Zarek felt the world was fading watching Tessa's lifeless body lying in front of him. He was losing it and the only thing that made him remain sane was that she had not disappeared. This meant she still had a chance, but that only if she could overcome her desires and not get drowned in them.
"Tessa," he whispered his eyes blank, but the air around him was chill as if he was going to wreak havoc anytime, if she didn't come back. "I'll follow you to death if you dare leave me." His voice was no less cold and dangerous, with no hint of joke. He would follow her to wherever she went if he had.
How much Zarek felt useless and powerless. If it was before he lost his lynx body, he would been able to help her but now, he couldn't do anything.
"Tessa," he whispered her name again before retracting her hands from her body, and sat on the ground holding his hair.
He could not explain what he felt at that moment but his heart, body and soul was empty. As if everything he had been taken away from him. It was only for a few minutes he met her and now she was also about to go.
Zarek punched the ground and shrieked in suffering, overcome.ed by agony. "Tessa!" He seemed tobhave lost his mind as he held her body again, close to his chest. "Tessa! Tessa! Tessa!" He hugged her burying his head on her neck.
Silence developed as Zarek broke internally. He was so immersed in pain that he didn't see the small figure in his arms open her eyes.
Tessa took a deep breath and as soon as she caught a whiff of the scent, she knew who it was. Her hands went up instinctively around his back and hugged him back, a subtle smile on her pale lips.
Zarek froze in place unable to react, scared that this might be just a fragment of imaginations. That maybe he had lost his mind entirely and started imagining Tessa was back to him. If it was possible, he just wished to stay that way also he wouldn't get disappointed. He pulled her closer to him, tightly so she wouldn't move even an inch away from him.
Tessa held in her breath her head buried on the man's chest. The truth was she unable to breath due to his tight hold but didn't wish to move away and disrupt the moment. It had never felt so right and contented, as if the missing part of her soul was now one with her.
Not long after, Tessa was unable to hold her breath and parted Zarek's back. "I can't breath."
As if struck by lightning after hearing her voice, Zarek loosened his grip slowly and wary, filled with fear. Something that he had never felt before even after losing everything. But with her, she was beyond measure and he wouldn't know what to do if she really left.
"Tessa," he called out in a low audible voice.
"Am here, don't worry."
Zarek let out a long breath, brushing his hair with one hand while the other held Tessa close to him. He was alive again, the emptiness had disappeared watching her beautiful eyes stare at him so lovingly. This feeling scary yet so beautiful at the same time. And only she could make him feel like this. She was his. His mate, his soul mate and obsession.
Without a word, Zarek planted a soft kiss on her forehead and embraced her again, but this time gently. There was peace in her arms that he never thought he could ever find.
"Please don't scare me like that again, my love. I'll die," he brushed her hair slowly, whispering just to her ear.
Tessa completed with everything he did, wishing to continue and never stop. She found solace in his arms. A calmness that she never knew existed until then. He was her saviour as well as her comforter. He found her when she was lost in nothingness.
"Thank you," She hugged him back, inhaling his scent that worked like magic calming her nerves.
"For what, my love?" Zarek let go slowly, before helping Tessa sit upright.
"For bringing me back from that place."
Zarek frowned wondering what she was talking about. He was confused. "Can you explain what exactly happened, dear?"
Tessa blushed heavily with his endearment that left her breathless but nevertheless, she nodded. "The place was dark, cold and for some reason, it scared me a lot. It was an in built fear that I couldn't overcome no matter. Then I heard your voice before you appeared shining brightly. You took me away from that place and that6how I came back. Do you remember?"
Zarek frowned deeper trying to recollecting such an incident but he was sure nothing as such happened. But if she said she sawbhim, then he trusted her.
It was after a moment did he realize something. "My lynx, he saved you," he muttered slowly feeling overwhelmed by the sudden truth.
Tessa heard him but did not understand what he meant by that.
"Who was it?"
Zarek snapped out and smiled at her. "Don't worry, my love. I'll tell you some other time but for now, you need to rest."
Tessa did not resist due to the sudden tiredness, headache and was about to lay down when she realized they were inside the same cave.
"The... cave. It..."
"I know, my love. I thought it wouldn't affect you since I was with you but I guess I was wrong. Forgive me for not protecting you well."
Tessa was taken aback by his words while trying to connect the puzzle. "Is it some kind of a magical cave?"
Zarek nodded in response then added. "It feeds on people's desire and shows you a life with what you want and if you get drawn I to it, the cave sucks all your existence, both body and soul."
Tessa gazed at him shocked, and wanted to know more. "But I saw nothing as such. Before I got drawn to that dark place, I saw a man dressed in black sitting beside a stream. The picture was unclear and I couldn't see who it was. I have never had any romantic feelings or desired a man before so why would it show that?"
Zarek had no answer for that question. Not that he didn't want to tell her but he also did not know. Her coming back from the enchanted was also something that had never happened so it wasn't be a surprise if she didn't see her inner most desire.
"It's over now, nothing will happen to you now," Zarek cupped her cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead again.
Tessa believed his words and obediently laid down. "Don't go."
"I won't. I'll be beside you when you open your eyes, my love."
Tessa smiled back at him and before she could drift away into sleep, she asked, "What's your name?"
Zarek went quiet for a moment remembering how she called out to him earlier but nevertheless, he replied. "Zarek." The turn of events and everything was a mystery to him which he could sense someone was behind it. He could already guess who it was.