Zaira's POV
Aramis locked the door behind me and I flopped exhausted into a chair in the corner of the room. He walked around the room and took in everything.
"Why didn't you tell them your real name?" I called across the room.
"Honaw shouldn't feel inferior to my demigodness," he said, stepping out of the small bathroom. But I could still see the shadow crossing his face. "Everything's checked. Going fine."
I frowned. "Strange that they let us sleep unsupervised in their village, don't you think?"
"They placed five armed warriors around our house."
"What?!" I jumped up.
"Naturally. After all, he cannot allow his beloved Calvius everything."
I ignored his sarcastic comment and ran to the window to the right of the chair, behind the couch. I pushed the curtain aside. "Where?"
"Behind the next house, next to the big pasture," he replied.
Actually. Right next to the tree was a tall, burly warrior equipped with a bow and arrow. He stared at me openly. The curtain fell over the window pane and I stepped back.
"Probably not so unsupervised after all," I thought out loud. Well, I couldn't blame them. We'd certainly destroyed their trees, encroached on their territory without asking, and then we'd lied to them too. We'd be up Darkmoon territory... I didn't even want to think about it.
"You didn't tell them your name because you're afraid to see hatred on their faces, aren't you?" I whispered, stepping closer.
He clenched his fists and looked away. "I saw it in yours."
My pulse stopped. I'd been having so much fun with him lately that I'd forgotten what it was like before. How cold and horrible he had been towards me. My heart hurt just thinking about it.
"You said so many horrible things to me, you left me behind." My voice cracked. "How could I not hate you?"
"I don't know," he lifted his gaze, which I had never read with such raw emotions as in that second. Pain . There was pure pain in it.
"Maybe.", very honestly. "Maybe I hated you for a tiny moment. I don't know. I wanted to hate you, I wanted so badly to hate you, to loathe and despise you."
I didn't know I was crying until he gently wiped my tear away. "I don't more than deserve it."
The brokenness in those words was what struck me the most.
"Yes," I said, placing my hand on his cheek, stroking his stubble tenderly. "But I'd be lying if I said that moment of hatred lasted longer. You're not bad or evil Aramis. You're not Monster."
"How can I be good when you have to become a beast to fight the other?"
I just shook my head. “No matter who or what you fight, as long as you let love guide you, you have nothing to fear. You have a light within you Aramis that the whole world could shine if you just let it."
I wanted to pull him into me, kiss his pain away, and reassure him over and over that he was good. That he's not one of the bad guys.
"What are you doing to me Zaira?" he breathed and shook his head blankly. "I've been in this world for so long, you can't even imagine it. I was..."
He ruffled his hair. "I was emotionless, felt no joy, fun or..."
His eyes glowed and it was like he was looking straight into my soul I could sink in for hours. Beautiful. I wanted you from the first moment. I wanted you so badly that it tore me up inside. But I knew I could never have you. I couldn't have a mate, I carried that knowledge within me since I was little."
He paused and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I gasped. "But then you made me feel," his hand trailed down my body and then pulled me against his waist. "I couldn't keep my distance from you anymore, even if I tried. I just can't . "
My heart was pounding against my chest and I tilted my head back to look at him. "Then don't do it."
Longing showed on his features, paired with despair. His hand slowly closed around my neck. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into, Vinea ."
That name again. I made a note in my head that I had to ask him about it. But first.. "Yes, I do and I want to."
"You want me?" he asked, rubbing his thumbs over my mouth.
"Yes," I whispered hoarsely, licking my lips. My tongue brushed his finger.
"Ah fuck!" he moaned, pulling me closer and kissing me fiercely. I parted my lips and his tongue pushed against mine. He kissed me harder while the grip on my neck tightened. I ran my hands over his upper arms up, exploring his bare chest and running my finger over his nipple.
He growled and kissed me harder. I ran over it again, excited that he liked it. He bit my bottom lip and then sucked on her. I moaned and rubbed my hips against his throbbing sex.
With a jerk he picked me up. I wrapped my legs around him and craned my neck towards him. He understood the request and kissed my neck. His tongue darted out, sucking at the pit where my neck met my shoulder, right where the mark should be. The mate band pulled hard between us.
Such heat flared up inside me that I cried out with excitement.
"Aramis..." I begged as a horn call sounded.
The veil of desire lifted a bit and I tried to remember what that meant, but Aramis sucked so hard I couldn't think long.
I tangled my fingers in his hair and held him by my neck.
The horn call came again into the room. When it suddenly occurred to me.
"Oh my gods, dinner!" I squeaked, trying to pull away from Aramis.
"I'll skip it." A seductive smile appeared on his face. "Why not dessert first?"
I tried to scold him with a serious look, but then burst out laughing. "Put me down, we have to go."
"Anything you want, Your Highness." He set me down on the ground, his eyes never leaving me.
I giggled and ran as he grabbed my hand and quickly pulled me against him.
"I'm sorry Zaira," he said hoarsely. "Honestly."
"What?" My eyes darted from one eye to the other, each more beautiful than the last.
"Everything." He rested his forehead on mine.
Bits and pieces of my once broken heart are assembling and merging.
I breathed in trembling, moved by such deep feelings. I swallowed back the tears and smiled. "I forgive you."
His eyes flared in astonishment.
"But," I added, my smile fading. "Don't hurt me anymore. Never again." My wolf howled in agony at the thought of him hurting us again.
His expression turned serious. "I will not."
"Promise?" I looked up at him.
"Promised."
An overjoyed feeling spread throughout my body. It tingled all over and I felt my heart glow.
"Okay," I said, standing on my tiptoes and kissing him shyly. His hand was still holding mine.
"Hey, where are you going?" he asked as I headed for the door.
"Um, dinner, remember?" I giggled, tilting my head questioningly.
"No. But before that, I want to taste it one more time." Aramis whispered and then pressed his lips to mine.