SWNOVELS Chapter 22
He chuckled softly, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Fear, mostly. Fear that you didn’t feel the same way, that I’d ruin our partnership. And… fear of my own nature. The wolf inside me, it’s… intense. Especially on nights like this.”
Understanding dawned in Lyra’s eyes. “The full moon. That’s why you’ve been so agitated. You’re afraid of losing control.”
Fenris nodded, pulling back slightly to meet her gaze. “I would never forgive myself if I hurt you, Lyra. The wolf… it wants you. Fiercely. But I need you to understand the risk.”
Lyra considered his words carefully, weighing the danger against the depth of her feelings for him. Finally, she made her decision. “I trust you, Fenris. Wolf and man. And I want you too – all of you.”
The raw hunger that flashed in his eyes sent a shiver of anticipation down Lyra’s spine. Fenris growled softly, a sound that was more arousing than frightening. “Are you sure?” he asked, giving her one last chance to back away.
In response, Lyra kissed him again, pouring all of her desire and trust into the gesture. Fenris responded with equal passion, his strong arms wrapping around her and pulling her flush against his body.
They made love beneath the light of the full moon, their joining a perfect blend of tenderness and primal energy. Lyra reveled in the feel of Fenris’s powerful body moving against hers, his touch igniting sensations she had never experienced before. For his part, Fenris worshipped every inch of her with lips and hands, his usual stoic demeanor giving way to unrestrained passion.
As they lay tangled together afterward, sweat cooling on their skin, Lyra traced lazy patterns on Fenris’s chest. The full moon bathed them in its silvery light, turning the clearing into a realm of shadow and mystery.
“Are you okay?” Fenris asked softly, his fingers combing through her tousled hair. “I didn’t… hurt you, did I?”
Lyra propped herself up on one elbow, smiling down at him. “I’m more than okay. That was… incredible.” She leaned in to kiss him softly. “And you didn’t hurt me. You were perfect.”
The relief on his face was palpable. “I was worried. The wolf… it was so close to the surface. I’ve never let anyone get this close during a full moon before.”
“I’m honored to be the first,” Lyra said, snuggling back into his embrace. “And a little smug that I managed to tame the big bad wolf.”
Fenris chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest. “Don’t get too cocky. The night’s still young, and I’m far from tamed.”
They made love twice more that night, each encounter a beautiful exploration of their newfound intimacy. As dawn approached, they finally drifted off to sleep, limbs entwined and hearts beating in sync.
Lyra awoke to the warmth of sunlight on her face and the solid presence of Fenris beside her. For a moment, she simply lay there, savoring the peace of the moment. Then reality came crashing back – the quest, the prophecy, the dangers that lay ahead.
She turned to look at Fenris, studying his sleeping face. In repose, he looked younger, the usual lines of worry smoothed away. Lyra’s heart swelled with affection, even as a tendril of fear curled in her stomach. She had opened herself up, made herself vulnerable in a way she had sworn she never would. What if she lost him? What if her feelings compromised the mission?
As if sensing her turmoil, Fenris’s eyes fluttered open. He smiled softly, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face. “Good morning, beautiful. What’s got you looking so serious?”
Lyra leaned into his touch, trying to push away her doubts. “Just thinking about what comes next. We still have a long way to go, and now…” She trailed off, unsure how to express her fears without sounding like she regretted their night together.
Fenris sat up, pulling her into his arms. “Now things are more complicated?” he finished for her. At her nod, he continued, “Lyra, I meant what I said last night. I’m falling in love with you. But that doesn’t change our mission or my commitment to seeing it through.”
She looked up at him, searching his face for any sign of doubt. “You don’t think this will make things harder? What if we have to make impossible choices? What if one of us gets hurt, or worse?”
Fenris was quiet for a moment, considering her words. When he spoke, his voice was filled with quiet conviction. “I think loving you makes me stronger, not weaker. It gives me one more reason to fight, to make sure we both come out of this alive. And if we do have to make impossible choices… well, at least we’ll face them together.”
His words soothed some of Lyra’s anxiety, reminding her why she had fallen for him in the first place. She leaned up to kiss him softly, pouring her gratitude and affection into the gesture. “When did you get so wise?” she murmured against his lips.
He grinned, some of his usual roguish charm returning. “Must be your influence. You’re rubbing off on me.”
They spent a few more minutes enjoying their closeness before reluctantly rising to break camp. As they packed up their belongings and prepared to begin their ascent into the Skyspire Mountains, Lyra found herself stealing glances at Fenris. He moved with his usual fluid grace, but there was a new lightness to his step, a contentment in his expression that hadn’t been there before.
“So,” Fenris said as they shouldered their packs, “what can we expect in these mountains? More riddles and magical traps like at the Moon Temple?”
Lyra shook her head, her expression growing serious. “I’m not sure. The visions from the Moonstone shard showed floating islands and lightning storms. I think we can expect the unexpected. The Air artifact is likely to be even more challenging to obtain than the Moonstone was.”
Fenris nodded, his eyes scanning the craggy peaks above them. “Well, whatever’s up there, we’ll face it together. Just… promise me one thing?”
“Anything,” Lyra replied without hesitation.
He turned to her, his amber eyes intense. “No more noble sacrifices or sending me
for my own good. We’re partners in this, in every sense of the word now. Where
away you go, I go. Deal?”
Lyra felt a warmth bloom in her chest at his words. She reached out, taking his hand in hers and giving it a firm squeeze. “Deal. Partners, in everything.”
As they set off up the mountain path, hand in hand, Lyra felt a renewed sense of purpose. The quest ahead was still daunting, the prophecy a weight on her shoulders. But now she had something she hadn’t truly allowed herself before – hope. Hope born from the love of a man who understood her, wolf and all, and who stood beside her not out of duty or prophecy, but out of choice.
The Skyspire Mountains loomed before them, their peaks disappearing into the clouds. Somewhere up there, the Air artifact awaited, along with untold dangers and challenges. But as Lyra glanced at Fenris, saw the determination and love shining in his eyes, she knew that together, they could face anything.
Their night of passion under the full moon had changed things between them, deepening their bond in ways neither had anticipated. As they began their ascent, Lyra silently vowed to cherish every moment they had together, knowing that in their line of work, nothing was guaranteed.