Chapter 133: A private sanctuary

That night, under the cover of darkness, Dorian took Alyssa away.

He changed into a dark button-down shirt and trousers, then gently dressed Alyssa in one of his large t-shirts and shorts. Once she was draped in a wool cloak, he gathered her frail body into his arms and stepped out onto the terrace.

The night sky was covered with thick grey clouds; moonless, starless, and cold.

Feeling the icy bite of the north wind against her cheeks, Alyssa’s lashes fluttered open. Her pupils were still drowned in a deep crimson glow, and just beneath her upper lip, two small fangs peeked out.

"Where are we going?" she rasped out in a soft whisper.

Dorian looked down at her, his eyes softening as he offered a reassuring smile.

"Just trust me, my love," he murmured against her forehead. "I’m taking you somewhere safe."

Exhaustion pulled at her mind. Her eyes slipped shut once again as she buried her face into his neck.

Dorian raised his head to the dark sky. He shut his eyes, drew in a deep breath, and summoned his demon.

His transformation into Soren was nothing like the standard Lycan shift. It was eerie, magnificent, and terrifying.

His bone structure shifted, his jawline sharpening into sharp proportions as the demon took control. His ears extended into pointed tips, his fangs lengthening.

When his eyelids snapped open, the golden brown orbs had vanished, replaced by a blood-red hue.

Across his broad back, his spine expanded with a sickening, crunching sound as bone and muscle restructured. With a fierce tear of flesh and fabric, two massive demon wings burst from his shoulder blades.

They unfurled into the cold night air–majestic, terrifying spans of pure obsidian membrane that gleamed like wet ink. At the apex of each wing, a curved, bone-white talon jutted out, sharp enough to sever a man in two.

Soren flexed his powerful wings, inhaling deeply as he savored his freedom from the dark corners of Dorian’s consciousness. He looked down at the sleeping, vulnerable woman cradled against his chest, his glowing red eyes burning with a deep, consuming obsession.

"Do not fear, my little lamb," he rumbled, his voice dropping into a velvety, hypnotic cadence. " I will protect you, and keep you safe."

Holding her tightly against his chest, he launched off the terrace, rocketing into the night sky like a bullet, his massive obsidian wings beating heavily against the icy wind as they shot higher and higher before disappearing into the clouds.

...

Hours later, as the morning changed into noon, Alyssa stirred from her deep slumber and slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing that caught her gaze was the jagged, rocky ceiling of a massive cave. She blinked slowly, her brows furrowing in confusion as she wondered if she was trapped in a dream, or reliving a forgotten memory.

Sitting up slowly, she looked around the space in quiet wonder.

She was resting inside an enormous cave. Far above, a natural skylight poured warm beams of sunlight into the cavern.

She looked down at her hands as the memories of the previous night rushed back into her mind. She remembered the fever, the excruciating pressure in her bones, and the sudden sense of relief she felt when fur and silver claws had burst through her skin.

She reached down to touch her chest. She was back in her human form. A soft blanket was draped over her shoulders, and she was naked underneath. She was resting on a wide, makeshift bed composed of thick blankets and pillows that cushioned her body.

The vast cavern was quiet, bare, and empty, yet a gentle, serene energy permeated the atmosphere, instantly soothing her frayed nerves.

Gathering the blanket securely around herself, she swung her feet to the cool ground and stood up.

"Dorian?" she called out softly.

Silence answered her. Where had he gone?

Glancing down, she spotted fresh footprints etched into the sand, probably Dorian’s, leading toward a passage at the rear of the cave. Holding the blanket close, she followed the passage until the path opened into a striking natural alcove.

In the center of the alcove lay a steaming thermal pool fed by cascading mountain spring. Another skylight above allowed sunrays to dance across the clear water. Mist drifted through the air, and the only sound was from the trickle of water dropping into the pool.

"Where is this place?" she whispered to herself.

Just then, the faint crunch of gravel echoed from the main entrance of the cave. A second later, Dorian’s panicked voice called out her name.

"Alyssa?"

"I’m here," she called back, stepping quickly out of the passage and returning to the main cave.

Dorian had just stepped inside, carrying a brown paper bag that filled the air with the mouthwatering scent of food.

The second his eyes locked onto her, he dropped the food onto the bed of pillows. In three long strides, he closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her clean off her feet.

His lips found hers in a wild, starved kiss; a kiss born of the terror and worry that had tortured him all through the night while she lay unconscious.

He hooked his arm beneath her knees, scooping her up as if she weighed nothing, and carried her back to the bed without breaking the kiss.

Lowering her onto the pillows, he hovered over her, his hand burying into her hair, angling her face up as he deepened the kiss into something fiercely possessive and raw.

A deep groan tore from his throat as she looped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

By the time he finally pulled back to give her air, his eyes were unfocused, his chest heaving.

"Oh, my love," he breathed, peppering fervent kisses across her cheeks, her eyelids, her forehead, and her jaw. "I am so relieved... so relieved to see you awake."

Alyssa melted under his touch, savoring the heat of his lips before raising her hands to frame his face, her thumb gently tracing his jawline.

"Where is this place?" she asked softly. "Where did you bring us?"

"I’ll show you everything," he murmured against her lips. "But first, just let me hold you for a moment."

He shifted, sliding onto the bed beside her and pulling her into his embrace. Alyssa laid her head against his chest, listening to the erratic hammering of his heart. The fear he had endured last night had clearly shaken him to his core.

They lay together in comfortable silence for a long time, until her stomach let out a demanding growl.

Dorian chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I knew you would be starving. That’s why I had to leave, to get some food. I almost didn’t want to leave you."

He sat up and pulled the package toward them, unfolding it to reveal containers of steaming pasta, seasoned meats, and various delicacies he knew she enjoyed.

As she ate, Dorian hovered over her like a devoted guardian, constantly refilling her water glass, wiping a stray drop of sauce from her chin, and watching her with pure devotion. The warmth in his eyes made her heart swell.

Setting her napkin aside, she looked at him intently. "Where is this place, Dorian? Are we still in Wintercrest?"

"We are," he nodded. "Far from the main territory. This is a private sanctuary I discovered years ago, a place I retreat to when the weight of the crown becomes too heavy."

Alyssa nodded slowly, noticing the guarded look in his eyes. She knew he was treading carefully, uncertain of how much she remembered or how fragile her mind was.

So she took the lead. "I know I shifted last night."

Dorian’s posture didn’t falter, but his eyes widened slightly with surprise. "You remember?"

She gave a small nod. "Yes. And, not just that. I remember the night my father died."

Dorian went entirely still.

"He didn’t suffer a heart attack," she continued. "My stepmother killed him. Drove a dagger through his heart right before me."

Dorian hadn’t anticipated that revelation. He hadn’t even revealed all that Melinda confessed. "Are all your memories back?"

Alyssa shook her head slowly. "Not all of them. Just pieces. Witnessing Freya take her own life triggered them. And combined with the shift, the trauma brought those memories flooding back."

Dorian didn’t press her. "You can tell me everything when you’re ready," he said softly, reaching out to trace the curve of her cheekbone. "Right now, your recovery is all that matters. I want to take you somewhere special."

Her eyes sparkled with sudden curiosity. "Where?"

"You’ll see," Dorian smiled charmingly. "It’s a place I’ve dreamed of bringing you to, a place I have wanted to show you for a very long time."