Bound by Honor (Book 1 in the Legacy of Love Series)

Chapter 15: Healing and Hopes

The first light of dawn cast a soft glow over the clearing, filtering through the leaves in dappled shades of gold and green. Inside the cabin, Isolde sat by Lucien's side, her fingers tracing gentle circles on the back of his hand. The warmth of his skin under her touch was a comfort—a promise that he was healing, that he was still with her.

Lucien stirred, his lashes fluttering against his cheek as he awoke. The haziness in his gaze cleared as he found her face, and a faint smile curved his lips.

"You're watching me sleep again," he murmured, his voice hoarse with the remnants of sleep but laced with a quiet warmth that made Isolde's heart tighten.

Isolde's fingers stilled, and a soft blush colored her cheeks. "You know, for all your bravery, you sleep like a child. I could hear you muttering about 'stubborn horses' half the night."

Lucien chuckled, the sound soft but genuine, and he reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm sure whatever it was, you managed to win the argument in my dreams, too."

They shared a smile that seemed to soften the air around them, casting their worries into a brief, gentle silence.

"You seem stronger today," she noted, her gaze drifting to the color returning to his cheeks and the clarity in his eyes. "I was beginning to wonder if we'd have to settle in this cabin for good."

A hint of resolve sparked in his gaze as he sat up slowly, one hand bracing against the wooden bed frame. "We might need a few more days here, but I'll be ready soon enough," he replied, though a flicker of pain crossed his face. The wound on his arm was healing, but the deep ache still lingered, a reminder of the battle and the price of freedom.

Isolde's fingers tightened around his. "We're in no rush," she said softly, her voice firm with conviction. "The only thing that matters to me is that you're truly well. This isn't just your fight, Lucien. It's ours."

Lucien gazed at her, his eyes reflecting both gratitude and something deeper, something neither of them had yet put to words. "If only I could make you see the strength I see in you," he whispered. "You've been my shield as much as my heart, Isolde. I... I wouldn't have made it without you."

For a moment, the walls of the cabin seemed to fall away, and it was just the two of them, their hearts laid bare amidst the vulnerability of survival and the gentle promise of a shared future.

The gentle morning light filtered into the cabin as Lucien pulled Isolde closer, feeling her steady presence anchor him. He didn't have to say it—she already knew how much she meant to him, but in that quiet moment, he wished he could convey everything his words couldn't capture.

The day passed in serene companionship as they moved through their morning routines. Isolde busied herself preparing a simple meal, her hands moving with quiet efficiency as she sliced bread and prepared a small pot of broth. Lucien watched her with a sense of wonder; here they were, stripped of titles, pretenses, and surrounded only by nature. It was simple, yet it felt more real than any moment he'd ever experienced.

Later, as they sat outside, savoring the fresh air and the smell of pine drifting through the breeze, Isolde broke the silence. "Lucien," she started, her voice softer than usual. "Tell me... tell me more about the life you had before. I've heard bits and pieces, of course, but never from you."

Lucien's gaze grew distant, shadows from another time flitting across his face. "It wasn't much of a life," he admitted. "Your father took me in when I was young—a stray, you might say. Gave me training, purpose, something to focus on other than where my next meal would come from." He paused, his jaw tightening slightly. "In those days, my loyalty was everything. It was all I had to give."