Beauty, in the Beast World

Rise of Aria: The Goddess of Commitment and Fertility

{Author's Note: It is with a heavy heart that I must inform my readers of an unfortunate delay in all the stories I've been working on. In the evening of, October 23, 2024, I was involved in an automobile accident. While I am grateful to say that I am mostly fine, I did sustain injuries to my left hand, left leg, and my head. As I write this, I am in considerable pain, and for now, I need to prioritize my healing.

I'll be taking some time off to recover, but rest assured, I will return to continue writing and editing as soon as I am able. Your understanding and patience during this time mean the world to me, and I look forward to resuming our journey together when I'm back on my feet. Thank you all for your support.}

As the God of Beasts and Aria continued to revel in their timeless love, the years seemed to drift by effortlessly. The world around them ebbed and flowed with the passage of seasons, but for the two of them, time felt almost inconsequential. Yet, even as their love remained unchanged, Lior began to notice something peculiar about Aria—she hadn't aged. Dragons, despite their long lifespans, still showed signs of their years, especially as they crossed into their second and third millennia. Aria, however, had not changed at all.

She had just passed her three-thousandth year, a milestone for any dragon. By now, her horns should have long grown in both her dragon and smooth forms. It was a natural part of a dragon's development—by a thousand years, the horns were fully visible, signifying maturity and the height of their power. But Aria's smooth form remained as it had been since the day they met, with no trace of the mighty horns her kind should possess.

One evening, as the sun dipped beneath the horizon and painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson, Aria stood at the entrance of their cave, staring out over the world they had made their home. Her silver hair flowed like a river of moonlight down her back, and her fiery red eyes seemed distant, lost in thought. A sigh escaped her lips, subtle yet weighted with the burden of uncertainty.

Sensing the shift in her mood, Lior emerged from within the cave, his golden eyes softening at the sight of his beloved. His connection to the earth and its creatures told him something troubled her deeply. Quietly, he approached, sitting down beside her, his presence warm and reassuring.

"Something wrong, love?" he asked gently, his voice low and soothing.

Aria shook her head at first, as if dismissing the thought, but after a moment, she turned her gaze back to the sky, her expression thoughtful. "I should have grown my horns by now," she mused softly, her hand unconsciously tracing the smooth skin of her forehead, where her horns should have begun to form centuries ago.

Lior tilted his head, scratching the back of his neck in mild confusion. "I've wondered about that for many years," he admitted, his voice careful. "I just didn't wish to bring it up."

A faint smile tugged at Aria's lips, her fiery eyes glinting with playful annoyance. "And why not?" she teased. "It's a very odd thing for a dragon my age to still be without horns. Perhaps my species has evolved, and females no longer grow them in their smooth forms."

The idea lingered in the air between them, but something about it felt off to Lior. He studied her face, the flawless skin that showed no signs of aging, the ethereal beauty that had remained unchanged since the day they first met. There was something more to this—something that had to do with their spousal bond. The thought gnawed at him, though he couldn't yet place exactly how or why their bond might be responsible for this anomaly.

He gently took her hand in his, the warmth of her touch a constant reminder of the love they shared. "It may not be as simple as evolution," he said thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the possibilities. "I don't believe it's just your species. I've felt for a while now that this... may have something to do with us, with our bond."