21 Chapter 21: Kysael- Reunion (1/2)

Chapter 21: Kysael- Reunion

\tIt was around midday, now, and I was growing tired. I had just barely missed the rabbit, and had settled instead on going and fishing for a while.

\tAt least I would be able to catch something more than likely, since I didn't have to run around and chase the fish. The rabbit had been a bit too much of a challenge for me, but I had gotten close, and that was enough to spur me on to continue with my progress.

\tI found a nice long branch, and tied a long string to it, before digging a worm out from under a little stone next to the little pond and then I sat down, tying the worm to the string before setting it into the water.

\tIt was just as I was pulling a fish onto the shore that I lost it when someone came running out of the bushes, calling my name in an eerily familiar voice that always haunted my dreams, startling me.

\t”Kysael!” The voice called again.

\tI was just getting to my feet when I was yanked into a pair of thick, strong, muscular arms. Too short to be Dragon. Too rippling, obviously muscled to be Dragon. Dragon's muscles were thicker but softer.

\tVoice too thick and rough to be Dragon.

\tEnergy too dark and sinister to be Dragon...

\tI tried to turn in their grip, but I wasn't strong enough right now. It was only then that my pain reminded me of how weak and vulnerable I was at that moment, and I was in no condition to fight.

\tAt least they didn't seem to mean me any harm...

\t”Kysael! I am so glad that I found you!” The voice was oh, so familiar....and yet....it was deeper, a little older....it was more.... rough, manly sounding. ”The others were worried that something had happened to you, because you weren't around! I am glad to see that you are okay.”

\tFinally, he turned me to see who he was, and my heartrate went wild at the sight of his blonde wolf-tail, his bright, bright golden eyes, blue around the outside of the golden irises, the handsome contours of his face, the sweat gleaming off of him and wetting the shirt he wore over his chest, the black cloak and hood covering him from the sunlight.

\t”...Kelose?” I asked, shocked. Apprehension ran through me, fear, and the Soul Bond that we had begun so long ago tugged at my spirit, trying to draw me to him despite that I had moved on.

\t”Yes, it is me,” he said, hugging me again. ”I've heard about everything that has happened to you. Are you alright?”

\tMy throat threatened to close up, and I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. ”Yes,” I choked through my tears.

\tI didn't know if they were happy tears or not.

\t”I am so glad,” he said softly.

\t”Where is Lunariel? Where is the baby?” I asked, trying to bring myself back from my temporary, unwanted euphoria.

\tHis face got solemn. ”Lunariel....she lost the baby, and...and then she cheated on me, and I left her. We are done. And I am now a Rogue. I was banished.”

\tI tried to force my feelings of happiness down. I knew that it was not right of me to be happy about that situation coming to an end. And I knew that I didn't want this anyway.

\tAnd he had been banished?

\tSo, my dream had been true. He was a rogue.

\tThat was dangerous, and it wasn't safe for anyone to associate themselves with a rogue.

\tThat could make them targets as well.

\tI was...almost...afraid of him.

\tAfter everything that had happened between the two of us, I had little trust for him and I was afraid to open my heart to his presence again, but if he had already heard everything, then that meant that he only had more than likely talked to Dragon and that there was only one reason he was here.

\tHe was here to break the mark.

\t”I am sorry,” I said, only being half truthful. ”Rogue? What on earth are you going to do? There must be a large bounty on your head-”

\tHe held me at arm's length. ”I am more worried about you. Have you really been under Mafrien's mating mark this entire time?” He asked.

\tI had suspected that he knew, but I was shocked to hear it come out of his mouth. ”So you...? You've already talked to Dragon?”

\tHe nodded. ”He told me everything. And I know that I am the only one who can break it....”

\tIf I wanted to be out of Mafrien's control, if I wanted to stop being haunted with dreams of him every night, if I wanted him to stop being able to do whatever he wished with me, I would need to have the mark taken care of.

\tI immediately thought of Dragon.

\tDragon, my hero, who had sent the one person who could ruin mine and his future together, just to break the mating mark from my back.

\tMy husband....

\tI could never, even possibly, be able to repay him for all that he had done for me.

\tAnd I knew, that if he had sent Kelose after me, then he must want for us to go ahead and break the mark whenever we could, so that I could, finally, be free.

\t”I.....”

\tHe met my eyes. ”I know that Dragon is on your mind. I can see it in your eyes. You...” He sighed. ”You've always loved him, always had feelings for him, but.... but now.... You love him.”

\tI smiled. ”Yes.”

\t”He loves you a great deal, you know. He is being selfless and allowing you to be freed from bondage to Mafrien, rather than telling me to get lost and keeping you to himself.”

\tI smiled through fresh tears, giving a silent nod.

\tHe pulled my chin to look up into his eyes. ”.... Kysael....” His voice was thick with emotion. ”I want to help you. And... although you would never be able to be with him entirely if we continue the Soul Bond....he still wants for you to go through with this. At least you would be free. Please, just trust me and let me help you.”

\tI looked into his eyes, and he stared back at me with an intensity that I had not seen in his eyes since we were young, all those years ago.

\t”Why would you want to help me? Who says that I even want your help? After all that you've put me through, that we have put one another through....how could I even trust you?”

\tI felt a strong pull as a sultry, seductive tune poured out from between his lips, and I fought it, tears rolled down my face from the pain of trying to push down the urges to do as he wanted.

\tHe slowly pulled my face upward, leaning down to meet my lips in a searing, bruising kiss. I swallowed the song in his throat, and I tried to fight, but my body lost the battle. I didn't want this, but the Soul Bond and his powers of persuasion made my body do as he willed.

\tAnd for the first time since I had been placed under the mating mark, a kiss didn't send me into a writhing torture.

\tAnd his kiss only enflamed me, bringing back all of the feelings that I had pulled into the recesses of my heart. I didn't want this. I didn't want to feel these things, I didn't want to love him that way again. But the Soul Bond ripped at my soul, and it was so hard just to breathe.

\tI would always and forever love Dragon....but I had a soul bond with Kelose.

\tIt was different.

\tIt caused me to feel things that I didn't want to feel anymore, things that I had locked away.

\tAnd I slowly felt my walls being broken down, even when I didn't want them to.

\tI gasped into his mouth as his own feelings poured into my soul, the feelings that had for so long been locked away, and he had the same reaction.

\tI tried to push him away, but instead, my hands only clung to him tighter, against my own wishes.

\tI didn't want to feel these things...did I?

\tHad all of my progress been for naught?

\tPerhaps there was more to my heart than I had thought. That, or I seriously lacked will power.

\tTears ran down my face as I thought of my husband, and I tried to pull away. But I couldn't.

\tHe pulled away, his lungs clawing for breath. ”I had.... I had kept those feelings hidden away for so long, because of my anger.... I....” He met my eyes. ”I nearly...forgot.... how powerful those feelings had been.”

\tI nodded. ”I, too, had pushed those feelings into the recesses of my heart and soul, because you.... were not mine anymore. But now.... I am at more conflict with myself than ever before. I don't want to feel this,” I sobbed. ”I don't want to feel this way anymore.”

\t”Do you still love me, Kysael?” He asked softly. ”Or have you replaced that love entirely with another?”

\t”I... I do, in a way. Of course. I always have. And we have a bond that cannot disappear. I will always care for you. But...I love him more, no matter how closely I feel for you. I don't want these feelings for you anymore...”

\t”What do you mean?”

\t”I once loved you both almost the same amount...but I've loved him much longer. He raised me. And he has brought me through all the pain that loving you has caused for me. I love him more. I care for you, love you even...but I don't want to go back to what we had before. I don't want to feel that way.”

\tHe nodded. ”I see.” He looked away, then back at me. ”I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you.”

\t”Do you still love me?” I asked him.

\tHe smiled. ”As much as I have wanted to hate you, and for you to hate me.... I have always loved you. I feel almost as you do, however. I wanted to move on, I didn't want to return to this. Well...part of me did, but I didn't want to, entirely. This wasn't something that I had intended to happen. I was on my way to see you anyway, to offer you my service, in payment of everything that I had put you through in the past. Kirinae found me, and told me you needed me. I am here for you.”

\t”But...we can't be together. I am married to a man that I love. You are a rogue.”

\tIgnoring me, he brought me into another brash, searing, passionate, heated kiss before he led me back toward Dragon's medical clinic, telling me about their agreement to meet there in two hours because they had been worried about me.

\tIt didn't take long for us to get there, and Dragon and Kirinae were waiting there for us.

\tWhen Dragon saw us together, his body tensed, and his eyes were sad.

\t”You found her, then.” Dragon gave Kelose a long, meaningful look before he turned his attention to me. He gave me a small smile, but I could see how sad he was. I sighed. I needed to get this over with.

\t”Kirinae, Dragon....Kelose and I are going to go talk about things. I'm wanting to catch up with my old friend.”

\tKirinae looked at us wryly, but didn't respond. Dragon, eyes hurt and body tense, merely nodded.

\tI looked at Kelose. ”Give me a moment,” I told him softly, and he nodded. Kirinae went off on her own, back to the city to be with her fiancé again.

\tI walked up to Dragon. ”Are you...sure that you want for us to do this?” I asked softly. ”Our marriage.... this could ruin it. Even if he cannot stay here, even if he cannot be with me, even if neither of us want to be with each other...this will entirely change the dynamics of our relationship.”

\tHis eyes were pained. ”You have been a prisoner to a mad man for long enough. I'll be alright. I just want for you to be free.”

\tI smiled a pained grimace, and then I hugged him. He squeezed me tightly, and then held me out and turned me around, nudging me toward Kelose a few yards away.

\t”Go to him,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. I could hear the lump in his throat, I could feel how badly his hands were shaking on my shoulders. And in that moment, all I wanted to do was comfort him.

\tBut I didn't.

\tInstead, I did as he instructed, and with tears running down my face, I went to Kelose, who took my hand in his and led me into the forest. I heard the door to the medical clinic slam harshly as Dragon went back inside. I cried Dragon's name as Kelose pulled me away, and I could hear furniture slamming against the walls as Dragon unleashed his rage.

\tTears ran down my face, and my heart tugged painfully, ripping apart in my chest as Kelose squeezed my hand, trying to soothe me in some way but without success.

\tAfter a little while of walking, and then having to be carried because my body couldn't handle the pain anymore, Kelose and I found a nice, soft, mossy spot by a little stream, and he set me down in a nice lush spot.

\t”I....know how.... hard that must have been for you, Kysael. And I am so sorry.”

\tI sobbed into his chest brokenly. ”His....his hands were shaking.... I could...I could hear the tears coming....I....” I screamed into his chest, my heart breaking. ”I hate myself! How could I do that to him? After everything, how could I hurt him that way?”

\tHe held me, no response on his tongue. There was nothing that he could say to soothe me. He stood there and held me in his arms as I broke down. His strong, muscular body kept mine supported.

\t”I could just...feel his heart breaking, hear it cracking in my soul as he pushed me to you.”

\t”I know...” He sighed softly, and pulled me tighter into him. ”I know.”

\t”I love him and all I can do for him is bring him pain!”

\t”There is nothing that can be done to help it, Kysael. I know it hurts. I know it breaks your heart. But there is no other way to free you from the bondage that Mafrien has over you. You need this. And... and I need this. Ever since we began the Soul Bond, we have had part of one another's souls locked away in the deepest recesses of ourselves. I promise you that you will have your time with your beloved, but for now... for now, you have to be mine. And I have to be yours...” Kelose kneeled before me, and tilted his head to the side. I hiccupped broken sobs as I bit into his shoulder with no hesitation, not even numbing the spot first, and he moaned as his blood, salty and strong, poured into my mouth.

\tI let him roll us so that I was beneath him, and he let his blood continue to drip into my mouth as he undressed me. His hands ripped at the buttons of my tunic, nearly ripping the clothes off of me in his haste to have me. My nails clawed at his bare back, and I could feel blood pool beneath my fingertips as his back bowed, pushing him more onto me, moans on his lips.

\tTears ran down my face as we undressed, and our bodies began to mold into one another. We cried out into one another, bodies thrashing wildly, violently.

\tI writhed in painful pleasure beneath him, and bonds were made that night that I had never dreamed would be able to be completed...that I almost didn't ever want to be completed.

\tAnd I could only think of Dragon the entire time.

\tI didn't want this...

And as Kelose and I poured our souls into and through one another, completing the bond... I cried.

*

\tThe next morning had come before we moved from that place. It had been a horrendously, painfully blissful night of screams and tears and pleasure.

\tI got dressed as Kelose was leaving to wander for the time being, until he could find a way to build himself a life, deep in the forests, away from any other cities.

\t”Kysael,” he told me before he left. ”Go now, to Dragon. You know how deeply he cares for you, and you know how deeply you love him. And....no matter what may transpire...I will always love you. I will try to visit you sometime, but.... being Rogue, means a nomadic life for me. Even though we didn't want this, I know that being completely Soul Bonded to you means a lot more than just a bond. It means commitment, it means visiting you, loving you even if I may not wish for it, and even if you do not wish for it.” His face contorted into an expression of hurt anguish. ”I will not be angry if you are with Dragon. He is your husband. I...” He took my hands in his. ”I wish that you could be mine. I have completed the Soul Bond to you. I cannot simply leave it alone. We are tied to one another, now. I can't let you go. But I must...for now. It is a complicated mess of feelings.”

\tIt seemed that I just couldn't stop crying lately. I didn't remember ever being so emotional before all these men came into my life.

\t”That means a lot to me. Thank you.”

\t”I know. I am at your service if you ever need me. Send for me if you have need of me. A messenger hawk should be able to find me easily enough. Go on now, back to him. I will see you again, only whenever you have need of me... or we simply cannot resist the pull any longer.” He pulled up his hood before he kissed me, and then he left, his black, hooded and cloaked figure disappearing into the depths of the forest.

\tI sighed once he was gone. There were some things that I needed to take care of, as soon as I was able.

\tI thought of Dragon, the distraught look on his stricken face....and I cringed. This would not be easy...

\tI made my way to his medical clinic, but his assistants told me that he had decided not to come in that morning, and had stayed in the room.

\tThat made things a little trickier; that meant that I would have to go back down all of those stairs. I was afraid.

\tIt was one thing to crawl my way up the stairs, but to go back down.... I was unsure that I could handle it.

\tBut I had to try.

\tI had to try, for Dragon....and for myself.

\tI finally arrived to the city's entrance, and they opened the doors for me.

\tIt was with only a third of the way down the stairwell that I tripped, my left foot catching on a step, and I screamed as my body plummeted down the stairs...

\tAnd then, the tumbling and the pain stopped.

\tI looked up, and was surprised to see that Dragon had caught me in his arms during my fall down the stairs.