I sat next to him on his bed, looking down at him worriedly. Why had I been so stubborn? We had barely made it out of there alive, but we had done it- we had vanquished Cal's coven and restored peace to a town that had long needed it.
"Don't you dare leave me," I whispered lying down beside him. "I would never forgive you, Alistor ap Renn. Never."
I lay there for a long time my head resting against his chest listening to the gentle rhythm of his heart and his slow, steady breathing. I was so worried about him- he hadn't stirred in two days. The doctor had said he was fine, he had just lost a lot of blood from his stab wound on his side, but I was still worried. Why wasn't my healing charm working?
Silent tears fell down my cheeks. If he died I would never forgive myself for it. Why wasn't it me? Why hadn't it been me?
Just as I was about to fall asleep, as I had by his side for the last two days, I felt him move. I sat up just as his eyes fluttered open.
"Alistor!" I squealed, wrapping my arms around his waist. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"
He didn't embrace me back and I moved back, surprised by this. "Alistor?"
"Just… I need some time alone."
I looked at him, hurt, wiping my tears away and left. What had that been about? He had never been so cold to me in our time together. As I turned to lock my door, I looked back one more time before shutting it tight and collapsing against it. I never thought this was how he would be after he woke up… I just thought he'd be glad to be alive and be with me. I had been worried sick that I had lost him forever and here he was still mad.
I sighed, sliding further onto the floor. Of course he had a reason to be furious with me. I had ignored his instincts… I had broken one of the biggest rules in Guardian code, but my blood lust for Cal had been so high. I had risked both Alistor and my life, but the need to serve my kingdom and to finish my assignment made me reckless.
"I can��t lose you," I whispered.
Were we done? The thought brought tears to my eyes. I had fallen hard for him, harder than I had meant to. He affected me more than I wished he did, but I never thought I could love someone as I did him. He completed me.
I pulled myself up and unlocked the door, hoping that, perhaps, in a few hours he would be ready to talk to me and we would make up, but I wasn't so sure we would. I had never seen him act so coldly. I fell into bed with my boots still on and let exhaustion take me.
****
I woke up to feel his gaze on me, but I didn't feel a dip on my bed from him. Where was he? I opened my eyes sitting up to see him sitting in the wooden chair at the desk. He looked different … slightly broken.
"Alistor…" I started.
He was up in a flash and sitting on the edge of my bed and leaned down, kissing me before I could say more. His lips were soft and he was gentle. When he pulled away, I felt my heart hammering. I flushed. Could he feel it too?
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Me too."
He pulled me into his lap and I rested my head against his shoulder feeling him rest his chin on top of my head, wrapping his arms gently around my waist.
"You were right," he said gently. "Our duty is first to the king then ourselves… I'm sorry."
I looked up at him, stroking his cheek. "Alistor… I was being too hotheaded and just wanted to finish this assignment. I could have lost you…"
The thought choked me up.
He hugged me tighter. "You've always been a slight hothead."
"How is it I got the nickname mouse and you got called the dragon then? I'm not quiet at all. Why couldn't I have been a lioness or …. I don't know! Something more brave than a cowering field mouse."
He smirked. "Your small is all- short. That's why everyone called you mouse."
I sighed. "I deserved better."
He laughed, kissing the top of my head. "Besides, someone else had the title of lion and since the whole castle guessed we were together, he was afraid I'd hurt him if you got the title of lioness and people thought you were dating."
I had forgotten Christopher had gotten "The Lion" for his guardian title. It fit him well.
"But mouse? Couldn't I be something more brave… scary sounding? How scary does Eveline the mouse sound?"
He chuckled lightly. "It sounds sweet honestly."
"Great… I sound sweet. That's intimidating. 'Oh no, it's Alistor the Dragon and … Eveline the Mouse'."
He was trying so hard now not to bust out laughing so I jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow, forgetting, until I heard his breath catch that he had a knife wound.
"I'm sorry," I squealed. "I'm so sorry."
He chuckled. "It's fine, my mouse."
I growled, but smirked. I was so glad we were back to how we were.