Myriah eyed the training ring with disdain.
"Do I have to?" She whined. Mika tilted her head while Tyler, who was warming up already attempted to shrug but Axel didn't let him break form.
Angalo was out again and Atoli slowly made her way to the ring with Jasmine at her side.
"It's always recommended to train. But the choice is yours." She murmured in soothing tones. Myriah pulled a book out, from where? It was anyone's guess.
"Excellent. I'll supervise."
Axel watched Myriah pretend to read as she analyzed their training. He could hear her critiques and tips… he could also hear her heart racing, as every now and again, she could not keep the pretense up and had to look away.
He could imagine what went through her mind… after all… at one point in time he walked in her dreams and got a glimpse of her memories.
It was the longing in her eyes that got to him… it made him wish that he could tear Alexander Whitman from limb to limb, revive him and do it all over again.
***
"Myriah…" Axel murmured as everyone went inside.
"I-I have to make dinner…"
"I've got it." Atoli sang from inside the house. Myriah muttered under her breath and slowly met axels piercing gaze.
"Will you let me help you?"
Myriah felt tears sting her eyes, as she lowered the book and allowed Axel to sit across from her.
"I can tell you're a fighter." He murmured, "I'm tempted to ask for your observations, but I'm more worried about your anxiety."
Myriah took a deep shaky breath. "My mom taught me." She whispered.
"Since I returned home when I was nine…" Axel watched the tears slide down her cheeks. "She rigorously trained me so that I could protect myself…"
Her breath hitched and Axel pulled her into his arms. Myriah broke down and let herself cry for the first time in over a year as Axel cradled her close to himself.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and cried for all she was worth.
"I-I… I tried to fight them…" Myriah hiccuped between sobs. Axel closed his eyes as he listened. "E-every chance I had…" she sighed, "My blows were nothing to them…"
Axel nodded to himself, "my form… it-"
Axel hummed his acknowledgment and proceeded to stroke her hair until she calmed down enough for her breathing to regulate.
"Myriah? Do you hear me?" She nodded with a sigh, "They are cowards." Axel declared.
"Alexander was well aware of the fact that his wife trained you." Myriah stilled, until Axel gently shook her. "You're okay." He assured, "You're no longer there." She nodded, "he… he had them drug me, right?" Myriah whispered, "Yes. It was a heavy duty sedative that they used to keep you docile."
"Bu-but I-"
"Your body has a way of naturally defying mortal made drugs. When I read up on your file, I wasn't surprised that they had to keep you sedated." Myriah felt her body start to shake as she remembered trying to fight. Trying to keep the soldiers at bay… that night…
Axel gently stroked her back, started from between her shoulder blades, his hand traced her spine down to her hips and went back up.
His heart skipping a beat brought her back to reality.
Myriah closed her eyes and basked in the warmth that Axel provided.
"I can help you." He murmured, "At your own pace… I can help you learn to fight again." Myriah nodded. "Thank you, Axel." She whispered as fresh tears slipped from beneath her lashes. Using her sleeve to wipe her nose and attempt to make herself presentable, she dared to move so that she could see Axels eyes. His stern expression softened and he wiped her tears away.
"I don't have the words to thank you, Axel." Myriah whispered as she held onto his gaze. Axel offered a warm smile, "I just want you to get better, Myriah." He whispered back. Myriah felt her body shiver as his hands rested on her hips. This man's presence…
Before she knew what she was doing, she was rising to her tip toes, resting her hands on his shoulders to hold her balance, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
Axel closed his eyes and returned her kiss. He couldn't say who pressed into who or if they pressed into one another, but he slightly lifted her so her legs could wrap around his waist and he sat on the chair he had since abandoned and basked in her warmth as she straddled him. One hand tangled in her hair and the other around her waist, Axel slanted his mouth over hers to better enjoy the kiss that they shared. With a quiet moan, Myriahs hands traced his shoulders and the planes of his chest as she tried to press her body closer to his.
With a sigh, Axel tore his mouth from Myriahs and held her gaze. Her eyes were a molten silver, as his were surely black. "You are beauty incarnate." Axel whispered as he cupped her cheek in his left hand. "Every peril, every danger… I will gladly face to keep you from harm, Myriah." Axel murmured as he traced from her jawline to her collar bone and back. "You are mine." He murmured as he cupped the back of her head and kissed her again.
Myriah sighed and returned his kiss.
'Yes.' She internally sighed while her body shivered against his, 'I am yours.'
***
Axel shot up with a gasp. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.
'By the gods, this woman is going to be the death of me…' he looked to his right and found his bed empty. Part of him sagged with disappointment, an even bigger part of him was relieved.
The last thing Myriah needed was his perversions.
*
Myriah shivered and curled into herself. 'It felt so real…' she thought as she pulled her blanket over her head.
'Is it so bad dreaming about Axel in such a way?' She pondered as she allowed herself to recall the dream.
'It's nowhere near as bad as others have been…' Myriah curled further into her blanket with a squeal, 'he is very handsome… and warm…' Myriah squeezed her eyes shut. 'oh… what would he think of me being such a pervert?'
***
Myriah wondered to the kitchen for a much needed glass of water. 'I'm glad he was understanding about my fear of training… To think: Atoli said he was so mean..' Myriah yelped as she collided nose first into a hard chest. Not fully registering what had happened, Myriah reached out to touch the wall in front of her. Her fingertips were a hair away from the wall when it spoke.
"You know… part of me wonders if you make it a habit to fondle men or if it's just me." Myriahs eyes snapped open as she found herself caught in Axels piercing glare.
"We have got to stop bumping into one another this way Ms. Whitman." Myriah felt her voice and her soul leave her as axels frown turned to a grin.
"Though… I can say, if I'm the only one you tend to fondle… I'll gladly make an exception for you, Myriah." Myriahs mouth opened and closed, as she silently prayed for someone. Anyone to put her out of her misery.
"A-a-Axel…" Myriah greeted, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
Axel tilted his head, still grinning. "That's my name." He replied. Part of him knew: if this was anyone else, he probably would have ignored them, and continued on his way after delivering a scathing glare.
"I-I… " Axel had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Myriah stood before him, beat red, eyes wide and completely flustered.
"Yes?" He prompted, "water!" Myriah cried as she stepped around him, for him to follow her movements with his eyes.
He watched her reach into a cubbard to get a glass, only to struggle. With a sigh, Axel approached her and effortlessly got the cup for her. Myriah froze when she felt his chest press against her back.
"Axel…" she gasped when his right hand slipped around her waist.
"I meant it, Myriah. You are mine." He murmured as he reluctantly let her go and put some space between them.
Myriah slowly lifted her gaze to meet his. "And I will help you to face your fears."
Axel held the cup between them and reached to wipe a tear that slid down her cheek.
'So he has the dreams too…' Myriah thought as she slowly stepped toward him, forgetting about the cup in his hand.
'He feels this too…' she thought as she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her body into his.
"I'm glad…" Myriah whispered against his chest, making him shiver. Myriah rose to her tiptoes and chastly kissed his cheek earning a startled gasp.
"Goodnight, Axel." She sighed as she made her way back to her room, leaving a beat red Axel behind, still holding the cup in his hand .