SWNOVELS Chapter 21
The journey to the Skyspire Mountains was arduous, taking Lyra and Fenris through dense forests and across wide, rolling plains. As they traveled, their bond deepened, forged in the crucible of shared hardships and quiet moments of companionship. They spoke of their pasts, their hopes, and their fears, each revelation bringing them closer together.
As the first peaks of the Skyspire range loomed on the horizon, the full moon approached. Lyra could sense Fenris growing more agitated with each passing day, his movements becoming restless and his temper shorter. On the eve of the full moon, they made camp at the base of a towering cliff, the jagged silhouettes of the mountains casting long shadows in the fading light.
Lyra busied herself with setting up wards around their campsite, her fingers tracing glowing sigils in the air. Fenris paced at the edge of the clearing, his eyes darting between the deepening shadows of the forest and the sky above, where the moon was just beginning to rise.
“Fenris,” Lyra called softly, finishing the last of her protective spells. “Come sit with me. Please.”
He hesitated, conflict evident in the tense set of his shoulders. Finally, with a visible effort, he made his way over to where Lyra sat by the small campfire. He lowered himself to the ground beside her, his movements careful and controlled.
“How are you feeling?” Lyra asked, studying his face with concern. The firelight cast flickering shadows across his features, emphasizing the sharpness of his cheekbones and the amber glow of his eyes.
Fenris managed a wry smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Like my skin is too tight and my bones want to rearrange themselves. So, the usual for a full moon.”
Lyra reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. She could feel the coiled tension in his muscles, the barely contained power thrumming beneath his skin. “Is there anything I can do to help? A calming spell, perhaps?”
He shook his head, his voice rough with emotion. “No magic. I need… I need to feel this. To remember who and what I am.” He met her gaze, vulnerability shining in his eyes. “But having you here… it helps more than you know.”
They sat in silence for a while, watching as the moon climbed higher in the sky. Lyra found herself mesmerized by the play of light and shadow across Fenris’s face, the way the moonlight seemed to make his skin glow from within. She had always known he was handsome, in a rugged sort of way, but tonight he looked almost ethereal.
As if sensing her thoughts, Fenris turned to look at her. The intensity of his gaze made Lyra’s breath catch in her throat. “Lyra,” he said, his voice low and husky. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
She nodded encouragingly, not trusting herself to speak. Fenris took a deep breath, seeming to gather his courage. “These past weeks, traveling with you, fighting beside you… they’ve been the happiest I’ve known in years. You’ve given me purpose, hope. And I… I think I’m falling in love with you.”
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with possibility. Lyra’s heart raced, a mixture of joy and fear coursing through her veins. She had been fighting her growing feelings for Fenris, telling herself that their mission was too important to risk complicating things with romance. But hearing him voice the very emotions she’d been struggling with… it broke down the last of her resistance.
“Fenris,” she whispered, reaching up to cup his cheek. “I think I’m falling in love with you too.”
The tension that had been building between them for weeks finally snapped. Fenris leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. Lyra melted into his embrace, her arms winding around his neck as she pressed herself closer.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Fenris rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he murmured, his voice filled with wonder.
Lyra smiled, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “Why did you wait?”