Chapter 43: Bound by Fire

The flickering light of the fire in the Queen mansion's study cast long shadows against the walls. Henry sat in his leather chair, his shirt unbuttoned, exposing the intricate inked tapestry of scars and tattoos that spoke of his battles, triumphs, and the life he had forged in fire. His mind was heavy, burdened by the weight of decisions, secrets, and the tangled web of his relationships.

The door creaked open. Nyssa stepped inside, her presence a ripple through the tense atmosphere. Her dark eyes locked onto his, sharp and unwavering, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

"I didn't think you'd stay," Henry said, his voice steady despite the quickened rhythm of his heart.

Nyssa tilted her head, the ghost of a smirk tugging at her lips. "And yet, you're not surprised."

"No," he admitted, leaning back in his chair. "I know you too well."

She moved closer, her steps silent, deliberate. The firelight caught in her raven-black hair, making it shimmer like silk. "Do you?" she asked, her tone laced with challenge.

Henry's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Better than anyone ever could."

Nyssa stopped just a step away, her gaze drifting to the intricate tattoos etched into his skin. Her fingers lifted, hovering for a moment before tracing the edge of a Norse symbol on his chest. Her touch was featherlight, but it sent a jolt through him. "You've changed," she murmured. "But this… this is still you."

His breath hitched, but his voice remained calm. "And you haven't changed at all, Nyssa. You're still fire and steel."

Her eyes met his, and in that gaze was a tempest of emotions—longing, anger, desire, and something deeper, something unspoken. "You left me," she whispered, her voice a knife cutting through the stillness.

"I had to," Henry said, his tone firm but tinged with regret. "Staying would've destroyed us both."

Her fingers curled into a fist against his chest, her frustration palpable. "You think leaving saved us? It didn't."

In a heartbeat, the tension between them erupted. Henry stood abruptly, his towering presence closing the distance between them. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her against him as his lips crashed onto hers. The kiss was a conflagration, wild and consuming, a culmination of years of unresolved passion.

Nyssa responded with equal ferocity, her hands fisting in his hair as she kissed him back with a hunger that bordered on desperation. Their movements were unrestrained, untamed, as if they were trying to make up for every lost moment.

Henry spun her, pressing her back against the wall with a thud. His hands roamed over her body, claiming every inch of her as his lips moved from her mouth to her jawline and down her neck. Nyssa gasped, her nails raking down his back, leaving red trails on his skin.

"You're mine, Nyssa," he growled against her throat, his voice rough with possession.

"And you're mine," she shot back, her tone defiant even as her body melted into his.

Their passion escalated, their movements frenzied. Henry's hands slid down her thighs, lifting her effortlessly as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to the desk, sweeping everything onto the floor in one swift motion before setting her down.

Nyssa's hands explored his chest, her fingers tracing the scars and tattoos with a reverence that belied the intensity of their actions. She leaned forward, her lips following the path of her fingers as she kissed each mark, each reminder of the life he had lived.

Henry couldn't take it any longer. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her back to him as their lips met again in a searing kiss. Their bodies moved together with an urgency that spoke of years of longing, of battles fought and lost, of a connection that refused to be severed.

As the firelight danced around them, their passion reached a crescendo, wild and unrestrained. It was more than just desire—it was a claiming, a declaration that no matter what had happened in the past, they were irrevocably bound to each other.

The fire had burned low by the time they finally lay tangled together on the floor, their bodies intertwined. Nyssa rested her head against Henry's chest, her fingers tracing the lines of his tattoos.

"You've changed," she said softly, her voice carrying a note of sadness.

Henry brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "And so have you. But some things don't change."

Nyssa lifted her head, her eyes meeting his. "You still think you can save everyone, don't you?"

He chuckled softly, his hand trailing down her back. "I don't know about everyone, but I'll damn well try."

The quiet moment was shattered when Helena entered the room. She froze at the sight of Henry and Nyssa, her eyes widening with shock and hurt.

"Helena," Henry said, his tone neutral as he sat up, pulling a blanket around himself.

Helena's jaw tightened, her hands clenching at her sides. "I thought you—" She cut herself off, her voice trembling.

"You thought what?" Henry asked, his voice calm but firm.

Helena's gaze darted between him and Nyssa, her anger giving way to vulnerability. "I thought I mattered to you."

Henry stood, crossing the room to her in a few strides. He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes. "You do," he said, his voice low and intense. "But you need to understand something, Helena."

Her breath hitched as his grip tightened ever so slightly. "What?" she whispered.

"You're mine," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "I won't share you, and I won't let you be with anyone else. You belong to me, Helena. Only me."

Helena's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she nodded, her voice trembling as she spoke. "I could never be with anyone else. I love you, Henry. Only you."

Henry's expression softened, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "Then stop doubting me," he murmured. "We're in this together, Helena. Always."

As she melted into his embrace, Helena realized that, no matter what, she couldn't walk away from him. He was her fire, her anchor, and her greatest weakness. And she was his.