Fragmented bond

5 years later…

The halls were blissfully cool as I headed toward the suite. Both the walls and floor were a glossy black, the burning white flames along the walls reflecting off the smooth surfaces. No heat came from the flames and they never burnt out since they were created using magic.

We were well over a month into the Great Heat once again, and none of us were happy it had returned so soon.

With the three suns over the Neutral zone, the temperature was even worse than at home. The Neutral zone was in the middle of Death mage lands, but unlike each of the lands, they weren’t separated by a veil and shared the same three suns.

Once a year, the leaders from each of the lands came together for meetings and treaty signings as a way to keep the peace. As heirs, Liana and I had been invited as well as a select few from our pack. The meetings and events lasted a week in Death mage time.

If we had known the accords were to take place during the heatwave, it would’ve been pushed back a few months. The only thing that got me through today’s events that took place outside, was the fact today was the last day.

With the return of the Great Heat, memories began resurfacing. Not memories of Lukas and his shitty opinions, and not how I lost my baby. It had taken me a long time, but I finally learned to forgive myself.

Everyone I talked to in regard to the fated mate bond, told me the same things about how the loss of the bond was enough to drive you temporarily insane, and that most never made it out of that state.

Over the past few weeks, my thoughts kept going back to the cabin, more specifically, Atlas. I’d wake up from dreams about him, and not just memories from our time together. I’d wake up with a fire burning in my veins and heating my core. The need was insatiable and something I hadn’t experienced over the past few years. Maybe it was the weather driving me crazy, but I couldn’t dim the flaming desire. I couldn’t ease the reawakened need.

During our time together, I’d distantly noted he was good-looking, but I hadn’t been able to appreciate his looks. I hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to do so. If I had been, I would’ve realized he was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen, making Lukas seem boring in comparison.

Not only was Atlas gorgeous, but he was thoughtful in a way I hadn’t been expecting.

When I returned home from the cabin five years ago, my family had been worried, but not as worried as they should’ve been with me not being home in almost two weeks. It wasn’t because they didn’t care, but because Atlas had told them where I was. When he left to get supplies, he went to my father and told him how he found me in the river and had me isolated in a cabin. As expected, my father was furious, both at Lukas for rejecting and cheating on me, and at Atlas for refusing to bring me home. Which was why his supply run had taken him so long.

Atlas, my father, and my older brother went back and forth on how to handle the situation. In the end, Atlas had won out—due to my mother and Liana’s interference. As my mother pointed out, maybe being away from everything was just what I needed.

She’d been right. If Atlas had brought me to my family right away, I don’t think I would’ve been better off. The guilt that was already eating me alive would’ve doubled. Being home hadn’t been what I needed, and somehow Atlas knew that. He knew I needed the space to be vulnerable in private, with no expectations or judgments. Not that my family would ever judge me, but there was a pressure that came with being an heir.

Atlas had made sure to keep my family somewhat updated on my progress. He’d left out the deep depression I had fallen into, and everything I revealed to him. Before we left the cabin, he told my dad I was returning home and to be on the lookout for me.

I hadn’t been expecting the thoughtful gesture, and it made me want to reach out to him, but I hadn’t. I wasn’t ready.

Everything around me reminded me of him lately. The color of the purple and pink swirled sky of the Neutral zone reminded me of his eyes. When I went to lie down at night, I remembered the times I curled against him and soaked in his comforting presence. When I was in the bathroom and saw a tub, I remembered how he had comforted me when I opened up to him. He was never far from my thoughts.

It wasn’t like I avoided thinking about Atlas over the years, but I hadn’t wanted to think back on the worst time of my life, afraid it would unravel all my progress. I’d been afraid that if I thought of him, then the rest would follow, but it didn’t.

I entered the living area of our suite, with multiple bedrooms branching out from it, allowing us to remain close. Liana was draped over the sofa and perked up when she saw me. Over the past year, she’d grown out her orange hair so it now reached the middle of her back. Something she’d been regretting lately, and had been vocal in her complaints. Her yellow-green eyes sparkled the way they did when she was excited about something.

“I found him,” she said without preamble, practically bouncing with excitement.

“Found who?” I asked as I wiped the remnants of sweat from my face, feeling like I missed a vital part of the conversation.

Liana looked at me like I was an idiot, making me sigh in response. “Atlas.”

A gasp escaped me as I dropped into a nearby chair. “What do you mean you found Atlas?” My pulse was racing from the adrenaline flooding my body. With how I couldn’t keep him off my mind lately, my burst of excitement wasn’t surprising. My dragon lifted her head at the sudden burst of emotions, curious as to what brought it on.

She too had found a way to heal. The agony and scars from my fractured bond had faded until it was almost like it had never been there in the first place. Thinking of Lukas no longer sent her into a spiral; she felt nothing where Lukas was concerned.

“I’ve been asking around for the past week, trying to find him for you—since you won’t, even though I know you want to—and up until today, I hadn’t heard anything,” she said with a small shrug like it was no big deal.

I wordlessly gaped at her, not knowing what to say.

My sister was tenacious and hadn’t let me get away with not telling her all about Atlas. She tried to get me to find him or at least contact him over two years ago, but I hadn’t been ready, and I think she knew that since she hadn’t pushed. I guess that ended now. I should’ve known this day would come. It was almost impressive how she managed to find him during our time here.

When I opened my mouth, she pointed at me and said, “I don’t want to hear any more excuses about not being ready. I know you want to see him again. You need this Thea, and you know I’m right.

I had no arguments and she knew it. The thought of seeing him again had anticipation blooming in my stomach.

“I hate it when you’re right,” I finally said with a sigh, deciding not to give myself a moment to think this through. If I did, I might’ve found a way to talk myself out of this. And while I was nervous about seeing him again, I wanted this.

* * * * * * * *

I nearly turned around at least five times after I shifted back into human form and headed toward where Atlas supposedly lived. What if he didn’t want to see me? Not once in these past five years had he tried contacting me.

Which was why I decided to just show up instead of contacting him. My logic didn’t make much sense, but I just couldn’t bring myself to try to talk to him in the in-between. So here I was, walking along the soft pink sands bordering the lake in the Elemental lands, despite the doubts plaguing my mind.

I’d known he was raised in the Elemental lands from his stories about growing up here, but I never thought to ask if he had remained here or if he had switched to the Blood mage lands.

While the scenery was stunning with the rich violet sky, vibrant yellow grass, and rolling hills; the scorching heat was worse here with the four suns. And just my luck, it was midday here. Even with the gentle breeze blowing off the lake, I was sweating so much, I probably looked like I just came from the lake. I wouldn’t have minded a dip in the impossibly blue waters. But only fools who knew nothing about elementals would do something so stupid.

Anyone who thought elementals were gentle pacifists because they communed with nature, was in for a rude awakening when facing them. They would easily drown you for swimming in their lake without permission. Not that they needed to since these waters were formidable on their own.

The rivers surrounding our lands were connected by four lakes that just so happened to be in each of the four quadrants—this wasn’t including the Death mage lands. The waters in the lakes were what we called elemental water, and were the purest source that couldn’t ever be tainted.

Up ahead of me was a cliff face where a gushing waterfall emptied into the lake. Normally, the closer you got to a waterfall, the louder it became, but that wasn’t the case here. As I neared the cliff face, all I heard was the faintest sounds of rushing water.

Houses dotted the beach and the grassy hills, but I paid them no mind. According to Liana, his house was in front of the cliff, just off of the beach. So, I was pretty sure the two-story bluish-gray house butted up against the cliff and over fifty feet from the sand was his. I came to a halt at the edge of the beach, internally debating once again whether or not I should go through with this. My pulse was racing and it wasn’t due to the long walk.

I couldn’t say how long I stood there rooted in place, unable to move forward or turn around, but eventually, the front door swung open. My heart felt like it stuttered for a moment—and yes, I knew that wasn’t physically possible—when I caught sight of Atlas for the first time in years.

His gaze immediately found mine and a warm smile lit his face.

One moment, I was frozen in place and the next, I was racing toward him. The distance between us quickly shrank, and once I was close enough, I launched myself at him. He caught me with ease and somehow managed to not topple over from the strength I launched myself at him with. As I wrapped my arms around him, I buried my face against his neck and deeply inhaled his scent. His hold was tight as he hugged me close, and I took that as a sign he missed me. My dragon was all but purring in my chest with how content she was. This moment felt so perfect and right that I couldn’t believe I’d been so hesitant to come here, and had put it off for so long.

Fire heated my veins, but unlike the horrible weather, this wasn’t unpleasant as it pooled in my core. My body was alight in a way it hadn’t been in years as a deep-seated throb settled between my thighs.

I hadn’t shown up here to satiate my newly awoken needs—well, that wasn’t the only reason. I hadn’t been sure whether or not I’d react to him like this. There was always the chance that maybe I’d been building him up in my head over the years. I hadn’t. In fact, my memory didn’t do him any justice.

Lifting my head from his neck, I was immediately captured by his gaze. Before either of us could say a single word, the front door of his house opened again. I couldn’t see who it was over his shoulder, but I could see and feel Atlas cringe.

“Remember how we never really got into talking about my family?” I nodded, worried about his hesitance but curious about where he was going with this. “Well, now I’m regretting that and I hope you understand why I didn’t say anything.”

“Atlas, Agnes wants to know where you keep your tea leaves,” A deep voice asked from several feet behind Atlas.

My entire body froze. I recognized the woman’s name and the man’s voice. It was Lukas’ father, Felix.