I sat down and throw myself at him, embracing him inside my arms as I cried on his shoulder.
“I’m here now. I’m here.” I said in between my sobs and I tighten my clasp around him. I want him to feel it. I want him to know I’m here and he didn’t need to feel the way he did.
He clutched his hands around me and squeezed me with his strong hands but in a gentle way. He wants to make sure of it, too. He wanted to be sure I’m here.
He dipped his head on my neck and inhaled hard, filling his lungs with my scent like he had died without it.
“It’s still faint.” he mumbles. My tears had died down after long minutes of cuddling and feeling each other. I loosened my arms around him and he did, too to meet my eyes.
“What?” I asked as I sniffed. Oh, God. I never cried like that over mixed emotion of happiness and sorrow. But what is it that faint for him?
“Your scent. Its there but its faint.” he said in a low deep voice that I missed so much. I’m gone for an hour, like Nick said yet I feel like its a whole one year. I miss him so much.
I knotted my forehead, not able to follow what he was saying. He smiled, understanding my curiousity as he touched my cheek with his palm, wiping off the tears.
“While you’re gone, I can’t… track you. Your presence, your scent, our bond, its gone. I… I can’t find you.”
His words cut deep in my chest. He was guilty. He felt useless and frustrated because of that. Because he can’t sense me.
I cupped his face with both of my hands and he tilt his head on the side to feel my warmth more.
“It’s okay. I’m here.”
“Its not me who found you.” he mumbles and looked down, avoiding my eyes. I’m not sure but I think I saw a cut of his ego fell.
I sighed and smiled as I tried catching his eyes on me. When I found it, I leaned forward and kissed his lips, catching him off guard. I felt him stopped breathing and he groaned when I moved away to cut the kiss before he could even respond.
“I’m here and that’s all that matter now, Aiden.”
He looked at me, studying my face while his golden-brown eyes are glinting from the kiss I gave.
I thought he will insist the conversation but when he tilt his head and catch my hand to kiss my palm, I knew we’re over it.
“Will you tell me now what happened?” he asked. “Or if you like, we can talk about it tomorrow so you can rest.”
“No.” I said, almost abruptly. “I’m not tired. And this is important that you needed to hear it now.”
His brow furrows and before he could ask, I speak.
“I was taken by Zeke.” his body shakes as soon as I utter the word ‘taken’ and I almost rolled my eyes over his protective reaction. “He did not harm me, I promise. But the reason that you can’t smell me at all is because he used a potion and made me drink it-”
“Baby, you lost me at the unfamiliar name. Who the fu*ck is this Zeke?”
I know that voice he used. I knew he will make the sky fell and the ground shake because Zeke took me and I huffed and slumped on my seat.
“Don’t think any violent thoughts, baby,” I copied his voice. “You’ll be shocked when you hear this so-”
“I’m waiting.” he cut.
I rolled my eyes and he raised a brow because of it. Sigh.
Waiting, my ass. I can tell how eager he was to know more.
“Zeke is a rogue.”
“A rogue. No harm, huh?” he cut my words again and I kicked him jokingly at the ribs. I’m getting annoyed and he just chuckled as he catches my leg and made slow circled on my skin using his thumb.
Argh.
“He’s your cousin, Aiden. Zynia and Zeuracious son. So, yes. He didn’t harm me.”
Aiden stopped chuckling. His thumbs on my legs also halted drawing circles. He looked at me and his lips parted for a while and I can see his confusion envelops with shock.
“He wanted to talk.”
Ashira’s POV
An hour and a half ago…
“Go! Run, fast, Luce!”
My heartbeat is drumming like crazy. I can’t sense Jacob but I can feel Aiden was around. Seth must distract them or else- well, neither way will be worse. But I choose that my best buddy won’t suffer more than she’s already experiencing.
Whatever it is.
Lucianna ran past me, getting her quickest pace. I knew she feel the frustration and this nerving situation right now.
I can see the North border with my enhanced sight. Two-no- three guards were there.
Shit.
Maybe I could distract them?
I was about to run faster and reaching to set there first but suddenly, I was on air!
“What the-”
“Hm, scent of Aiden. You’re coming with me.”
He’s carrying me like I’m a sack of cotton and weigh none at all! Who is this guy!?
It’s dark and I can’t see him because I’m faced with his back. I’m literally carried like a sack of rice on his shoulder!
“Let me go! Who the fu*ck are-”
Before I could say more, we stopped.
What the fu*ck.
I looked around. There’s no one I can sense. Not one soul. Where are we?
“Get in there.” he pointed towards a mini cave under a huge tree and I just eyed it with knotted forehead before bringing my eyes to him.
I saw a tall man with bulky broad shoulders. He looked young. Maybe around Aiden’s age. His voice is deep and commanding. His eyes are dark and deep which emphasize his pointed nose.
I’m not sure but I think he’s familiar. It’s weird but his eyes looked like Aiden’s but Aiden’s eyes are darker and more serious than his.
“Who are you?”