wrapping around Kai's cock, stroking in time with his thrusts. The sensation was too much, and Kai came with a cry, his body shaking as his orgasm washed over him.Lucien followed soon after, his cock pulsing inside Kai as he groaned Kai's name. Lucien didn't pull away. He stayed buried inside, breathing hard, one hand pressed to Kai's cheek as their bond pulsed soft and golden between them.
"I've never felt anything like this," Lucien whispered. "Me either," Kai said, voice shaking.
Wrapped in each other, their hearts finally stopped racing. But the magic between them didn't fade—it stayed like a soft hum, alive under their skin. Lucien pulled out slowly, his cock glistening with Kai's release. He moved up, his body covering Kai's, his lips finding Kai's in a soft kiss.
"Turn over," Lucien said, his voice low. Kai complied, his body already anticipating what was to come. Lucien positioned himself behind Kai, his cock hard again, ready. He pressed in slowly, his hands gripping Kai's hips. "You're so tight," he groaned again, his hips moving slowly at first, then faster as Kai pushed back against him.
The sound of their bodies slapping together filled the room, their moans echoing off the padded walls. Lucien reached around, his hand wrapping around Kai's cock, stroking in time with his thrusts. "I'm close," Kai gasped again, his body trembling. Lucien thrust harder, faster, his cock hitting Kai's prostate with every thrust. The sensation was overwhelming, and Kai came with a cry, his body shaking as his orgasm washed over him again.
Lucien followed soon after, his cock pulsing as he groaned Kai's name, his release filling Kai's ass.
They collapsed onto the bed, their bodies slick with sweat, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Lucien pulled out slowly, his cock glistening with their release. He moved up, his body covering Kai's, his lips finding Kai's in a soft kiss.
"I love you," he whispered. Kai smiled, his eyes soft. "I love you too."
In the silence that followed, they finally understood:
They weren't just bonded.
They were falling.