"Never give it back..." Neveah repeated the words in a quiet murmur, as though that moment was what it would take for them to sink in.

"Lord Skiren said I was to take back your flame...I assumed it was for you, not giving it back would mean..." Neveah began again, trailing off at the end since she was not entirely certain what it meant to have Menarx’s flame within her and to hold it in her own custody.

A small smile played on Menarx’s lips as he watched the confused expression on Neveah’s face, the fact that she truly knew nothing of dragon ways yet had endured the merging of fire simply because she had been told it was for him.

She was so adorable in her naivety, yet stronger than any of the women Menarx had ever known, it simply and completely amazed Menarx.

"What would it mean?" Menarx urged for Neveah to continue, watching her think over it with a smile.

Her lips moved as though she wanted to speak but she shook her head, deciding against it.

"I do not know...you tell me." Neveah finally settled on a response.

Not for the first time, Menarx’s eyes strayed to Neveah’s lips and his gaze lingered there for a moment longer than he intended...not that he minded it at all.

Menarx withheld his urges, returning his attention to Neveah’s expectant gaze.

"I am born of flame, beloved. It is a part of my very life essence... what it means to have a strand of me within you is this..." Menarx paused for a moment,

"You and I will be made one... and this is the first of the three sacred bonds, the three mergings that binds our souls together for a lifetime." Menarx explained.

"My flame is woven into your very being, every vein and cell in your body has felt and acknowledged my presence..."

"Soon, as time goes by and my flame becomes one with you, you will begin to feel me, in here..." Menarx said, his hand moving up to rest over Neveah’s forehead.

Neveah’s eyes widened slightly at Menarx’s words.

"The flame is a dragon’s first gift to his rider, his woman...a part of himself. It means you are now mine... beloved." Menarx finished, watching Neveah’s expression.

He could see the a strange emotion reflected in her eye, it was there for only a brief moment before it disappeared but Menarx caught it, though he was not certain what it was.

A foreign kind of terror crept up in Menarx’s heart as he contemplated his next words and though he was reluctant to say them, he knew it was the right thing to do.

"If you do not want this... this is the last chance you will have to back out Veah. Beyond this moment... I will die before I let you go..." Menarx said in all honesty.

Neveah did not respond immediately, she just stared up at Menarx in silence for a moment.

Many thoughts ran through her mind all at once, the doubts and uncertainties she had been fighting all this while rose to the forefront of Neveah’s mind and Neveah knew it was in this moment she would have to truly decide her path.

With Menarx’s flame in her, Neveah knew loving him was a definite, it was no longer a question of her will... because he would be a part of her and she a part of him.

’What are we to do?’ Neveah thought to her wolf.

’I shall leave this choice to you Veah...’ Neveah’s wolf replied in a quiet tone.

Here before Neveah’s eyes was everything she could never have hoped to have even across two lifetimes, the truest love and a precious bond of a lifetime... and it was with a man that truly deserved everything Neveah could possibly have to give.

If Neveah would not have Menarx as hers, this was the only time she would get to turn him down.

The merging of fire had already made this beyond just their will, their fates and life essence were being woven together with every moment that passed,

What path was right to take? Menarx’s bond or a life in darkness? The choice was obvious to Neveah.

"It is not the first..." Neveah murmured.

"It is not your first gift to me, Narx...the Northern bred horse was the first..." Neveah explained when Menarx looked confused.

Menarx’s lips twitched in amusement and he nodded in agreement.

"It is a rather short list... I shall have to work on it, till you lose count." Menarx replied with a smile.

Neveah returned the smile, her eyes fluttering closed as she sucked in a deep breath. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"There is something I must tell you... I never thought I would, or never intended to too..." Neveah began but paused to take in another breath.

"I know you have your secrets Veah, you do not have to say anything if it is difficult to say." Menarx assured.

Neveah shook her head slightly, she knew it would be a long while before she truly was ready to let out her past, but at the least, she could begin.

"I have to do this right." Neveah insisted,

"Narx... I have...a mate." Neveah revealed in a quiet tone, barely above a whisper.

"A mate?" Menarx asked uncertainly.

"A bonded, Narx... I have a bonded." Neveah adjusted.

Neveah winced slightly as she felt Menarx freeze up. Neveah said nothing more, she just watched Menarx’s expression and waited for the words to sink in.

"Yet you are here with me...there is a story to this?" Menarx asked after a moment.

Neveah released the breath she had not realized she was holding when Menarx’s voice held no anger.

"There is a story... the greatest pain I have known, I found at his hands." Neveah paused and Menarx’s hand moved to caress her cheek tenderly, gently encouraging Neveah.

"He is a past I will never return to Narx...yet his existence is one I cannot conceal from you."

"If this is to work, I must learn to let you in...it will be hard. But I still want to try..." Neveah murmured.