32. Nik

We arrive at my place just before the clock strikes twelve, the anticipation thrumming through my veins like a living thing. I lead Sam to the terrace, my heart pounding with nervous excitement as I watch her, waiting for the moment when she’ll discover the surprise I’ve spent hours preparing.

And then, finally, she sees it—the candle-lined trail of red rose petals, winding like a crimson ribbon through the night, each curve and bend illuminated by the soft, flickering glow of votive candles. The effect is breathtaking, a path of love and light leading towards the surprise that awaits her.

Sam turns to me, her eyes wide with wonder, the candlelight dancing across her face and setting her maroon irises ablaze. A delicate blush stains her cheeks, the color as soft and sweet as the rose petals beneath our feet.

“Nik?” she breathes, her voice soft and full of questions. “What is this?”

I fight back a smile, wanting to savor the look of awe on her face for just a moment longer. “Go on,” I tell her, gesturing towards the path, an invitation and a promise all at once.

Together, we move through the garden tunnel, the twinkling amber string-lights casting a warm, romantic glow over everything they touch. And then, at last, we reach the lawn, where the real surprise awaits.

A picnic, laid out on soft wool blankets, complete with a bottle of champagne and the flicker of candlelight. The air is crisp and cool, the night still and full of possibility, and as I watch Sam take it all in, I feel a rush of love so intense it steals my breath.

“Nik...” she whispers, her voice trembling with emotion.

I come up behind her, slipping my hands into my pockets to hide the way they shake. This is everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I’ve ever dreamed of. The sheer joy of seeing her happy, of being the one to put that look of wonder on her face... it’s a feeling that can’t be matched.

Well, almost.

Sam turns to face me, her hand coming up to rest on my chest, and I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her close. The scent of her perfume, roses and vanilla, fills my lungs, and I breathe it in like a drowning man gasping for air.

“You set all this up,” she murmurs, her eyes searching mine, a hint of mischief sparkling in their depths. “My brother... he could have said no.”

I feel my lips curve into a smile, the tension draining from my body as I recall our earlier triumph. “But he didn’t,” I point out, gently guiding her to sit on the blanket.

I settle in behind her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her back against my chest. And gods, the feeling of her in my embrace, the warmth of her body seeping into mine... it’s like coming home, like finding a piece of myself I never even knew was missing.

“I will never again let you go,” I vow, my lips brushing the shell of her ear. It’s the truth, the one thing I know with absolute certainty. I’ve lost her once, and I’ll be damned if I ever let it happen again.

Sam melts into my hold, her head falling back onto my shoulder. “I will never again let you,” she whispers, and the words are like a balm to my battered soul, a promise that echoes through every fiber of my being.

She shifts in my arms, turning to face me, and suddenly, we’re mere inches apart, our breath mingling in the space between us. And in that moment, everything else falls away—the war between our families, the weight of my sins, the chaos of the world beyond this perfect, stolen slice of time.

I’m free. Free to love her, to cherish her, to give her everything I have and everything I am, for as long as she’ll let me.

“I have a gift for you,” I murmur, reaching into my pocket and pressing the small box into her hand.

Sam glances down, her brow furrowing in confusion as she takes in the familiar red and gold detailing. “Nik...” she starts, her fingers tracing the edges of the case. “Are you returning my birthday present? Didn’t you like it?”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Open it,” I urge, my heart racing in my chest as I wait for her reaction.

With a last, uncertain glance in my direction, Sam flips open the lid... and gasps, her eyes widening in shock and wonder.

There, nestled in the velvet lining, is a rose gold diamond ring, the metal gleaming softly in the candlelight. The band is adorned with the iconic screw motifs, a symbol of our love’s strength and endurance. And there, engraved on the inside, are our names, forever commemorating the unbreakable bond we share.

“Is this...?” she whispers, her voice trailing off as she stares at the ring, her fingers trembling as they hover over the precious metal.

“This is a promise ring,” I explain, taking her hand in mine, my thumb stroking over her knuckles in a gesture of reassurance and love. “In my family, in the Draken clan, we seal our promises with diamonds. But these aren’t just any ordinary gems, Sam. They’re infused with magic, with the very essence of our dragon souls.”

I lift the ring from its velvet bed, holding it up so that it catches the light, the diamonds sparkling like captured starlight. “When a Draken gives a diamond to their beloved, it’s more than just a symbol of love and commitment. It’s a piece of ourselves, a reminder of the unbreakable bond we share.”

I slide the ring onto her finger, my heart swelling with emotion as I watch it settle into place, a perfect fit. “This diamond, Sam... it carries a part of me, a fragment of my heart and my magic. It’s a promise, not just of my love, but of my protection, my devotion. As long as you wear it, you’ll always carry a piece of me with you, no matter where you go or what challenges you face.”

Sam’s eyes are wide, shimmering with unshed tears as she listens to my words, her fingers curling around mine. “Nik,” she breathes, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what to say. This is... it’s...”

I smile, lifting her hand to my lips and pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “You don’t have to say anything, love. Just know that I’m yours, body and soul, for as long as you’ll have me.”

I hesitate for a moment, my heart hammering in my chest as I gather my courage. “Consider it a test flight for when the next one comes,” I murmur, my voice laden with intimate intensity, promising an experience like no other.

As much as I long to drop to one knee, to pledge my life to hers in front of the gods and everyone... I know it’s too soon, too much, too fast. I don’t want to scare her away, don’t want to risk losing her again when I’ve only just found her.

But this, this small token of my love and devotion... it’s a start, a symbol of the future I want to build with her, the life I want to share by her side.

Sam’s breath catches, her eyes searching mine for a long, charged moment. And then she’s launching herself into my arms, her lips finding mine in a kiss that sets my soul on fire. I respond with equal fervor, pouring every ounce of love and longing into the press of my mouth against hers, the slide of my tongue over the seam of her lips.

When we finally break apart, both of us breathless and flushed, I cup her face in my hands, my eyes boring into hers with an intensity that borders on desperation.

“He’s wrong, you know,” I murmur, my voice rough with emotion.

Sam blinks, confusion clouding her features. “Who is?”

“Your brother,” I clarify, my thumb tracing the delicate arch of her cheekbone. “He’s wrong. A dragon’s love lasts forever. And I love you, Samara Alexeeva. I love you with my entire being... the man and the dragon.”

Tears well in her maroon eyes, spilling over onto her cheeks in glittering tracks. “I love you, Nik,” she breathes, leaning into my touch, into the warmth of my embrace.

And then, as if the universe itself is celebrating our love, the clock chimes midnight, heralding the start of a new year. Fireworks explode overhead, painting the sky in a riot of color and light, but I barely notice, too lost in the woman in my arms, in the feel of her lips against mine as I kiss her again, slow and deep and full of promise.

Because this, right here... it’s everything. It’s a glimpse of the happiness that awaits us, the joy and laughter and endless possibility that stretches out before us like a shining path.

And as I hold Sam close, our hearts beating in perfect sync, I know that I’ll never let her go, never stop fighting for the love we’ve found, the love we’ve built against all odds.

Come what may, we’ll stand side by side. Dragon and bear, fire and ice, two halves of the same soul.

Forever and always.

* * *

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Wings of Shadow