Lillian gasped as her gaze fell upon the book. In its center, a symbol sprawled, vast enough to cover the entire book.
The shock seized Lillian as the symbol looked oddly familiar.
Dorian, standing beside her, noticed her surprise. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I've seen that before," Lillian replied, her voice a hushed murmur, and Dorian's brows furrowed slightly.
"That's the symbol of Coulandra."
"What's Coulandra?" Lillian asked, casting a confused look at Dorian.
"When Aagon, the man who was given a tiny amount of the Diviner's power, went wild and casted the world in darkness, the Diviner created a powerful, inescapable prison called Coulandra. It's where the Protectors locked him up and others like him over the years," Dorian explained.
"Where have you seen the symbol before? Only Protectors know about Coulandra," Dorian inquired, a frown creasing his forehead.
"It's... it's a birthmark," Lillian admitted, looking up at Dorian, whose face turned pale, his eyes contracting with surprise.
"A birthmark?" He sought confirmation.
"Yes," Lillian affirmed.
"Can I see it?" Dorian requested, his eyes scanning her body. His mind raced at the implications – her having Coulandra's symbol as a birthmark could mean the ritual wasn't a fallacy.
Lillian, blushing intensely, hesitated. Her birthmark was on her thigh, and if Dorian wanted to see it, then... she shut her eyes, anything for answers – after all, nothing could happen between them.
She began lifting her nightgown slowly, but Dorian's firm grip stopped her. It was apparent he had misunderstood the situation.
"What are you doing?" Dorian asked, a mixture of shock and anger crossing his features. Had she suddenly lost her mind, he wondered.
"The birthmark is on my thigh. I was simply lifting my dress so you can have a look at it," Lillian answered casually, though she knew the idea was absurd and very improper.
Dorian stared at her in disbelief. How could she be so nonchalant about this? Wasn't she aware of her own beauty and that he was a man – a man with needs and desires?
He swallowed hard, releasing his grip on Lillian's hand.
"This is very improper. You don't have to do it if you don't want to," Dorian said calmly, though his throat felt itchy.
"I want to," Lillian replied. "What I mean is that I want answers." She clarified, noting that her earlier statement could be misinterpreted.
Dorian nodded.
Lillian slowly lifted her nightgown, revealing her graceful thigh. The birthmark adorned the upper area, prompting Dorian to kneel for a better view.
He tried valiantly to control his surging emotions, focusing on the birthmark. Small but distinct, it was indeed the symbol of Coulandra.
"May I?" Dorian sought permission from Lillian to touch the birthmark.
Nervously, Lillian nodded, her response barely audible. "Yes."
Dorian gently placed his hand on her thigh, using his thumb to trace the contours of the birthmark.
His touch was warm, igniting a whirlwind of sensations in Lillian.
Dorian stood up, and Lillian immediately covered her thigh. Dorian cleared his throat, the tension palpable.
"Your right, it's the symbol," Dorian finally acknowledged.
Collecting her scattered thoughts, Lillian asked, "Does that mean anything?" Wondering if she was intricately connected to all of this.
Dorian sighed, raking his hand through his hair. "It means my sister was right," he grunted.
"Selena? Right about what?" Lillian inquired, her confusion evident.
"When Selena heard about the tournament, she sent spies to confirm how you looked. When they all reported back with the same answer, she informed me about it."
"About the tournament?"
"Yes. You see, Coulandra is inescapable; anyone imprisoned there is there forever. Only the Protectors can open it, and we can only open it together – all seven of us. But over the years, rumors began to spread. Rumors of a ritual that could also open Coulandra."
"A ritual," Lillian mouthed.
"Yes. But I never believed in it," Dorian began.
"Why?" Lillian questioned, her curiosity piqued.
"Because the ingredients for the ritual sounded absurd and impossible to obtain," Dorian explained, moving closer to Lillian. "One of the ingredients is the face of a goddess."
A frown settled on Lillian's face as she scoffed in disbelief. "The face of a goddess? How can one ever get th..." Her voice trailed off as understanding dawned on her.
The reason Dorian came to the tournament was to ensure her safety before she fell into the hands of someone malevolent. The sorcerer's attack – they were after her? Why? Simply because she was good-looking? That didn't make her a goddess.
Dorian, standing beside Lillian, observed her changing facial expression. It seemed she had finally found the answers.
"So they think I'm a goddess," Lillian finally voiced out with a little chuckle. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," she said with a laugh.
"You definitely look like one," Dorian replied calmly, causing Lillian to turn towards him.
"But I'm not one," she declared.
"They don't know that. And frankly, neither do you or I."
"Don't goddesses have powers? I have none. If I were a goddess, do you think I would have let myself be subjected to Tywin's cruel emotional torment and imprisonment all those years?" Lillian strained. "No. I would have killed him myself. I'm not a goddess, Dorian. I'm just an ordinary person."
"Ordinary," Dorian scoffed, his eyes involuntarily tracing over Lillian's form. "Then you truly underestimate your beauty," Dorian grunted, his golden eyes finally locking onto her sapphire ones.
Lillian smiled softly, her eyes not leaving Dorian's. "I thought you said I couldn't fix everything with my beauty," she replied, her voice carrying a sultry undertone that ignited a fire in Dorian.
Suddenly, Dorian couldn't find his voice, his words, nothing – they were all gone, and soon his senses would follow suit.
Lillian's smile took a devious turn when she noticed Dorian's reaction. So she did have an effect on him. The cold and rude Lord Firebane – this was her chance for a little payback.
"You're right; I definitely underestimated my beauty," Lillian said, moving closer to Dorian, her devious smile still intact. She slowly and boldly placed her hand on his firm chest.
Dorian looked down at her hand and then back at her. She was bold. Never in his life had he felt so unsettled by a woman's presence.
"Funny, I thought I didn't have any effect on you. Glad to see I was wrong," Lillian said, pulling on the neck of Dorian's robe. "And you're welcome for saving your life twice, Oh mighty Protector," Lillian teased, about to walk away from Dorian. However, he grabbed her and pulled her, and she collided roughly with his firm chest.
"Don't ever play with fire, Lillian. You'll get burned," Dorian growled, his eyes staring into hers with serious intensity. Their closeness ignited a fury of emotions in both of them.
He smirked as Lillian gulped, unconsciously parting her lips like a silent invitation.
But he let go of her, ignoring his raging emotions.
"You should go get some sleep now; I'm sure I've answered some of your questions."
Nervously, Lillian nodded and practically ran out, like a frightened rabbit.
The corridors seemed to stretch endlessly as Lillian hurriedly made her way back to her quarters. The encounter with Dorian had left her heart pounding, and she couldn't shake off the intensity of the moment.
As she reached her room, she took a moment to collect herself. The dim light filtered through the windows, casting a soft glow on the unfamiliar surroundings. Lillian couldn't ignore the complex emotions swirling within her – confusion, curiosity, and an unexpected flutter of something more.
The events of the evening replaying in her mind. The symbol of Coulandra, the revelation about Protectors, and the unexpected interaction with Dorian – it was all too much to process.
Lying on her bed, Lillian stared at the ceiling, contemplating the newfound knowledge. The idea of being perceived as a potential key to Coulandra's mystery felt both surreal and daunting. She couldn't escape the lingering image of Dorian's intense gaze and the way he had reacted to her teasing.
Meanwhile, Dorian remained in the study, his thoughts in turmoil. The encounter with Lillian had ignited a spark within him, awakening feelings he had long kept at bay. The proximity, her touch, and the teasing words had left him in a state of internal conflict.
Dorian paced the room, grappling with the intensity of emotions he hadn't anticipated. The responsibilities of a Protector weighed heavily on him, and now, an unforeseen connection with Lillian added another layer of complexity.
As the night unfolded, both Lillian and Dorian found themselves caught in a web of uncertainties, their destinies intertwined in ways they were only beginning to fathom.