Chapter 10

Sera couldn't help but grin as she twirled in front of the mirror, admiring the way her dress hugged her curves.

"What do you think, Ferro?" she asked the critter lying on the bed. Ferro raised his head, yawned, and rolled over, curling up. Sera snorted. "Never ask a male how you look."

She felt a little bit like a princess, getting all dolled up for her big date with Lark. The thought of the charming dragon shifter sent a flutter of excitement through her stomach, and she had to take a deep breath to calm her nerves.

When the knock finally came at the door, Sera practically skipped over to answer it, a beaming smile already on her face. And there was Lark, looking positively dashing in a blue button-down that brought out the mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Well, well, well," Sera teased, leaning against the doorframe with a playful smirk. "Look at you, Mr. Wilder. You look great."

Lark chuckled, sweeping into an exaggerated bow. "Thank you. I must say, you put me to shame. You look absolutely enchanting."

She swatted at his arm with a laugh. "Flatterer. But thank you. Shall we?"

They strolled arm in arm through the quaint streets of Whispering Pines, the warm evening air filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant hum of laughter from the bustling taverns. Sera found herself lost in easy conversation with Lark, marveling at how natural it felt to be by his side.

As they settled into their cozy corner table at the Greek restaurant, Lark leaned forward with a conspiratorial grin. "What's the most daring magical experiment you've ever attempted?"

Sera laughed. "Oh, where to begin? There was the time I tried to enchant my broom to do the sweeping for me. Let's just say, I ended up with a very clean ceiling and a very bruised ego."

Lark threw his head back with a hearty laugh. "I can just picture it! You, chasing after a runaway broom while it zooms around your cottage like a manic pixie."

"Hey, it seemed like a good idea at the time," Sera protested, though she couldn't help but join in his laughter. "What about you, Mr. World Traveler? What's the most incredible place you've ever been?"

As Lark spoke of his time in Peru, his eyes seemed to dance with the memories, a wistful smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I remember waking up each morning to the sound of the villagers singing as they worked in the fields, their voices carried on the breeze like a gentle lullaby. The air was so sweet, so pure, it was like every breath was a blessing."

Sera leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table, her chin cradled in her hands. She was utterly captivated by Lark's words, by the way he painted such vivid pictures with his tales. She could almost feel the cool kiss of the mountain mist on her skin, could almost hear the haunting melody of the villagers' song.

"It sounds like magic," she murmured, her voice soft with wonder. "The way you describe it, it's like something out of a dream."

Lark's smile widened, his eyes meeting hers with a warmth that sent a shiver down her spine. "It was magic in its own way. The kind of magic that comes from being in tune with the world around you, from living in harmony with the earth and the sky and everything in between."

Sera nodded, a sense of longing stirring in her chest. She had always felt a deep connection to nature, to the primal forces that flowed through the world like an invisible current. It was what had drawn her to the path of a witch, to the ancient arts of harnessing that power for good.

"I've always wanted to travel like that," she confessed, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the tablecloth. "To see the world, to experience different ways of life. But I never seemed to find the right time, or the right reason."

Lark reached across the table, his hand finding hers, his fingers lacing through her own. "It's never too late. The world is out there waiting to be explored. And I can't think of anyone I'd rather explore it with than you."

A blush spread across Sera's face, the candlelight having no part in the sudden warmth. "I might just take you up on that offer, Mr. Wilder."

As the evening wore on, the conversation flowed as easily as the wine, shifting from the lighthearted to the profound with a natural grace. Sera opened up more about her childhood, about the way she had bounced from foster home to foster home, never quite finding a place where she truly belonged.

"I always felt like I was on the outside looking in," she said softly, her eyes fixed on the dancing flame of the candle before her. "Like I was just a visitor in other people's lives, never a permanent fixture. I think that's why I was so drawn to magic, to the idea of creating something that was uniquely mine, something that no one could take away from me."

Lark's hand tightened around hers, a silent gesture of comfort and understanding. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been. To feel like you didn't have a real home, a real family. But I want you to know you have one now, here in Whispering Pines. You have people who care about you, who love you for exactly who you are."

"I know," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "And I'm so grateful for that. For you, for this town, for the way it's welcomed me with open arms. It's like I've finally found the piece of myself that was always missing, the part that longed for connection and belonging."

Lark smiled, his thumb brushing a gentle circle over the back of her hand. "I know what you mean. Growing up in a family of dragon shifters, magic was always a part of my life. But it wasn't until I came back to Whispering Pines that I truly understood what it meant to be part of a community, to have people who accepted me for who I was, not just what I could do."

His gaze took on a faraway cast as if he were looking back through the years to that pivotal moment. "I was just a kid when I first shifted, barely old enough to understand what was happening to me. I remember feeling this sudden rush of energy like a fire burning in my veins. And then, before I knew what was happening, I was soaring above the treetops, the wind rushing beneath my wings, the world laid out below me like a tapestry of green and gold."

Sera's breath caught in her throat, her heart aching with the beauty of the image he painted. "It sounds incredible," she whispered, her hand tightening around his. "To be able to fly like that, to see the world from above. It must be the most amazing feeling."

Lark smiled, a soft, almost shy curve of his lips. "It is. But it's also a lot of responsibility. The Wilder name, the legacy of my family... it's a heavy burden to bear sometimes. I've always felt like I needed to prove myself, to show that I was worthy of the power I've been given."

Sera's heart clenched at the vulnerability in his voice, at the flicker of uncertainty that passed behind his eyes. She knew all too well the weight of expectations, the pressure to live up to a destiny that sometimes felt too big to shoulder.

"Lark," she said softly, her fingers twining with his, her thumb brushing a soothing circle over his knuckles. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone. You are worthy just as you are. Your power, your magic... it's a part of you, but it doesn't define you. What defines you is your heart, your spirit, your kindness, and your courage. That's what makes you special, not your name or abilities."

Lark's eyes widened, a sheen of moisture glistening in their depths. For a moment, he seemed lost for words, his mouth opening and closing as if he were struggling to find the right response. And then, with a shaky laugh, he lifted their joined hands to his lips, pressing a featherlight kiss to the back of her fingers.

"Thank you, Sera," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "You have no idea how much that means to me. I've spent so long trying to live up to this image, this ideal of what a Wilder should be. But with you... I feel like I can just be myself. Like I don't have to hide or pretend or be anything other than who I am."

Sera smiled, a radiant, joyful curve of her lips. "That's all I want, Lark. For you to be yourself, in all your wild, wonderful, magical glory. Because that's the person I..." She faltered, her cheeks flushing pink as she realized what she had been about to say.

But Lark only grinned, his eyes dancing with a playful light. "The person you what, Sera?" he teased, his fingers squeezing hers. "Don't leave me hanging now."

Sera laughed, a breathless, giddy sound that bubbled up from deep in her chest. "The person I'm truly enjoying spending my time with, you ridiculous dragon. You've gotten under my skin in a way I didn't think possible."

Lark's smile softened, his gaze turning tender and warm. "You've done the same to me. Being around you is magical in itself."

He leaned across the table to capture her lips in a sweet, lingering kiss. This was just the beginning of a new story. One she hadn't expected. One she wasn't sure she was ready for. Her heart argued with her but her mind told her to be cautious.

"I have to watch it with you. You're dangerous."

"Dangerous how?" He grinned, his eyes flaring with heat.

"In every way. You even make me take chances. I'm starting to act like we're unstoppable."

Lark grinned. "Unstoppable, huh? I like the sound of that. Watch out, Whispering Pines. Lark and Sera are on the case!"

Sera laughed, shaking her head at his antics. "You're incredible, you know that?"

"Incredibly charming, you mean," Lark quipped, waggling his eyebrows.

"That too," Sera admitted, her heart skipping a beat at the tender look in his eye.

As they left the restaurant hand in hand, Sera's emotions were on a roller coaster. When they got to her door, Sera turned to face him, then leaned into him. She wasn't fighting her body at that moment. All she wanted was to keep feeling that special warmth Lark ignited in her. He took the reins quickly and pulled her into his arms, gripping her hips. Fire blazed in his eyes. The air caught in her lungs.

A low groan sounded from him as he dipped his head to claim her lips. She opened immediately and wound her arms around his neck. Desire ignited inside her. Instant. Explosive. Goddess. She'd never known that opening herself to emotions would lead to a kiss being this…deep. He swiped his tongue inside her mouth, and as soon as it touched hers, the flames licking her insides flared into an inferno.

Sera pressed into him. She had never wanted to be closer to anyone than she did Lark at that moment. His heartbeats thudded as hard as hers. A shiver raced down her spine as he molded her body into his. Sensations rushed along her nerves as she threaded her fingers through his hair and scraped her nails on his scalp. He deepened the kiss and moved his hands to cup her ass.

A moan escaped from Sera. Desire bloomed bright. She wanted Lark like she never wanted another man in her life. The kiss was deep, hard, wild, and a little desperate. As if neither could get enough of the other. Sera broke the kiss and stepped back to put a few feet between them. She was only a second away from pulling him into her house. She needed to control herself. Shaking her head to clear the lusty haze clouding her thoughts, she met his stare. His ravenous gaze. "Lark, I…"

"Goodnight, beautiful Sera."

She swallowed at the words flirting over her lips. The urge to invite him in and stay the night. "Goodnight. Thank you."

He stared at her for another moment before walking away, taking her ability to think with him.