girl groaned and jerked slightly beside him. Already her pretty features were scrunched in pain and he knew he could not waste another moment. Her features began to fade and her groans turned to slight whimpers, he knew the prince was with her and had connected to her. Possibly holding her, even now. The only thing left would be to kiss her—he had to get to the prince immediately to guarantee he did not allow his lips to contact hers until she was in a more calm state of mind or it could be the ruin of her.
Standing up, he strengthened the dome as best he could, chanting a small spell to guarantee she remained safe, and then he was off racing, his silver mane flowing, toward the hidden gateway in the forest he had created all those years ago that would allow him instant passage to her kingdom.
Being near the boy must have triggered her to remember something. Just coming close to the one who can break the enchantment could be detrimental to those who have truly suffered as she had. If she was not mentally stable enough to handle the change and memories that would come upon her, she would go mad herself. Villeria would recognize an interruption to her mental state immediately and would swoop down on them both, while they were dazed and confused and destroy them.
Why did he not think of this sooner?
Why did he not realize the prince’s presence could unlock memories within her?
He should have been there to greet the lad and fill him in on all the oddities surrounding such a fragile affair as this.
Ezaralon was certain the prince would have seen her happy, and then kiss her, and then life would continue on as it should, with him reintroducing her into society and catching her up on all that had happened and being with her fully and comforting her to help ease the remembrances as they came back to a sound mind. Then once the spell was broken, he would have come to them both and helped prepare them for Villeria’s presence.
He purposely did not involve himself in such matters, as the prince and queen meeting, allowing them to happen organically. One does not simply waltz in and disturb enchantments—they are very particular things, and one false movement and all could be lost.
However, now it would seem she would lose all if the prince kissed her awake at this time.
CHAPTER NINE
THE SCREAMING BEGAN TO subside—it was not gone fully, but had dimmed significantly enough for her to make out the gentle thud thud of the prince’s heartbeat. Aleyna nestled in closer to his broad chest and splayed her fingers out across his back. Her hands began to take on a mind of their own as they imitated the action of his hand and began to explore his back.
Everywhere he touched tingles exploded along the path. It was like he was enveloping her in an affectionate cocoon. The roar of the cries were there, but far away and less daunting. She was safe now, safe and warm and protected.
“Hmm…” she mumbled into his shirt.
He removed his other hand from her ear and whispered near it, “Do you feel better now? Is the horror over?”
She shook her head and replied very muffled, “No. I can still hear them, I just hear you more. It’s less frightening that way.” She felt his sigh and a small smile formed upon her mouth.
“Good,” his deep voice vibrated through her.
They remain together in silence for a few minutes, his hand running up and down her petite back, soothing her and calming her mind, while she explored his through the heavier cloth of his jacket. She tightened her hold and burrowed down closer and then inhaled slightly when his mouth kissed the top of her head.
“Prince Darién?”
“Yes.”
“Why do you smell like dust?” She sniffed again. Yes, most definitely dust.
“I—uh—”
Pulling back a little, she took in the sight of his crumbled dirty shirt and jacket. “What has happened? You are completely covered in filth. You weren’t like this when you first came to the castle, were you?”
Darién
Standing up, he strengthened the dome as best he could, chanting a small spell to guarantee she remained safe, and then he was off racing, his silver mane flowing, toward the hidden gateway in the forest he had created all those years ago that would allow him instant passage to her kingdom.
Being near the boy must have triggered her to remember something. Just coming close to the one who can break the enchantment could be detrimental to those who have truly suffered as she had. If she was not mentally stable enough to handle the change and memories that would come upon her, she would go mad herself. Villeria would recognize an interruption to her mental state immediately and would swoop down on them both, while they were dazed and confused and destroy them.
Why did he not think of this sooner?
Why did he not realize the prince’s presence could unlock memories within her?
He should have been there to greet the lad and fill him in on all the oddities surrounding such a fragile affair as this.
Ezaralon was certain the prince would have seen her happy, and then kiss her, and then life would continue on as it should, with him reintroducing her into society and catching her up on all that had happened and being with her fully and comforting her to help ease the remembrances as they came back to a sound mind. Then once the spell was broken, he would have come to them both and helped prepare them for Villeria’s presence.
He purposely did not involve himself in such matters, as the prince and queen meeting, allowing them to happen organically. One does not simply waltz in and disturb enchantments—they are very particular things, and one false movement and all could be lost.
However, now it would seem she would lose all if the prince kissed her awake at this time.
CHAPTER NINE
THE SCREAMING BEGAN TO subside—it was not gone fully, but had dimmed significantly enough for her to make out the gentle thud thud of the prince’s heartbeat. Aleyna nestled in closer to his broad chest and splayed her fingers out across his back. Her hands began to take on a mind of their own as they imitated the action of his hand and began to explore his back.
Everywhere he touched tingles exploded along the path. It was like he was enveloping her in an affectionate cocoon. The roar of the cries were there, but far away and less daunting. She was safe now, safe and warm and protected.
“Hmm…” she mumbled into his shirt.
He removed his other hand from her ear and whispered near it, “Do you feel better now? Is the horror over?”
She shook her head and replied very muffled, “No. I can still hear them, I just hear you more. It’s less frightening that way.” She felt his sigh and a small smile formed upon her mouth.
“Good,” his deep voice vibrated through her.
They remain together in silence for a few minutes, his hand running up and down her petite back, soothing her and calming her mind, while she explored his through the heavier cloth of his jacket. She tightened her hold and burrowed down closer and then inhaled slightly when his mouth kissed the top of her head.
“Prince Darién?”
“Yes.”
“Why do you smell like dust?” She sniffed again. Yes, most definitely dust.
“I—uh—”
Pulling back a little, she took in the sight of his crumbled dirty shirt and jacket. “What has happened? You are completely covered in filth. You weren’t like this when you first came to the castle, were you?”
Darién
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