Breakfast was stifling. Oro had an all-knowing smirk on his face as Amina avoided looking at either of the men seated at the table. Amina could feel her face was aflame as she couldn't take her mind off of Nero, what happened last night, and waking up to him this morning. She felt her heart and head might burst as she heard Oro chuckle under his breath.
"So do I get to be privy as to what is making our maiden's cheeks become cherries?" Oro inquired, his tone and question halting the scraping of Nero's fork on his plate.
"Oro. I'm warning you. Leave her alone," Nero chided, stabbing his fork into the sausage on his plate so forcefully Oro flinched.
"Just teasing, Mia."
"Oro."
"A bit testy aren't we? Well, let us finish up quickly and get going. We must give our report and prepare."
"P-prepare for what?" Amina inquired, setting her fork down as she didn't think she could eat any more.
"Prepare for-" Oro began but was swiftly cut off by Nero asking "Is that all you're eating?" Amina's blush had finally settled down only to be lit again as she nodded her head, her eyes avoiding his face. She didn't think she could look at him without remembering what happened between them and the fact that she wanted more.
"Mia, you should eat more. You'll need to eat more to keep up with the strain of training. You're too thin as it is,"
"I'll be fine."
"Mia."
"Ro."
"Ro?" Oro interjected, his voice laced with humor. Amina blushed, realizing she had used the nickname she usually only used in private. Nero cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Amina, I'm hurt. Why does this monster get a nickname while I practically had to order you to call me by my name?" Amina sputtered, embarrassed, trying to come up with an answer.
"Oro, we should be leaving," Nero interrupted, saving Amina from having to answer the prince who so clearly wanted to tease her further. Oro heaved a sigh, realizing his question would go unanswered.
"Alright, let us leave then. Gather your things and we can all meat in fifteen minutes at the stable," Oro commanded, stalking away and leaving Amina and Nero sitting in silence. Amina couldn't stand the tension, allowing her nerves to get the best of her, she got up and nearly tripped over the table as she fled trying to avoid Nero but he was much quicker and caught her by the wrist. Nero pulled her to him, feeling her tremble beneath his touch, fearing he had done something to gain her fear.
"Mia, did I do something? Did I push too much last night?" Mia shook her head, the blush creeping up her neck.
"Look at me," he whispered, his finger ripping her chin upward. Her heart fluttered at his beauty. The sharp lines of his face, his ruby eyes, his long lashes, his plump lips, his raven hair. He was stunning, a masterpiece to behold. She felt herself being more drawn to him by the minute, a magnetizing pull she couldn't resist. It was as if she needed him to feel whole despite only knowing each other briefly, she felt as if they had always been together.
"Mia?"
"Ro, can you bend down, please?" He followed her every whim so he quickly lowered his face to hers, their eyes locking as he did so. Mia gathered her courage and pecked him on the cheek before scurrying into her room while he was dazed. However, Nero quickly recovered and swiftly slipped himself into her room behind her and locking the door.
"Nero, we should really gather our things and meet Oro, it's already been a few minutes since we—" Nero stopped Amina mid-sentence crushing his lips against hers. Nero nipped at her bottom lip with his teeth, plunging his tongue into her small mouth when she gasped. Her hands found his chest and she could feel his heart pounding harder than her own. After a few minutes of heated kissing, Nero stepped back and admired his work; Amina was disheveled, panting, her skin flushed beneath his touch.
"Don't temp me, Mia. I bite," he whispered in her ear, chuckling as he kissed her cheek as she had done to him moments before. Amina whirled around and began to put her leather armor on to head downstairs. Nero smiled as he watched her, still flushed, flustered, and fumbling. He walked over and gently began lacing up her armor on the sides. He finished and kissed her forehead, telling her to wait for him to gather his things as he disappeared into the room next door.
Amina heaved a breath to try and calm herself before Nero came back. She heard a knock at the door and opened it, thinking it was Nero, but it was one of the Innkeepers, the young man who had brought her clothes.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but are you Amina?"
"Yes, how can I help you, sir?"
"W-well, this note was left for you at the front desk," he stammered. The man dropped the note when he brushed Amina's hand giving it to her. He apologized before handing it to her again. Amina smiled and thanked him for bringing it to her before tucking it into the pocket of her riding pants.
"You're beautiful—I mean—your name. Your name is beautiful. I mean, you are also beautiful. Will you be visiting again?" The man fumbled with his words, trying desperately to converse with her further as she was the most stunning woman he had ever seen.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the man. Nero heard the man as he finished gathering his weapons and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to test his new sword.
"She will certainly not be visiting again," he growled, grasping Amina's hand and pulling her to his side.
"Do you have everything?" Nero asked her, blatantly ignoring the now terrified man. Amina nodded before being pulled away by Nero.
"Thank you for everything, sir!" Amina shouted over her shoulder up the stairs before the door slammed behind them as Nero led her to the stables.
"What did you have to thank that bastard for?
"He was nice," she explained, wondering why Nero seemed so irritable.
"Who was nice?" Oro interjected.
"No one," Nero replied gruffly, grabbing the horses' reins from the stableboy and shoving Oro's horse's reins into his hands before picking Amina up by the waist and seating her on his steed and saddling up behind her.
"Someone's in a bad mood," Oro teased as he swiftly leaped onto his horse.
"Let's go," Nero demanded, quickly spurring his horse into a sprint, leaving Oro in the dust and sending Amina flying back into his chest.
"What about the demons!" Amina yelled as Nero veered his horse back toward the forest.
"No need to worry, we're much faster on horseback and even if they do catch up I'll protect you. Always." Amina felt her fear melt away as the word "always" left his lips. She laid her hand atop his and held on as they broke through the opening of the forest with Oro close behind.
Strangely, although Amina sensed the demons, they did not appear even as they approached the edge of the treeline. She could feel their eyes boring into her.
Suddenly, it felt as if all the air was sucked out of her body. She couldn't breathe as he body began to tremble uncontrollably. She felt a crushing weight smothering her. Her eyes were blinded as she screamed out from the pain of the immense pressure. It felt as if her soul was shattering to pieces and being ripped out of her. She felt herself waver before everything went numb and black.
"Mia? Mia! What's wrong? Answer me! Please! MIA!" Nero yelled, holding her limp body against him as he raced out of the forest.
"Nero! Behind you!" screamed Oro, pushing his horse to the brink of death with how hard he was riding to reach them. Nero looked back to see a blackness trying to swallow them whole, as if death itself had come to devour them.
Finally Nero burst through the edge of the forest into sunlight, turning to see the darkness set ablaze from the sunlight before disappearing as quickly as it had come. Oro came soon after, pelting Nero with questions as he climbed up the path to the palace. Nero couldn't hear, feel, or see anything but Amina. Terror gripped him. He had never felt fear, he had never really felt anything until she found her way into his life. His hands shook as one gripped the reins and the other delicately held her cold, pale body.
It seemed like years passed before they reached the castle. Nero leaped off the horse with Amina, sprinting as fast as he could to the royal doctor's chambers, leaving Oro and the scrambling servants behind. Nero reached the doctor's quarters and kicked down the door, screaming for help.
"Yes, yes! What is with all the dramatics! And my door, my god! Was that necessary?"
"Shut up and help her!" he barked, gingerly laying Amina down on the nearest bed, his trembling hands evident to the doctor. By the Gods she had never seen this man but once, when he was half dead and refusing treatment as a boy when he defeated the demon king. His eyes were dead, his cold demeanor frightening everyone he so much as brushed past. She knew it had to be dire if this demon of a man was frantic. The doctor rushed over, slapping his hands away and examining Amina quickly.
"What happened, tell me exactly in detail and leave nothing out, boy."
"We were riding on my steed together in the Forbidden Forest when she— she—"
"Spit it out, son!"
"She started shaking, screaming, sobbing like she was being tortured then she went silent. Cold. Limp."
"You took this little thing to that god-forsaken place? Hells bells." The old woman cursed beneath her breath before she began working on her. Amina suddenly took a deep, ragged breath before she began to breath normally, her body settling quietly into the bed, still unconscious and unresponsive.
"Will she be alright? Do you know why this happened? How? What's wrong with her?"
"We'll see if she wakes up."
"If? IF? What do you mean you fucking—"
"Nero. My friend. Calm down. I am sure Madam Nimue is doing everything she can. Correct, Madam?" Oro interrupted, striding to lay a hand on Nero's shoulder that was quickly slapped off.
"Of course, Your Majesty," she answered with a bow. Oro left Nero to whisper a firm command to Madam Nimue, "You are permitted to use forbidden magic if needed. Bring her back at all costs." Madam Nimue answered with a bow.
"Nero, come. Leave Madam Nimue to do her work."
"I'm not leaving."
"That's an order, Nero."
"Fuck you."
Oro sighed, holding his hand up to signal Madam Nimue to hold her tongue even in his defense. Oro leaned down to his friend and whispered, "I gave her permission to use forbidden magic to help Amina. You cannot be witness to it. You may guard the door and come in when she is done. Please, my friend, do not make me call the Holy Knights." Nero ground his teeth at the mention of the Holy Knights. He'd have to bring them all to get him to move and might struggle even then. But he did not want to fight near Amina so he got up, storming out to slam the door behind him to guard it. The door splintered, coming free from its hinges, before resting awkwardly against the wall.
Oro heaved a larger sigh before nodding to the doctor and leaving through a secret passage to consult the King on what had conspired.
"Oro, my son. You must investigate further. Take the Commander of the Holy Knights with you and Nero to the Forest once Amina awakens. This could mean another war if we find what we are both fearing."
"Yes, Father. I will take this command. I will not let you down."