Chapter 40 : Revival
Grim got up, using every ounce of strength left in his broken body. His muscles screamed in agony, his entire right arm shattered to pieces from within. But his mind was sharp, his determination unwavering. He closed his eyes and focused, recalling the direction where Aurelia's last magic had come from.
He was ready to rush toward her, but then he halted, his gaze falling on something beside him. A smirk twisted his lips. "Why don't I take this first?"
He grabbed what he needed, his broken fingers trembling from the pain but his willpower overpowering the agony. Then, he began his agonizing march toward Aurelia. His body was shattering, his steps unsteady. Yet, his smile held a madness, a reckless joy that if any challenge dared to come his way now, he would crush it.
Somehow, he reached the area where her magic had emerged. But he couldn't see her. His eyes were failing him. So, he closed them once more, trying to sense her presence. And then, he realized it. He could track her scent.
He followed the faintest hint of her fragrance, his senses guiding him.
Aurelia lay on the ground, her entire body pale like the life had already been drained from her. But his expression remained the same, cold and indifferent, as he stood over her. His gaze was sharp and ruthless despite his own broken state.
"Pathetic."
His voice was cutting, a cold observation rather than an insult.
Aurelia's eyes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused and weak. "It's your fault that I'm dying. And it's your fault that you'll die with the way you're bleeding."
Grim laughed, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down her already failing body. With effort, he lowered himself beside her and said, "Sit up. I can't pick you up right now."
"I can't. There's no strength left in my body."
His eyes bore into her, a mixture of frustration and something else. And then, somehow, with his broken arm and all, he lifted her and let her rest against him. Her head was pressed against his chest, his remaining strength supporting her.
"Didn't I tell you," Grim said, his voice a whisper with a hint of amusement, "that you are going to die in my arms?"
"Yeah..." she murmured, her breath shallow. "But... I have things I want to do."
"Like what?"
She looked at him, her eyes filled with desperation and something raw. "I want to do it with you... badly."
He stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, he spoke, "You can still survive. Why don't you take my remaining life force with your ability?"
She shook her head weakly. "Do I look like I can live after you die? Let's just... forget it. Let's die like this. It's not so bad."
"You're crazy."
They sat in silence for a moment, the cold air pressing down on them. Then, Grim spoke again, his voice warmer than she had ever heard before. "We are not going to die today, darling."
For the first time, he smiled. A real smile.
Grim was holding something in his shattered right hand. It was a dragon's heart, a rare and powerful relic known to grant unimaginable strength. Without hesitation, he tore off a piece of the heart with his teeth, chewed it, and then kissed Aurelia, forcing the meat into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed, her brows knitting in confusion.
"What... what was that?"
"Just raw meat," Grim replied, his tone casual.
He tore off another piece, made her eat it the same way, and continued until half of the heart was gone. The rest, he devoured himself.
But the moment the meat settled in their stomachs, something extraordinary happened.
Warmth surged through Aurelia's veins, her body flooded with energy and power far beyond her previous limits. Her mana returned at a staggering speed, filling her with something far greater, far purer. Her strength and level soared, her very body transforming.
Her once beautiful skin became even more flawless, glowing with ethereal brilliance. Her body was rejuvenated, her curves even more perfect and alluring. Her Crimson hair grew longer, silken strands cascading down her back like a luxurious waterfall. Her golden eyes shone with a brilliance so dazzling it felt unreal. Her body had become something entirely new—stronger, more powerful, and incomparably beautiful.
Aurelia looked at Grim and saw the same transformation occurring within him. His injuries healed, his strength magnifying beyond anything she had ever seen. His white hair grew longer and longer until it flowed down his back, reaching his lower back, a beautiful, silken mass that made him appear both ethereal and terrifyingly magnificent. His once rugged features became even more striking, his dangerous, handsome face now possessing a beauty that could mesmerize or terrify. His black eyes glinted with a dark, powerful aura.
All the scars that once marred his body vanished, his muscles becoming more defined, his skin white and paler than before, his body evolving into something far beyond human.
"What... what did you feed us?" Aurelia asked, her voice trembling. "It's like... I've been reborn."
Grim's lips curled into that familiar dark smile. "It was a dragon's heart."
Aurelia's eyes widened in shock. The realization of what she had just consumed shook her. But then the truth of their survival hit her. Her body was rejuvenated, her power stronger than ever. She couldn't stop herself; she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly, refusing to let go.
He allowed it, his arms wrapping around her in return.
"Now," Grim said, his tone colder but laced with a hint of satisfaction. "We have four and a half months here to enjoy ourselves. Nobody is going to disturb us. This is the chance I'm giving you."
---
As soon as Grim's words left his lips, Aurelia's eyes gleamed with ravenous hunger. The promise he made to her was all she needed. Without hesitation, she lunged at him, her lips crashing against his with a desperate ferocity.
Her crimson hair tumbled over her shoulders like a blood-red waterfall, framing her pale face and glowing golden eyes filled with madness and desire. She straddled him with a predatory grace, her hands clinging to his shoulders as if he were the only thing keeping her alive.
Grim allowed it all. His body remained motionless, his dark eyes locked on her with cold amusement, that same twisted, taunting smirk painted across his dangerously handsome face. His long white hair, now reaching his lower back, spilled over his shoulders like a silken veil, enhancing his haunting beauty.
Aurelia's hands roamed over him with a frantic urgency, tracing the hard lines of his chest, the powerful muscles of his arms, and the sharp contours of his jaw. Her nails dug into his skin as if trying to carve her mark into him. Her mouth followed, her lips and teeth grazing over his neck, his collarbone, and his chest with a feverish need.
Her breathing was ragged, her voice trembling with satisfaction as she whispered against his skin, "You said I could do whatever I wanted… so I'm not going to hold back."
Grim's eyes glinted with interest, his gaze trailing over her form as she continued her relentless attack. His uninjured hand reached up to brush over her crimson hair, his fingers tracing the delicate curves of her body with a lazy, almost mocking gentleness. Yet, he made no effort to stop her. No attempt to push her away. He was simply indulging her, his touch nothing more than an acknowledgment of her efforts.
But Aurelia was far from finished. She was determined to take everything from him. To make him hers, even if it was only for this moment. Her hands continued to explore his body, her lips finding every inch of skin she could reach, her touch alternating between tender caresses and fierce bites as if testing his limits.
She wasn't content with just the physical. Her aura flared to life, the air thickening with the presence of her ability.
Dark Embrace.
The sensation was unlike anything else. It was as if she were drinking his very essence, pulling his strength, his vitality, into herself. Her body trembled from the intoxicating rush of power, her eyes half-lidded as pleasure flooded her senses.
But even as she drew from him, his expression remained unchanged. His gaze was unwavering, his amusement growing as he watched her desperation.
"Is that all you've got, Aurelia?" His voice was deep and taunting, the mocking lilt in his tone cutting through her frenzy. "You're acting like a starved beast. Is this really the best you can do?"
His words only seemed to spur her on, her attacks growing more desperate, her kisses turning into fierce bites, her nails raking across his chest and shoulders as if trying to claw her way inside him. She was trying to consume him, to drain him dry. To make him hers.
But Grim remained still, allowing her to do whatever she wanted. His fingers traced the curve of her back, her waist, her hips, but there was no urgency in his touch. Only dark amusement, his smirk growing as he watched her struggle to overpower him.
Her breathing grew more frantic, her golden eyes burning with madness as she continued to feed on him. The pleasure she derived from her ability was overwhelming, her senses drowning in the sensation of power flooding her veins.
But she didn't realize one crucial thing.
Grim was merely indulging her. Allowing her to take what she wanted. Giving her the chance he promised.
Once that chance was over, there would be no mercy.