—Alexia—
The rain was gentle but relentless, tapping at the window like it was waiting for me to break. Kaia was a quiet lump under the covers, Zeus curled at her feet, paws twitching. But I couldn't rest. The ache in my chest had grown all day, a low, molten pulse each time I thought of him, each time I remembered the way he'd looked at me in the training hall—steady, calm, mine.
A knock, soft, but I felt it under my skin like a spark. I opened the door. Finn stood there, rain dripping from his hair, his eyes searching mine like he could already feel the way I was unraveling.
"Lex," he said, voice low so he wouldn't wake Kaia, "can I stay?"
I nodded, unable to speak, stepping back to let him in. The warmth in my chest twisted, spreading outward, slow, insistent.
He shut the door quietly, crossing the room with that careful grace that reminded me he wasn't just Finn, but a dragon. Heat rolled off him, steady and comforting.
"I know you feel it," he murmured, lifting his hand to hover near my face, close enough to feel the warmth. "The bond. The ache."
"It hurts," I whispered, pressing a hand to my chest. "I don't understand why it hurts."
His eyes softened, gold flickering in the blue. "Because my dragon knows you," he said quietly. "It chose you before I did."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, deep-green stone flecked with gold, like sunlight trapped in moss. He pressed it into my hand, his fingers brushing mine, sending a shiver up my spine.
"It's part of my hoard," he said, his voice rough, vulnerable. "Dragons don't give their hoard away unless it's forever."
"Finn..."
He finally touched my face, brushing away a tear with his thumb, the warmth of him grounding me.
"You're not dangerous to me," he said, stepping closer, forehead almost touching mine. "You're not too much. You're mine."
The bond pulsed, heat sinking into my bones, a golden thread weaving through the spaces in me that felt jagged and empty.
"You're going to see it all," I whispered, fear cracking in my voice. "All the mess, all the chaos—"
"I already do," he said, eyes fierce, soft, real. "And I'm still here."
Magic sparked in the air, tiny golden lights flickering around us like soft embers that didn't burn. The air shifted, and outside, the rain beat faster, the storm reacting to the bond sparking alive. Across the room, Zeus lifted his head, ears flicking, a low, contented whine rumbling in his chest before he settled again, eyes on us.
Kaia shifted in her sleep, mumbling, pulling the blanket tighter, the magic brushing against her dreams but not waking her. She would later say she felt warmth, like a soft hand on her shoulder, like safety.
"Lex," Finn whispered, "let me in."
I closed my eyes and let the bond open. Let the warmth of him, the rightness of him, sink into every crack inside me. Let him in.
When he kissed me, it was slow, careful, but the bond snapped into place, a golden thread tethering me to him, anchoring me. Magic shimmered around us, scales of light drifting like snow. My skin tingled, and heat blossomed on the inside of my wrist. I pulled back, breathless, and looked down. A small, scale-shaped sigil glowed there, warm and golden, pulsing with my heartbeat.
Finn's eyes glowed gold as he brushed a finger over the mark, reverent, sending sparks through me.
"It's done," he breathed. "The bond is sealed."
The world felt different. I could feel him, warm and steady, like a comforting hand resting on my shoulder. I felt his quiet pride, his relief, his wonder—emotions rippling through the bond in soft waves. Across the bond, I felt a hush in the storm outside, like the world itself paused, breathing with us.
Tears slipped down my cheeks, but I was smiling.
"It's okay," he whispered, pressing another soft kiss to seal the promise.
And for the first time since the fire, the chaos inside me wasn't screaming. It was quiet. It was safe.
The glow of the mark faded to a soft warmth. The restless hum inside me was gone, replaced by something steadier. Like a warm hand in mine, even when he wasn't touching me.
We lay on the bed, side by side, legs tangled under the thin blanket, the small hoard stone resting on the table beside us. The rain softened outside, matching the quiet in my mind.
"How does it feel?" he asked, voice low, as if speaking too loud would shatter the peace.
I looked at the mark on my wrist, then at him. "Warm," I said. "Like you're here, even when you're not."
His tired smile was real. "I am."
I rolled onto my side to face him. His eyes were dark blue in the low light, gold flickering like candlelight, the dragon in him calm, content.
"It doesn't feel heavy," I admitted. "It feels... safe."
"It's not a chain, Lex," he said softly. "It's a promise."
My fingers traced the edge of the blanket. "What if I mess up? What if I lose control again?"
His hand brushed hair from my face, his thumb grazing my cheek, warm, steady. "Then I'll be there. To remind you who you are."
"Who am I?" I whispered.
His smile softened. "Alexia Mae Carter. The girl who talks to storms and makes them listen. The girl who saved a stray dog when she didn't know she was saving herself. The girl who's braver than she thinks."
The bond pulsed softly, a warm hush at the back of my mind.
"And the girl who's mine," he added, quieter.
I reached for his hand, lacing our fingers together. "Yours."
We lay there in a silence that didn't need to be filled. I felt him through the bond, steady, warm, like a second heartbeat beside mine. His contentment, his relief, the quiet awe he didn't say out loud.
"I can't promise I won't be scared," I whispered.
His thumb brushed over my knuckles. "That's okay. I'll be scared with you."
A small, tired laugh slipped out. I shifted closer, resting my forehead against his chest, letting the warmth of him and the bond anchor me.
"I've got you, Lex," he murmured into my hair.
And for the first time in forever, I let myself believe it. And I fell asleep.