Dragons breath

Chapter 3 (another version of 2)

The moment hung heavy in the air, thick with tension and something else—something neither Kael nor Draven had the words to express. Kael stood frozen, his heart racing as he looked up at Draven, who had now become something entirely otherworldly, a being caught between the realms of man and beast. The fire crackled behind them, casting long shadows across Draven's form, highlighting the sharp lines of his scales and the ripple of muscles beneath.

Kael took a shaky breath. "Draven... you're..."

"Different?" Draven's voice was a low rumble, but t held a trace of vulnerability that surprised Kael. The dragon's wings twitched, and his tail curled behind him, as if unsure of what to do with itself. "This is who I am, Kael. This form... it's the truest expression of what I've become."Kael reached out without thinking, his hand hovering just inches from Draven's chest. He hesitated, glancing up at Draven's golden eyes for permission. When Draven nodded, Kael let his fingers brush against the smooth, cool scales that covered his chest. The sensation sent a shiver through him—it was foreign, yet strangely familiar.

"I don't know what to say," Kael whispered, his voice trembling."You don't have to say anything," Draven murmured, lowering his head closer to Kael's. "This is... difficult for me too. I've never shown anyone this side of me."

Kael's heart swelled with an emotion he couldn't quite name. He had known, from the very beginning, that Draven was something extraordinary. But seeing him like this, in his most vulnerable and raw form, made Kael feel like he was seeing the true Draven for the first time.As his hand moved across Draven's chest, Kael felt the steady beat of his heart beneath the scales. Strong and constant. Draven's breath hitched slightly, his wings fluttering in response to the touch. Kael looked up, his gaze locking with Draven's. The dragon's eyes were filled with something fierce—desire, perhaps, but also something deeper.

"Kael..." Draven whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I—"Before Draven could finish, Kael closed the distance between them, standing on his toes as his lips brushed against Draven's. The kiss was tentative at first, soft and careful, as if Kael was testing the boundaries of this new reality. Draven let out a low growl, his hands gripping Kael's waist, pulling him closer with surprising tenderness.

Kael's body melted into Draven's, the warmth of his scales seeping through his clothes, the power in his embrace undeniable. The kiss deepened, no longer cautious, but hungry. Kael's fingers traced the ridges of Draven's scales, his touch filled with wonder. He could feel Draven's heart pounding beneath his palm, mirroring the wild rhythm of his own.

Draven's wings wrapped around them, creating a cocoon of warmth and intimacy. Kael felt the leathery texture of the wings press against his back, shielding them from the cool night air. It was as if they were the only two beings in the world, locked in a moment that felt both eternal and fleeting.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other's. Kael's chest heaved as he tried to steady his racing heart, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins made it impossible."I never thought..." Kael started, his voice barely above a whisper. "I never thought I'd feel this way."

"Neither did I," Draven confessed, his golden eyes softening as he looked down at Kael. His voice was barely more than a growl now, deep and resonant. "You... you've changed me, Kael. In ways I never thought possible."

Kael smiled, though his heart still pounded in his chest. He had never expected this either, never expected to fall in love with someone—something—as extraordinary as Draven. But it felt right. More right than anything he had ever known."I don't care what you are," Kael whispered, his voice firm. "Dragon, man, or something in between... it doesn't matter. I just want to be with you."

Draven's wings fluttered slightly, his tail curling possessively around Kael's leg. "You have no idea what you're saying," Draven muttered, though there was a softness in his tone. "You don't know what it means to be bound to a dragon."Kael tilted his head. "Then show me. Teach me."

Draven's golden eyes darkened slightly, a flash of something dangerous and wild flickering in them. "If you stay with me... if you truly wish to be with me, Kael, you're entering a world far more dangerous than you can imagine. My kind... we don't love easily. And when we do, it is forever."

Kael swallowed hard, the weight of Draven's words sinking in. Forever. The idea was both thrilling and terrifying. But as he looked up at Draven, saw the vulnerability hidden beneath the dragon's fierce exterior, he knew he couldn't walk away. Not now. Not ever.

"I'm not afraid," Kael said softly, reaching up to touch Draven's face, his fingers brushing against the sharp edges of his horns. "Whatever comes, we'll face it together."Draven's lips twitched into a small smile, though it was tinged with sadness. "I hope you're right, Kael," he murmured. "Because the world won't take kindly to what we've become."
The days that followed were filled with both discovery and uncertainty. Draven, now more open with his shifting forms, would often switch between his human and half-dragon state, letting Kael see more of his true self. They traveled deeper into uncharted territories, encountering strange magic and dangerous creatures, but they faced it all together.

But as their bond grew stronger, so did the threats looming over them.

One evening, as they sat by the fire, Kael noticed Draven's gaze was distant, troubled. "What's wrong?" he asked, scooting closer to him.

Draven hesitated before answering. "There are...others. Others who will come for me. For us."Kael frowned. "Others?"

"Dragons," Draven said quietly, his golden eyes glowing in the dim light. "There are some who believe I have broken our ancient code by bonding with a human. They won't allow it to stand."Kael's heart clenched at the thought. "But... they don't even know us. How can they judge what we have?"

Draven's expression darkened. "Dragons are prideful, Kael. They don't understand love the way humans do. To them, my bond with you is an abomination. They will see it as a weakness."

Kael's chest tightened, fear gnawing at the edges of his heart. But as he looked at Draven, saw the worry in his eyes, Kael's resolve strengthened. "Then let them come," he said firmly. "I'm not afraid of them. We'll fight, if we have to."

Draven's gaze softened, and he pulled Kael into his arms, holding him close. "I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered into Kael's hair. "I swear it."But even as he said the words, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that their time together was running out—that something dark and dangerous was closing in on them.And when it did, they would have to fight for their love... or risk losing everything.