Lula and her overbearing husband

The clearing was taken over by a massive, strange-looking plant. Its twisted roots dug deep into the ground, clawing at the earth like bony fingers. In the centre stood a thick, round stem, green and black, pulsing as if it were alive. Huge petals, as big as shields, slowly opened at the top, revealing a glowing centre that gave off a faint, sickly-sweet smell. Around the plant, spiked tendrils moved quickly, slithering and snapping like whips.

This was no ordinary plant—it was a Grasping Bloom, one of the most dangerous plant-like creatures in the forest.

Its tendrils whipped through the air with terrifying speed, striking hard enough to shatter shields and send warriors sprawling.

The fighters surrounding it were worn down and struggling, their weapons doing little to pierce its tough, vine-covered body.

The Grasping Bloom was a rare but feared species. Plant creatures came in many forms, ranging from harmless to deadly. Some were simple, passive organisms that provided shelter or food, like the soft glow of Moonvines, which only illuminated the forest floor at night. Others were mildly dangerous, like the Spore Creepers, which released toxic clouds to ward off threats, but rarely attacked unless disturbed. However, the Grasping Bloom was in a league of its own. It was an apex predator among plant creatures, capable of trapping prey with its sticky tendrils before injecting paralytic toxins that rendered its victims immobile.

The warriors trapped in the clearing had clearly underestimated its ferocity. The Bloom's massive tendrils blocked their escape route, its wide, rooted base cutting off every possible exit. Its glowing core pulsed rhythmically, an eerie, hypnotic light that seemed to dull the reactions of the already fatigued fighters.

"Fall back!" one of the warriors yelled, his voice panicked, but retreat was no longer an option.

The Grasping Bloom whipped a tendril toward the man, catching him square in the chest. He was thrown back into a nearby tree, his weapon clattering to the ground. Another warrior lunged forward, swinging a sword at one of the tendrils, but the blade glanced off the plant's tough hide, leaving only a shallow cut.

"It's too strong!" someone shouted.

Lula and Xavier arrived at the edge of the clearing, crouching low behind a thicket to observe what's happening. Lula's eyes widened as she took in the scene.

"What is that?" she whispered, her voice a mix of awe and dread.

"A Grasping Bloom," Xavier said calmly, "Poisonous. Aggressive. And smart enough to cut off their escape. They're in deep trouble."

Lula tightened her grip on her dagger. "Is there a way to help them."

Xavier nodded but didn't move immediately.

He scanned the clearing, his eyes narrowing as he studied the Bloom's movements. "It's fast, but its core is vulnerable. If we can distract it long enough to expose the glowing centre, we might have a chance to take it down."

Lula followed his gaze, noticing the faint pulse of light from the Bloom's centre. "How do we get close without those tendrils stopping us?"

A tendril slammed into the ground nearby, throwing up a spray of dirt. One of the warriors fell to his knees, coughing, as another tendril wrapped around his ankle and began dragging him toward the Bloom.

"We don't have much time," Xavier said, drawing his bow. "I'll create an opening. When I do, you need to get close enough to strike the core."

Lula hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "I'm ready."

Xavier smirked slightly. "Good. Stay sharp, sweetheart."

He raised his bow and fired an arrow toward one of the Bloom's tendrils, aiming for the joint where it connected to the main stem. The arrow struck true, the creature jerking back with a shrill, unnatural screech. The tendrils writhed wildly, momentarily distracted.

"Go!" Xavier shouted, notching another arrow.

Lula darted into the fray, weaving through the chaos with practiced agility. She dodged a flailing tendril, she slip under its arc. Her dagger was already in her hand.

The Bloom's glowing core came into view, pulsating faster now as if sensing her approach. Lula crouched low, waiting for her moment, her heart pounding in her chest.

Another arrow whizzed past her, striking another tendril. The Bloom screeched again, its movements erratic.

Lula lunged forward, her dagger aimed for the centre of the glowing core. But just as she struck, a tendril shot out, wrapping around her wrist and pulling her back. The dagger slipped from her grasp, clattering to the ground.

"Lula!" Xavier roared, already sprinting toward her as the Bloom began dragging her closer to its gaping, petal-lined maw.

The warriors, reinvigorated by Xavier's intervention, began hacking at the Bloom's tendrils, trying to free Lula. But the creature was relentless, its core pulsing faster as it prepared to strike.

Lula struggled against the tendril's grip, her other hand frantically reaching for her fallen dagger.

Xavier's calm demeanour vanished in an instant, replaced by something cold and intimidating. His movements became sharp as he threw his bow to the ground, the sound of it hitting the dirt punctuating the tension in the air.

His golden eyes darkened, focused entirely on the Bloom. There was an intensity about him now, a controlled fury that made the warriors nearby pause, their eyes drawn to him. Slowly, he unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming in the faint light. The ease with which he held it, combined with the sheer force of his presence, was enough to make him seem distant, untouchable.

Without a word, Xavier moved forward, his steps steady and deliberate.

Lula had never seen Xavier like this before. His usually calm and easygoing nature was replaced by something frighteningly intense. As soon as the Bloom fell and the danger passed, he swept her into his arms, holding her close as if he needed to reassure himself she was still there.

She felt it then—a faint tremor running through his strong frame. His hold tightened slightly, and she realised how shaken he was. The sight of her nearly being dragged into the Bloom's grasp had clearly rattled him in a way nothing else ever had.

"You're staying by my side," he said finally, his voice low and firm, leaving no room for argument.

Lula looked up at him, startled by the unyielding tone. It wasn't like him to be so forceful, but as she gazed into his golden eyes, she saw the raw fear and lingering anger behind them. He wasn't just being protective—he was terrified of losing her.

Touched by the depth of his concern, Lula placed a gentle hand on his chest. "Alright," she said softly, her lips curving into a small smile. "I'll stay with you."

She meant it too, at least for now. She had no plans to push him on the matter, knowing how much it meant to him in this moment. But she made a mental note to revisit the conversation later when his emotions weren't running so high.

Xavier, satisfied with her agreement, shifted his focus back to the clearing. His eyes darkened as they landed on the group of warriors who were catching their breath nearby. His sharp gaze was unforgiving, silently condemning them for their failure. If they'd been more capable, his mate wouldn't have come so close to harm.

One of the warriors, a young woman, cautiously approached. "Thank you," she said hesitantly, her tone genuine but nervous under the weight of his glare.

Xavier's expression remained cold, his golden eyes narrowing as he looked her over with thinly veiled disdain. He made no effort to hide how unimpressed he was with the group's efforts.

Lula, noticing his condescending stare, frowned. Without a second thought, she pinched his chest—hard enough to make him flinch slightly.

"Be polite," she whispered sternly, giving him a pointed look.

Xavier sighed, his lips pressing into a thin line, but he gave a stiff nod. Lula, meanwhile, offered the young woman a warm smile.

Xavier didn't say another word. Instead, he scooped Lula into his arms once more and carried her away from the clearing, his jaw tight and his expression still brooding.

Lula rested her head against his chest, hiding her amused smile. For all his intimidating presence, she knew his actions came from a place of love and fear. And while she wasn't about to let him coddle her forever, for now, she was happy to let him play the part of the overprotective mate.