The cave was silent.
Well, not completely.
Kael Virell could still hear the delicate rustling of tiny insects scuttling through the dimly lit cave, a faint, almost musical sound weaving through the air. The wind whispered, curling and dancing as it slipped between the rugged stone walls, carrying with it a chill that brushed against his skin, as if the cave itself exhaled a breath centuries old.
In the stillness, these subtle sounds created an atmosphere thick with mystery, wrapping him in the cave's ancient embrace. The air was damp and smelled faintly of moss and forgotten time, making Kael feel like he had stepped into a different world—one untouched by human presence.
And yet, he was drenched in cold sweat.
Why?
Because a pair of deep, mesmerizing violet eyes were fixed on him with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine. The gaze was so penetrating, so raw, that Kael felt as if the owner of those eyes possessed a primal hunger—an aching, insatiable need to consume him whole, body and soul.
And he wasn't wrong.
Valkar sat motionless, watching his precious mate—his beloved treasure.
His body was still, but every muscle coiled with restraint, like a beast on the edge. He felt an overwhelming desire to be close to him, to reach out and pull Kael into his embrace, to share an intimacy that transcended words. But he resisted, his claws digging slightly into the stone beneath him as he held himself back, leaving small, splintering cracks where his talons touched.
The tension between them was tangible, an invisible current humming in the air. Every heartbeat echoed like thunder in their chests. Valkar's longing clashed with his willpower, forcing him to maintain a tight leash on the storm raging inside.
Not for any noble reason.
But because he dreamed of a wedding so grand it would become legend—a ceremony so magnificent that the heavens would weep tears of joy and the earth itself would tremble in awe. A day when even the proudest beasts of the wild and the mighty Beast God himself would bow in reverence.
Yes. Without even asking Kael, Valkar had already decided.
He would marry him.
He would perform the sacred Soulmate Binding—the eternal ritual that would tie their souls as one, forever. A tradition long forgotten, buried under centuries of shifting values, where mates were often many, and permanence was rare. Yet Valkar, true to the maddening possessiveness of dragonkind, would have no one but him.
Unaware that his fate had already been sealed just hours after entering this strange new realm, Kael sat rigidly on the wooden bed carved crudely into the cave wall. His eyes darted around—studying every corner of the space, observing the glowing moss that clung to the ceiling, the rhythmic dripping of water from the stalactites above.
Everything… except the creature sitting across from him.
[Oh no, not a snake… He said he was a dragon, right? Yeah, a dragon… Though I still have my doubts.]
He swallowed hard, fingers twitching nervously in his lap. His throat was dry, his breath shallow.
"Why won't you look at me?" Valkar's voice broke the silence like a low rumble of thunder before a storm.
There was frustration in his tone, but it was veiled—restrained behind a mask of gentleness, as though he were afraid his mate would shatter like glass if he raised his voice.
"I won't hurt you, so... just… don't be afraid of me."
The words were softer now, heavy with sorrow. Kael could feel the raw vulnerability behind them. Valkar wasn't a monster trying to intimidate. Not anymore. His earlier fury had vanished, replaced by something quieter… sadder.
For a heartbeat, Kael hesitated.
Then slowly, his gaze rose, and their eyes met.
Valkar's breath caught.
For Kael, it was like staring into a storm—a tempest that wanted to devour him, but also cradle him with warmth. The violet hues shimmered in the dim cave light, dancing like wildfire.
To be honest, the man—if he could be called that—was stunning.
Those feline eyes, long silky hair cascading like a river of amethyst, and a complexion so flawless it bordered on unreal… Valkar looked like a creature pulled from a painting, some long-lost legend whispered in awe.
And yet—
He was terrifying.
Especially when angered.
But now… now Kael saw something different.
Was that sorrow? Concern?
Something cracked quietly inside Kael's chest. Maybe it was empathy. Maybe it was foolishness. Or maybe it was just that he was tired of being afraid.
"I..."
His voice wavered. The words teetered on his tongue—he wanted to tell Valkar the truth. That he wasn't a female. That he was in the wrong body or wrong world. That something had gone terribly, impossibly wrong.
But he stopped himself.
Not now. Not yet.
"Do you… want something? Are you hungry? If there's anything you need, just tell me. I'll get it for you."
Valkar's eyes lit up like the dawn.
Kael had spoken.
He had acknowledged him.
To Valkar, it was as if the universe itself had opened up. This single sentence carried the weight of a thousand promises.
"I just… I don't know where I am. Can you tell me where this place is?"
Kael's voice trembled slightly, his fingers absently rubbing against each other—a small habit he had when his anxiety flared. But even so, he was sincere.
He already knew this wasn't his world.
But he needed to understand it.
To know his chances.
To know if escape was possible.
Even if he had to play along for now.
Even if he had to trust this strange creature who watched him with such intense devotion.
He'd use that to his advantage.
If Valkar ever found out what Kael was thinking…
The world might not survive the consequences.
Dragons were unpredictable. Bound by passion, ruled by their emotions. And when their mate betrayed them… they lost control.
Entire kingdoms had crumbled under a dragon's wrath.
Kael didn't know it yet…
But Valkar was one breath away from becoming one of those stories.
Still, for now, all Valkar saw was progress.
He began to talk. And talk. And talk.
To anyone else, this would have been shocking.
Their cold, fearsome lord—so silent, so composed—now speaking like a man possessed.
Words poured from him like a river breaking free from a dam.
And Kael listened.
Not just because he wanted to.
But because he had to.
And what he learned… would change everything.