Just when Reece thought he could finally make it home, he felt a familiar pull, his consciousness slipping as another memory surged forward, dragging him back into the past. He barely had a moment to brace himself before the vision enveloped him.
"I really hope this is the last one…" Reece thought bitterly, the words fading as his awareness blurred and he sank into the memory.
****
Reece opened his eyes to find himself walking down an opulent road, the smooth stone glistening under a pale, ethereal light. The street was wide, lined with ornate lamp posts and fragrant flowers, all leading up to a grand mansion nestled within the grounds of a massive castle looming in the distance. He recognized the location immediately—the mansion was part of the Riefenheilm Empire, within their royal capital, a powerful galactic elven empire that dominated this part of the universe.
But in this memory, he was unseen, walking through a sub-dimensional plane—a unique space accessible only to those with high affinity toward spatial manipulation or those who had walked the path of prime evolution. Here, he could observe and move undetected, passing through layers of reality without alerting the empire's countless sentries, traps, or wards.
He wasn't alone. Walking beside him, her presence barely a flicker in the sub-dimension, was Elizabeth—or "Liz," as he affectionately called her—a prime shadow dragon and one of his staunchest allies. Her sleek, elegant figure moved silently alongside him, her gaze steady and intense.
They had come here with a purpose. But as they approached the mansion, Reece found himself distracted by memories of the past—of how he had met Liz, of the bond they had forged over countless lifetimes.
"Master, what's got you in such a good mood?" Liz's voice cut through his reverie, her tone both curious and playful.
Reece chuckled, shaking his head. "Nothing much, just reminiscing about how small you were when we first met. A little dragonling without a care in the world."
Liz pouted, crossing her arms as she quickened her pace to get a step ahead of him. "Master, you don't get to make fun of someone when you need their help!" Despite her indignant tone, there was a glimmer of warmth in her eyes. Reece knew Liz cherished their banter as much as he did.
Teasing Liz had become one of his grounding rituals—a reminder of his humanity amid the endless cycle of regressions. In many ways, Liz was like a younger sister to him, a loyal companion who had stood by him through countless trials. He had rescued her when she was young, taken her under his wing, and watched her grow into one of the most fearsome prime dragons in existence.
"Come on now, Liz," Reece said with a grin. "You and I both know you're here for more than just my sake. You want to see her too, don't you?"
Liz's expression softened, and she nodded. "Yes. I miss Melissa... I want to see her happy again. Like she used to be."
Reece's heart clenched. He knew Liz cared deeply for Melissa, the elven woman who was both Reece's second wife and Liz's closest friend. In so many lifetimes, Melissa had brought light into their world, her strength and kindness a beacon amid the darkness. But that light had been dimmed by the countless hardships she'd endured.
They reached the front doors of the mansion and, with a brief nod, phased back into the material world inside the mansion. The sights and sounds of the grand hall enveloped them, but Reece's gaze was fixed on the scene unfolding before him.
In the center of the room stood two elven women. One was a younger woman, her face etched with fear and desperation, her posture submissive as she pleaded with the other. The second woman, tall and regal, had an aura of quiet strength and restrained fury.
Melissa.
Reece's chest tightened as he looked at her. She was as mesmerizing as ever—long, red hair flowing down her back, her eyes sharp and filled with a fiery resolve. Even after countless regressions, Reece still found himself drawn to her, an unbreakable connection forged by lifetimes of love and sacrifice. But there was a shadow over Melissa now, a darkness that had taken root during the years they'd been apart. Reece had tried to keep his distance in this life, believing he could protect her by keeping her out of his dangerous world. He had thought he could spare her the pain, that she could live a peaceful life away from him. But he had been wrong.
Liz placed a hand on Reece's shoulder, sensing his turmoil. "Master, she needs you. You can't keep running from this."
Reece took a deep breath, nodding. No more running.
Before he could move, Melissa's half-sister—the other elven woman in the room—spoke, her voice pleading and fearful.
"Melissa, please... we need you to call him. The Emperor... the Alvendor family... they're not going to let this go. You're the only one who can bring him here," she said, her voice quivering.
Melissa's eyes flashed with fury. "No matter how many times you try, no matter how many pitiful words you utter, you will never get me to call him here. Whether it's you, my family's so-called protectors, or even the Emperor himself, none of you are worth a second of his time or attention."
Reece couldn't help but smile. That's my Melissa, he thought, pride and admiration welling up in his chest.
Liz shot him a sidelong glance, raising an eyebrow. "Enjoying the view?"
"Can't help it," Reece replied, chuckling softly. "Her angry face is… well, let's just say it's something else."
Liz rolled her eyes but said nothing, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Deciding that the charade had gone on long enough, Reece stepped out of the shadows, his presence suddenly filling the room. From the perspective of the two elven women, he had appeared out of nowhere, his figure imposing and commanding.
Melissa's half-sister gasped, her face turning ashen. Terror flashed in her eyes as she realized who stood before her. But Melissa's reaction was different. Her gaze softened, a mixture of relief and worry flickering in her eyes. She hadn't called him, but she was grateful he was here.
Reece spared only a glance at the half-sister. "Leave us. Now."
The woman didn't need to be told twice. She fled the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall, leaving Reece and Melissa alone.
"Why are you here, Reece?" Melissa asked, her voice a mixture of frustration and concern. "I didn't call for you. The Emperor and my family are out for your blood. Please, go back. I'll be fine with the talisman you gave me."
Reece shook his head, a gentle smile on his face. "I'm not going anywhere, Melissa. Besides, I think it's about time we had that talk you've been waiting for."
Without waiting for her response, he walked to a nearby study, gesturing for her to follow. He took a seat on one of the plush sofa chairs, but instead of taking the chair across from him, Melissa walked over and sat beside him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her presence.
The tension between them was palpable, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.
Reece cleared his throat, steeling himself. "Melissa, have you thought things through? I know it's been five years… I wanted to give you time, to let you live your life without—"
"Five years?" Melissa interrupted, her tone sharp. "You think five years is enough? You don't just drop a revelation like that and disappear, Reece! If it weren't for my clairvoyance, I would have thought I'd gone mad!"
He turned to look at her, his expression pained. "Melissa, you asked me for the truth, and I gave it to you. But I thought… I thought you'd be better off without me."
"And who gave you the right to decide that?" she shot back, her voice trembling. "You might think you're protecting me, but you're only pushing me away."
Reece was about to respond, but his words were cut off as Melissa leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a soft, lingering kiss. The contact sent a shock through him, his mind going blank as he felt the warmth of her lips against his. It was a simple touch, but it unraveled him completely. When she pulled back, her eyes were filled with a fierce determination. "I've suffered through too much to let you go, Reece. You don't get to decide this for me. Not anymore."
He tried to form a response, but his thoughts were scattered, his resolve crumbling under the weight of his feelings. "Melissa, I… I thought this was what you wanted. I thought…"
Melissa placed her hands on his cheeks, her touch grounding him. "Listen to me, Reece. I'm here because of you. I've survived everything life has thrown at me because of you. And I'm not going to walk away from the one person who has been with me through lifetimes." Her words broke something inside him, years of pent-up longing and restraint crumbling away. Before he knew it, he had wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, his lips finding hers again. This time, the kiss was deeper, more desperate, as though all the years of separation, all the pain, were melting away in that single, consuming embrace.
Melissa straddled his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck, their bodies pressed together as they lost themselves in each other. Their kiss grew more fervent, her fingers tangling in his hair as his hands moved up her back, pulling her closer.
They broke apart only to catch their breaths, their foreheads resting against each other, eyes locked in an intimate gaze. Reece's heart pounded in his chest, the walls he'd carefully built around his heart shattering in the face of her unwavering love, her resolving want for him, for the both of them to be together once more.
"Will… will we regret this?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. There was fear in his question, a vulnerability he rarely showed. He had lived too many lives, experienced too much loss. The thought of losing her again was almost too much to bear.
Melissa cupped his face, her gaze steady and filled with warmth. "No, Reece. We won't. I'll be here, through everything. We'll get through this… together."
She kissed him again, her lips soft but insistent, and this time he surrendered completely, letting himself fall into the warmth of her embrace. The world outside faded away, the conflicts, the dangers, all distant memories. For now, in this moment, there was only them—two souls bound by love and a promise that transcended lifetimes.
And as they held each other, Reece knew that, no matter what came next, he would fight to keep this—this connection, this love. Whatever battles lay ahead, he would face them with her by his side.