Chapter 19
1029 Words
"That wasn't so bad now, was it?" I bat my eyes at Micha, who removes his shoes.
"Tell that to my drenched boots," he sasses back.
"You'll thank me one day. You never know when you might encounter a situation that involves swimming."
Micha scoffs, "Nah, I think you just wanted to drown me," he smiles playfully; I lightly nudge him.
"So, you were saying I needed to improve my outfit?"
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that," Micha lays his boots out to dry then looks at me, "Close your eyes."
I happily do so, waiting for Micha's surprise.
"Okay, Open," as I look, I see black on Micha's hands; he then puts them on either side of my face. I cringe, "EWE! What are you doing!?"
"Throwing your scent off, you smell good, and others will notice it. No one smells like that here."
I smile at him, "You think I smell nice?"
Micha pauses and stares at me; his hand caresses my cheek softly. I felt like time had stopped, and it was just us two. I could feel a connection to him, I never thought I'd be in the arms of Micha, but it feels as if it's where I belong.
Micha smiles as he presses his forehead against mine, "Your intoxicating," he says in a smooth, husky tone. I couldn't help but be pulled in by him, and before I knew it, there was no more distance between us.
Why didn't Airell make me feel like this? Thinking of marrying him made my heart-ache. I wanted to be imperfect, not to have to be so proper and princess-like. With Micha, I felt like myself; I never had to hide my faults.
"Micha, can I ask you something?"
"You already did," he sassed. I lightly push him, "I'm serious!" I chuckled.
"Fire away."
I tuck my hair behind my ear, "What do you like about me?"
Micha's head tilts, "I thought we already discussed that?"
"Yes, but it still eats at me..."
He pauses for a moment, then answers me, "I like that you don't pretend to be something your not. Your world may see it as ugly, but that's what I think is beautiful about you."
"I've known you for only a couple of months, yet I have more in common with you than anyone in Findala," I admitted.
Micha sighs and strokes my cheek, "You give me too much credit Emery."
"Why do you think that?"
"I want to think I'm as good as you, but I had a monster for a father, so, sadly, I can't say we share the same pure heart."
"Pure heart? Wait, Micha, do you think you're a monster?"
He slightly looks down, "I lived in a world that goes by the rules of kill or is killed. I had a harder time with it, but when your father gives you no choice but to fight for yourself when your young, it's kind of hard to avoid."
I swallowed hard, thinking of Micha as his younger self going through the torture of having to kill others when he never wanted to, "Oh Micha, your not a monster; he put you in a predicament you had no control over. It's not your fault."
Micha swallowed hard, "I helped kill my mother..."
"You couldn't have known; she knew that."
Odessa knew what she was doing, and she knew she might never come back, "Micha, maybe you can come back with me, maybe-"
"I doubt that's possible, Emery."
My heart plummets, like a sinking anchor, "Why?"
"You saw that picture; the King looked disgusted with me. He intentionally gave me away, and I don't think it was trying to give me a better life."
I bite my lip. Micha tilts his head curiously, "Why are you so intent on bringing me back with you, Fae girl?" He asks with a hint of a smile. My stomach flutters, and heat flushes my cheeks.
"I-just, I thought you would like it better..."
"Oh? Is that all?"
I tuck my hair behind my ear again, dang it, I needed to stop doing that, "Emery," Micha's soft voice made my knees weak, "You have a huge tell, you know that?"
"Huh?"
"When you are flustered, you go like this," Micha mimicked my hair tucking.
Oh no...
I smile, "Okay, yes, but I can't help it. You make me feel giddy and happy," I place my hand on my chest, "You make my heart feel warm, like the kindling of a fire. It's comforting."
As I lost myself in the feelings Micha was making me feel, I forgot that he was right in front of me for a second. I glance up at him, and his eyes are glazed. He tilts my chin up, "You are something else, you know that?"
My butterflies go nuts as the heat of his breath ingles my lips. Should I even dare? Would it ruin what we have now? I loved what we had now, but something in me wanted more. As if reading my mind, Micha wraps his arms around my waist and tangles his hands in my hair; my heart beats wildly, knowing his lips are just inches away from mine; I take a shallow breath in waiting for the embraces. Of his lips...
BANG!
I cringe as thundering sound makes the ground shake; I grab hold of Micha and bury my head in his chest, "What is that!?"
"My father, he's summoned a celebration," Micha chuckles.
I look up at him, "A celebration? For what?"
"Whenever there's a battle with a neighboring village, and he wins, he celebrates to honor himself."
"That's pretty selfish..." I said before thinking. I glanced up at Micha; he chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm not going to get mad at you for telling the truth."
"My father is selfish, but we better get going; he will expect me there, and you are my plus one, Fae Girl."
A celebration in this kind of realm? I hope it's nothing like what I saw in the village, but if I was with Micha, honestly, Id goes anywhere.
I playfully curtsy, "As you wish, my lord."
- Writer
