Their eyes locked, it seemed as if time had paused, and the world held its breath. Lying on top of the person, Tessa felt an undeniable pull, as if an invisible had connected them, and was unable to move or look away. She had never seen such wonderful eyes that reflected the twinkle of the stars at night and beaming with a mysterious light which made her hold her breath, just to watch him quietly. With her lips parted a little, she could not help but gulp scrutinizing him, precisely his eyes and long dark hair, which caught her attention fully.
On the other hand, the man below stayed in place as he watched the little creature assault him with her big brown eyes. Her expression portrayed admiration and surprise, and neither did she look away from him nor was she in a hurry to stand up from that uncomfortable position.
Nevertheless, that was not what amazed the man, but the fact that the little creature could still breathe evenly and no fear could be seen in her eyes, even after being thrown into the Obsidian Maw. This place was considered as the devil's lair. No person thrown into the dungeon was ever seen again except for one person, Zarek. The same person whom Tessa was lying on top of so leisurely as if she was in her 'happy ever after' moments.
Zarek did not move nor attempt to push her away. Not that he couldn't, but he didn't want to. There was something about the lady that was drowning him to her, as if he could not resist her no matter how much he wished for it. The touch of her hand on his body felt like fire melting his dead soul and breathing life to it. His heart fluttered with emotion for the first in what seemed like a millennium, piercing him with an overwhelming sense of disbelief. How long had he been waiting for this? Waiting for her, his liberation and redemption. She was the only answer to his ultimate question of whether the second chance he was given was worth the cost of salvation or destruction.
He was transmigrated into a body of a loathed human prince to redeem himself for over ten years now, which was a harsh punishment and to get himself out of it was the worst penance which he never thought he could escape.
Unconsciously, Zarek raised his hand and placed it on Tessa's cheek, complex emotions flooding his eyes. That curve on her pink lips, the light in her gaze, it was mesmerizing, spellbinding him into oblivion. Words were never spoken yet every glance, every soft touch of the cold air between them spoke more than any speech. It felt as though they had known each other in some distant, forgotten time, and now, fate had brought them through together once more.
"Do I know you?" Tessa who had been lost in Zarek's gaze murmured silently when she felt an intense warmth spreading across her heart, body and reached her soul.
Zarek also had the same question in mind. Her tender hands, her eyes, her sweet voice, every bit of her being felt so familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. But the only possible reason he could think of was because she was his other half. His kindred soul that he had spent half of his life looking for, until he became a walking doom, and had to be transmigrated into a body of a weak powerless prince, which made him fall into a fate worse than death. Spending more than a decade locked away in a cell without even knowing the reason why, and with no means of escape, Zarek lost all hope from rising to his original form, a lynx. They were ancient dragons who were more powerful than normal dragons. What differentiated them from others was their overly obsession to finding their mate. They were also fiercely monogamous, believing their mate was chosen by destiny. They would guard their chosen one with an intensity that defied reason.
"My mate." It was a low whisper from Zarek, that was filled desperation and relief.
Smiling like never before, he embraced the lady in his arms with one hand as the other brushed her hair.
Tessa froze which her mind became blank unable to say a word or even move. Burying her face on the man's neck, she could smell his intoxicating scent and she wanted more. Everything about him made her desire and she ended up clenching his clothes with her not so large hands.
"What's your name, my love?" Tessa trembled in response to his words, wondering why he would call her that way. Not that she detested it, rather her heart felt a strange peace and warmth spreading across like a tide, carrying everything else away.
"Te... ssa." She faltered, unsure of how to even respond to the new feeling that was creeping and growing rapidly. A strange yet beautiful sensation that she couldn't compare to anything before.
"Tessa," Zarek repeated his lips stretching into a broad smile, as if the word held new meaning to him. "I want to see your beautiful face, Tessa." How much Zarek desired to keep calling her name and also listen as she responded to him.
As if under a spell, Tessa brushed her long, dark hair away from her face and in a slow unhurried motion, she raised her head into a position where she could see Zarek, who could not take his gaze away from her.
A sweet silence developed between them, something igniting deep inside each other in that moment. A raw, deep and untamed passion that they could not ignore nor escape from.
"Do I know you?" Tessa whispered under her breath.
Zarek smiled when he heard her sweet voice. He could only imagine how good his name would sound on her lips.
"You don't, my love." He replied holding her cheek gently with his thumb and index fingers. "You found me."
Tessa blinked her eyes twice a bit confused by the man's words. "Do you know me?" She asked in return.
"Not yet but I will."
Tessa went quiet before she realized in what awkward position they were in. "I... am sorry." Tessa pronounced, her face flushed red and moved herself from Zarek, then sat beside him. "Forgive me, I fell on you by... mistake." She added lowering her gaze, blushing.