Home is a Treasure Beyond Price

Chapter 25

Nick wiggled his toes. "Cadence," he said.
Cadence lifted her head off Nick's blanket-covered feet with a snort. <Yes, Nick.>
"Do you still want me to be your Companion?" He continued adding lines to his sketch as though his heart wasn't lodged partway up his throat.
<Yes,> Cadence said with surprise. <Of course, I do. Why?>
"Well, because Sombra and Marissa have been gone for two days and you haven't said anything." He avoided Cadence's gaze by adding more shading to the scales around Cadence's eyes. "I'm starting to wonder if you've changed your mind."
<I won't change my mind, Nick, I'll wait as long as I have to for your answer.> Cadence laid her head back down and watched him intently. <Are you ready to answer?>
"Alright." Nick folded his arms and glared, gooseflesh chasing across his skin without Cadence's heat to keep him warm. "I will." Cadence froze. Even the tip of her tail stopped moving. <Right now?>
"Yes."
<Nick,> Cadence said warily. <Don't rush into this just because you're frustrated.>
"Idiot." How was he to resist this ridiculous dragon who insisted on watching out for Nick even at her own expense. He got up and walked over to stand in front of Cadence. "I'm saying yes because..." What was it Marissa had said? "Because you are my most precious treasure."
There was a moment of silence as dragon stared at man. Then, black and scarlet wings furled around Nick and pulled him close. Cadence arched her neck to brush his snout against Nick's temple.
<As you are mine.>
He pressed his cheek to the hollow at the base of Cadence's neck and breathed in the scent he'd come to associate with home. The strong, steady beat of Cadence's heart vibrated through him, filling up places inside him he hadn't even known were empty. He'd done it, agreed to tie his life to Cadence's for a thousand years. In the end, he didn't even feel as guilty as he'd thought he would, because if he were the dragon, and Cadence the human, he would offer up half his life without any hesitation.
<If we do this, you will never be free of me.>
Cadence's words called forth an answering surge of possessiveness. "Good." He reached up to cup Cadence's cheeks and pull her head down level with his own. "The same goes for you."
Cadence nodded. <Understood.>
"Well, come on," Nick said with a pat to Cadence's cheek. "How do we do this?"
<So romantic,> Cadence murmured with a smile in her voice. <We should get comfortable.> She led Nick back to his pallet.
For a ritual that would transfer half of Cadence's life force to him, the steps were unexpectedly mundane. Sitting facing each other, they leaned forward and touched their foreheads together. Cadence tented her wings over them, shutting out the world. This was the moment at which his life was about to change forever. Or perhaps, Nick thought, that moment had passed without his notice on the day he'd first met a dragon.
He waited, conscious of the sound of their breaths and the way his heart pounded in his chest. Then, there was a sideways slipping shift, the world went out of focus, and for a brief moment, it was like their souls overlapped and merged. He could feel everything that Cadence felt for him, and it was like being immersed in a vast warm pool. He felt safe there, and wanted. He felt... loved. Something bloomed in his chest, something warm and heavy and honey-like.
There was another shift, and that sense of merging was gone. They were themselves again, two separate entities. He felt the loss of that sense of union, but it was also a relief to be alone in his head again. Except... there was still something connecting him to Cadence, a small thread of awareness, which was Cadence's presence.
"I can feel you," he said with awe. He leaned back and looked up at Cadence. "Can you feel me too?"
Cadence furled her wings and nuzzled Nick. <I can,> Cadence said, voice soft and hushed, sounding as overwhelmed as Nick felt.
When Nick went to stroke Cadence's cheek, he was surprised to notice the tremor in his hand. He rested his cheek against Cadence's neck while he explored the thread in his mind. It was odd, feeling Cadence connected to him, not a part of Nick, but just... there, warm and comforting.
He concentrated hard and projected his thought at the warm little feeling of Cadence in his mind. <Cadence?>
Cadence's wings twitched. <A little softer,> she said.
Nick gave her an embarrassed look. <Sorry,> he sent in what he hoped was a normal tone.
<Better.>
He felt a brief moment of panic when something occurred to him. <Will we be able to read each other's minds?> No one should have their innermost thoughts exposed like that.
<No. That's not how the bond works. We can't tell what the other is thinking or feeling.>
"That's good," he said, slipping back into normal speech.
<How do you feel?>
Nick considered it for a moment, then stood up. He felt—a laugh escaped him. He felt so light. He hadn't realized how the various aches and pains of his body weighed on him until they were gone. No more dull ache at the base of his spine, no more tightness in his chest when he tried to breathe. Everything looked brighter and sharper, and even the sound of the river was clearer to his ears.
He jumped and hopped and couldn't help a whoop of glee at the easy strength that flowed through his limbs. Was this how normal people felt? Theo when he trained with his guns, aiming and shooting while Nick struggled to complete even one round two-handed?
"What—? How—?"
Cadence made a chuffing sound. <A dragon's life force is a powerful thing.>
Nick laughed again, euphoric with the release from pain, and flung his arms around Cadence's neck.