Chapter 76: Under a New Moon Finale
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Sorry for short chapter was going to write another 18+ scene but I really want to move on with the plot. So scrapped the idea and skipped to the end. I might come back eventually and flush out the chapter if people really want it though.
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After cleaning up, Thane and Daphne were in no rush to head back to the school and instead found themselves quite lethargic in each other's company. Thane transformed back into his dragon form, allowing Daphne to rest against his neck with his wing draped over her like a blanket. The warmth radiated from his massive body was more than enough to stave off the slight chill of the night air to the point where Daphne remained unclothed.
For a long moment, they simply sat in silence, enjoying the ambiance as Daphne looked up at the clear night sky and stared at the stars.
Thane, however, was caught in a moral dilemma one he tried to piece together himself until he finally reached the end of his patience and spoke up, "Do you really love me?" Thane muttered out of the blue, causing Daphne to sit up suddenly.
"Of course I do! What kind of question is that." Daphne exclaimed and looked over into Thane's large reptilian eyes.
"Is it such a strange question? A little more than a month ago, you despised me." Thane replied, his deep voice carrying in the silent grove, "Then I bite you, and all of a sudden, we're bonded in a way I still don't fully understand. What if what you're feeling isn't you w-what if it's-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence!" Daphne exclaimed as she glared daggers at Thane, "How could you possibly think even for a moment that what I feel is because of some kind of love magic?!"
Had the discussion topic been any less serious, it would have been comical to see Daphne shouting at the thirty-foot-long dragon, who flinched at the scathing tone.
"Because I've never had anyone love me before," Thane replied softly, his voice devoid of heat, "You were the first person ever to say that you loved me."
Daphne fell silent as Thane's deep melancholy struck her like a physical blow, "Oh, Thane..."
"I didn't mean to insult you, but I'm afraid...I'm afraid that what we have is only a proxy. And that one day...you'll realize that the life you've so meticulously planned was for a man you never truly cared for." Thane replied as he glanced away as if envisioning such a future.
Daphne was silent for a moment as she considered how to respond. Over the last month, she thought she had gotten to know Thane and his past's impact on his current person. But now Daphne realized she had just scratched the surface.
"Well then, I think it's only right that I ask you the same," Daphne replied after a moment of silence, drawing Thane's gaze back to her.
"Ask me what?"
"Do you love me?" Daphne asked, but as she said it, her voice trembled, catching her off guard. She hadn't expected the weight of such a question to rattle her so deeply.
"Yes," Thane answered so quickly and confidently that Daphne couldn't question his sincerity for a moment. Thane's response even caught him by surprise as he blinked.
Daphne smiled, and a warm, fuzzy feeling filled her chest. "How are you certain that your love for me isn't artificial?"
Thane was silent for a moment before replying, "I can't put it into words. Thousands of individual moments flood my mind whenever I think of you. Every aspect unique to you as a person is something I cherish."
"And I feel the same about you," Daphne replied as she leaned against Thane's scaled hide, enjoying the warmth radiating off his body, "Love isn't a condition that can be defined by X, Y, and Z. There are as many ways to love as there are people on this planet. Maybe the bond between us has affected how we feel about each other. But why does that matter?"
"Hmm," Thane pondered for a second before giving up and chuckling, "I just realized that this conversation could also apply to Luna and Rose. I think I've been subconsciously avoiding that topic, or at least thinking about them in such a way. But imagine what they must be going through, told that they were destined to be my wives."
Daphne smirked, "You don't have to worry about Rose or Luna. When it comes to them, I'm one hundred percent certain that both are absolutely smitten with you."
"Is this another insight from Girl's Night?" Thane asked jokingly.
"No, it's obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes," Daphne replied teasingly. In Rose's eyes, you might as well be a knight in shining armor, though she's having trouble processing how she feels about you and whether or not she should care about someone so deeply so soon after her own brother abandoned her."
Thane grunted, "So she told you about that."
Daphne nodded, "Yes, she did. We've bonded rather quickly, as you can tell, something I attribute to neither Luna nor Rose having a positive female role model to look up to. I feel like an older sister most of the time, even though they're only a year younger than me."
"What about Luna? What are her feelings about all of this?" Thane asked, which caused a faint smile to spread across Daphne's lips.
"I think Luna is more mature and insightful than anyone gives her credit for," Daphne answered, "My only worry is that she doesn't communicate what she's feeling and may ignore her own wants for the sake of others."
"Really?"
"It's already happening. Luna is just as smitten with you as Rose is, but she knows that Rose can't approach you directly, so out of respect, Luna is holding herself back so Rose doesn't feel the need to compete for your time and affection or feel like she's falling behind."
Thane glanced at Daphne, "Just exactly how many Girl's Nights have you guys had?"
"Only a few. We meet at least once a week. It's fun. I can't wait until you begin to add more women to join us." Daphne replied with only the vaguest hint of humor, making Thane snort, "I'm afraid it will just be the three of you for a while. I won't be looking for more wives, mistresses, or concubines for quite some time."
Daphne smirked but decided not to speak on the issue. She didn't have the heart to tell Thane that he most likely wouldn't have a choice when he truly entered the world of Wizarding British politics.