Amara's pov We finally came to a stop after traveling within the thickets for quite some time and I was proud that we could follow successfully without raising suspicion or getting caught.Cora slid between the trees looking for a good hiding spot. She found one, lowering herself to the ground as she peered through the bush she currently hid behind, she watched him move forward to a clearing with a story building situated in it and I wondered who in their right mind would live in the middle of a forest. Someone like Orian of course, this person would love seclusion just like he did, perfect for each other. Perfect for him to cheat with, a small voice reminded me.There was a low brick fence surrounding the house and Orian walked through its entrance aiming for the door.Cora examined the house as I instructed her and from that, I could tell that it was painted all white with hardly any sign of life around except the flower bushes surrounding it, they most defin
Orian's pov My wife's name and the word surprises should be synonymous. From following me around and trusting me when we first met to popping out of old cupboards and ruining my foster mother's stuff with the debris of the broken things around her, a bloody nose, and snacks in her lap.It would have been a comical sight if Penelope, my foster mother wasn't there and if I wasn't currently fussing around Amara trying to heal her wounds as panic coursed through me on seeing her injuries. I prayed for the wounds to heal knowing my powers were diminishing and I was getting weaker by the day because of reasons known to me alone that I haven't shared with anyone.Luckily, it worked and I rose to my feet after healing the last bruise on her knee."Hi." She giggled looking up at me with those huge green eyes and waving at like she didn't just pop out of a cupboard disastrously, "Hope I didn't intrude on anything important, grump?" She whispered, her eyes wandering, look
Orian's pov I remember the first time I met Penelope-Iris Balforth. I could swear, at that time, that she was the most beautiful woman I had seen.She had on a green dress that matched the shade of her eyes and her hair had been thrown up with loose curls falling over her face swinging as she raced towards Akanther with excitement I had never witnessed while he brought me into the castle.The excitement I had witnessed that they shared whenever they were around each other was one I craved in my fantasies of having a partner as i grew and it was the same excitement that Amara's parents, Lycus and Nyx shared which I had noticed while I watched them from Afar.Theirs was over the top, disgustingly obvious from the way they acted when around each other to even when people were around them. It was like puppy love but far greater and stronger. It was like they couldn't contain their eagerness to let the world know that they were in love, they loved each other in whateve
Orian’s pov "What are you doing?" My inquisitiveness was piqued as she uncorked the bottle, grinning at the pop sound and the vapor that came out."Celebrating." She filled the glasses and slid mine to me, "Drink up.""Celebrating what?" I eyed the drink, a sudden distaste for it settling in me knowing Amara hated the smell of vodka and strong alcohols. I surely can't drink this to discomfort her with my breath later."Your genius plan." She gulped down the liquid in her glass and poured more, "You have decided to take the girl for yourself, trap her and make her think you have some connection which will further destroy her when she learns of your Ill intents."My insides twisted in disgust as I remember Hector also thinking this was what I was up to, "No." I mumbled and she raised her brow at me having heard the word, "No." I intensified my voice making sure she heard clearer this time."You plan on getting her with a bast-""Our children will not be bastards, ma'am." "Hmm." She hu
Orian’s pov And I cast aside the doubt trying not to focus on the pain of her tearing at my skin and focus on all the good times we had together.She's just having an episode Orian, I told myself as the blood seeped from the my wounds and leaked through my shirt while she beamed victoriously at the damage being done."Enough." I flinched absorbing the pain and pushed her off in the most respectful of ways not wanting to aggravate her anger.I got to my feet immediately, watching carefully as she got to hers and faced me again."I raised you! I took you as a son! You were a scrawny poor sick thing with no future when he brought you to our home and we both cared for you, is this how you repay us?!" She began to yell at the top of her voice and I hoped prayed for Amara not to hear us."You are getting it all wrong." My heart grew heavy knowing there was all truth in her words but I just couldn't bring myself to pick my family over possible the future I could have with Amara, "I just wan
Amara's pov I had concluded that Orian was a terrible liar now that I knew him. It wasn't like then when we were strangers where he could mask his feelings and lie through his teeth which let me to believe his lies. Now that I have known him for quite some time and we now share a mate bond even if it hasn't been consummated, I could tell when he was lying. If his eyes didn't give him away, I could feel a fraction of his emotions from the mate bond telling me his state of mind.He lied when he got out of the house. He didn't tell me the truth about what happened behind closed doors with his foster mother and I think he was physically hurt from the tightening I felt in my chest earlier on. If we had consummated yet, I would be able to tell exactly if he was hurt or not.He had told me it all went well but his head was bent over and his hands quivered with him making attempts to hold them still told me all I needed to know. After he answered my question about how it
Amara’s povCora and Orian played around for a while before she got back behind the trees and shifted back to me. I hurriedly shrugged on my clothing as it was getting late, put on my shoes, and let my hair fall before going back out to meet him."Grump," I called walking towards him."Lunnyy svet." He called out opening his arms wide for me and I broke into a run closing the gap between us before jumping in his arms and welcoming his hug, "Dorogoy." My darling."Do you feel better now?" I asked nuzzling my face in his chest as he stroked my hair down my back, "I am so sorry about causing this rift between you and your family.""You don't need to be sorry Amara, not your fault. Penelope will come around and so will the rest of them." He promised but sounded like he was trying to convince himself as well, "They will.""You are perfect." I complimented, "And you are enough. I don't want you to feel like a failure or a traitor or an ungrateful person. You deserve happiness too.""Your wo
Amara’s povI stepped out of my bathroom excitedly fixing my hair hoping to see Orian on the bed waiting for me but there was no sign of him nor any sign that he had entered the room which was strange as he was to be here about ten minutes ago.I knew he hadn't changed his mind about sleeping here tonight because he spent most, if not all of his nights here, we had a long day and with what Imelda tried earlier tonight, his bedroom was not a place he would want to sleep in with or without company.I walked by puppy Orian dozing peacefully in her bed, patted her lightly before going into the closet to get on my night clothes and I settled for a comfortable slip, arranged some of my clothes and stuff back in place before coming back out to take care of my hair and after doing my hair, he still wasn't in the room.That's it, I am going to check on him to make sure he is okay, I got out of the room and made my way to the other side of the castle without thinking my plan through.Maybe he i
Orian's pov"Your majesty." A hand shook my shoulder with much force as the voice called out and I jerked raising my head to see Emery standing before me with a look of worry in her eyes, "Ah, I was worried when you weren't replying for a while...""Emery." I got up from the floor and brushed my hands on my pants, "Is Amara well? Is she alright?"She gave me a sad look and took in a deep sigh before taking the seat next to us. Her hands cradled her head as she looked like she was in deep thought, "You should never have brought her here, your majesty.""You think I do not know that ma?" I whispered sitting next to her expecting the worst with the emotions she relayed, "Please tell me my wife is well?"She turned her head looking at me with her eyes glossy with tears and I blinked keeping mine back bracing myself for what was to come, "It worked." As I heard those two words, relief that I had never known washed through me and I let out a great sigh Falling back agai
Orian's pov There was an unwavering eerie feeling that settled within me the moment I entered Avalon, this hunch was something I could say emanated from the air of gloom settling above the kingdom ridding it of its light just as it had rid me of the glee I felt when I was on my way here.Something was wrong.I just knew it.And I had begun to imagine that the message Nexus had passed across about me returning home soon had very little thing to do with Amara and my family missing me and everything to do with a tragedy that I couldn't quite figure out what it could be. I didn't give much thought to it, I clutched onto my bag, and my other hand held another package that bore gifts for Amara.I couldn't go on a journey without picking up everything that I saw would fit her and as I walked my way towards the castle, I focused on the glee of my journey being successful and not on the in-depth feeling of dread settling in my belly. The journey had
Amara's pov I remember everything.These words rang through my brain as I snapped my eyes open, willing myself to pull away from the terrifying nightmare that had me in its claws pining me away from reality.I lifted myself from the bed, sitting upright with my fingers holding at my throat as I tried to steady my breathing and I instantly noticed that I was alone.Orian wasn't beside me.I tried to call out his name but my voice felt hoarse and I was too weakened from the aftermath of the dream to muster the strength to call out for him knowing that he'd be around somewhere.I instinctively reached for the bottle of water by the bedside and grabbed at it, popping open the cover before turning it over and taking big terrifying gulps to soothe the thirst in my throat after that, I got to the strawberries, eating them greedily with my heart warming at how thoughtful Orian was to place them there for me and as I sat there eating, I remembered it all, my dream, my forgotten reality.
Orian's povI had the loveliest of dreams.One in which Amara loved me and I let her love me.I didn't want to force my eyes open as I was enwrapped in the blissful reverie of the dream, the state in which I was presently was one of unattained bliss as the images of what had happened tainted my memories.I moved against the bed, my hand reaching out instinctively to draw the person next to me closer, and as bare skin met soft bare skin igniting a fire of remembrance against us, I noticed that I was naked, we were naked with what felt like a single blanket covering us up.I opened my eyes to look down so as I confirm what I felt and it was true.We were bare, entangled together within the sheets and the most beautiful and most noticeable contrast that I had ever seen came to play before my eyes. Amara's skin, so translucent and ever appealing was illuminated by the glow of the moonlight reminding me of why I had picked her nickname for her, lunny svet.moy malen'kiy
Amara's pov Growing up, I had often wondered how my first kiss would be. My imagination ran wild at creating the perfect scenarios. Would it be when my partner and I were running in the rain and he would turn to sneak a quick one leaving me in pleasurable surprise or would it be at a park? Running in the fields gasping with exhaustion and he seals his lips to mine while laying me against the soft grass?All these scenarios filled my daydreams and even when I met Grump and confirmed we were soulmates, his face filled my dreams leaving me wondering what our first kiss would be like and when it would be.I have had many imaginations but nothing beats what was going on right now and nothing ever will. What transpired at the moment had fulfilled my fairy tale need for a perfect first kiss and it had me curling my toes with my eyes shut and my fingers gripping at the fabric of his coat when I wanted badly to slip them around his neck and pull him closer to deepen the kis
Orian's povDear Diary, I am 30 today.30 years of my miserable existence.What's the essence of birthdays if my mother always cursed the day I was born and the people around me perceived me as insufferable?I feel as gloomy as ever, it isn't any different from the rest as I am reminded of all the tragic incidents that happened after my 5th birthday which started with losing snow and I still blame myself no matter how much Amara tells me that it was never my fault.I wonder what will happen today? What tragic thing fate has in store for me. Would I finally die or I would lose the woman that I hold close to my heart?I didn't tell her that it was my birthday today.She would get excited not knowing how much I hated birthdays and then she would get disappointed when she found out that this was the unluckiest day in my life and I feared that she might be affected.I might understand why my mother cursed the day I was born frequently, even if Amara has told me a lot that none of it that
Amara's pov There was happiness before me because of the festival but only terror filled my heart as I rubbed my fingers against my chest trying to be rid of the terrible feeling lodged in me which was caused by the nightmares I had recently.Orian's PTSD had gotten worse these days, after finding him on the day he had sneaked off claiming he was alright. He had frequent nightmares and flashbacks that had him ending up in terrible states which resulted in him shying away from me most of the time.I felt like a failure in these moments, At first mating with him hadn't improved his scars or health which he badly wanted gone. The curse was still somewhat effective and my doing my best in trying to help him in matters related to trauma hadn't done much.I reached my hand up to my neck, my fingers clutching at the necklace I wore now which was a gift from Penelope, Akanther's widow and just then, she just then she looked in my direction smiling at me and waving for
Orian's pov A groan passed my lips as I bent over a seat to rest on it. My hand instinctively went to my face cradling my dressed wound which had begun to ache immediately after I sat.We had started the preparations for the festival and my gaze went to where Amara stood with the rest of the team as she discussed with them with her hands tucked in her pockets and her loose ponytail falling down her back. I didn't have the chance to fix it properly after our raunchy explorations in the library moments ago and just then she looked behind her, her green eyes meeting mine and cheeks reddening, no doubt she had remembered exactly the scenes I was replaying in my head with her back pressed against the shelves and legs hooked around my waist while I drove into her warm heat.I swallowed shaking my head and willing the thoughts away before I got a hard-on in public which would lead to me stealing her away again despite the ache in my wound and the many things we had to
Amara’s pov"How did you meet Akanther?""At a club." He replied threading his fingers in mine, "I used to go there to clean the shoes of the men, they paid pretty well and he was impressed by me the first time I cleaned his. He got me food and was perplexed when I ran home with it instead of eating it right there as he saw I looked famished. I had to share it with my sister and she told me about how we shouldn't trust him thinking he could be like our parents.""She cared about you Orian. I am glad you both had each other during those times.""I never saw Akanther again after that year but I met him a few times before he traveled back and the next time I saw him again was when I turned thirteen and Imelda was sick then. I talked to him and he mentioned taking me along with him back to his kingdom because he had taken a liking to me, it was an offer I gladly accepted on the condition that I bring Imelda along and he agreed. We were to leave that same night and I got home quickly to ge