~Zephirin~
All I gave was gone, tumbled like a stone. How quickly Laith forgot my presence. I was gone for a few hours of the day and he was back in my brother's arms.
The image of the two of them kissing stuck in my mind. Replaying over and over again like a broken record. With each replay, a new piece of my heart is torn off.
My cold feet carried me down the corridors of the king's palace. I followed Ywain's runes to find my way to him. Heartbroken by the glimmer of hope, I let bloom in my heart.
It was my mistake to assume that I was worthy of having light in my dark world. I have gotten comfortable in the darkness and I like it just fine. Watching Laith melt into Caelan's arms made me realize that I was content with all I had.
I had powers beyond everyone's imagination. A plan to take over the world and teach everyone in the four lands what true fear is. And most importantly, I am lucky enough to have a right-hand aid like Ywain on my side.
A selfish man who proved able to express selflessness for me. There is no one better I would wish to stand by me than him. Twain accepts me as I am, he doesn't try to change me or disagree with my thoughts and feelings on matters. He accepts me as I am and goes with my flow.
I yearned to hear his voice. To have him make a light-hearted joke before he tears people apart. I blinked away the tears clouding my eyes.
"That was fast. What's wrong?" Ywain's voice broke my daze. I wiped my tears and shot my gaze at him. Ready to deny his accusation of me crying. To my surprise, he had his back turned to me. I sighed in relief that he didn't see me crying. "Since when does the greatest evil to walk the earth cry? " he asked.
"I did... I didn't cry. "
"Yes, and I don't know you, " he sarcastically responded without sparing me a glance.
"What are you doing? " I asked leaning close to see what caught his attention.
"Don't change the topic. What happened? Why are you back so quickly? " he insisted.
"I didn't feel like leaving you all... "
"I can take care of myself. This is your chance for a clean slate. Why aren't you taking it? " he asked glancing at me. His eyes filled with concern and worries. I swallowed hard. I couldn't tell him what I saw. Knowing Ywain, he would rip Laith and Caelan to pieces without hesitation. "I'll find out eventually so spare us both the trouble and tell me. "
My eyes scanned the area, I noted a small box with engraving in the ancient texts on it. It was new, I had never seen it before and was curious about what Ywain planning to use it for.
"What's this, " I asked about the box to change the topic.
"Don't touch it, " he hastily said.
"I didn't ask if I should touch it, I asked what is it, " I explained.
"Something that has nothing to do with why you are back here. Don't you trust me enough to tell me? " he asked. My heart shook. He was the only one in the world who had my trust. The thought sounded cheesy in my head so I didn't dare voice it out to him. "Fine, keep your secrets. "
Ywain turned away. He dropped the subject and went back to staring sternly at the courtyard. I joined him and leaned my back on the wall. It felt wrong to keep the truth from Ywain, however, I wasn't ready to speak of what I saw.
He took the box in his palm and played with it. Without breaking his focus on the courtyard. Though I looked, I didn't anything worth grabbing his attention.
Something heinous was taking form in his head. He had that look he wears when a brilliant devilish plan was coming to be in his head and the pieces were falling in line in real life.
I took in the excitement in his eyes. A feeling that meant someone was about to rue the day they were born. An enchanting feeling that drew at the darkest parts of my soul.
My eyes trailed his features. A thought clicked in my mind. I found the perfect distraction to help me forget Laith. To cast aside the thoughts of a new ending when I can very much have the ending I designed myself.
"Can I kiss you?"
Ywain startled by my request froze. He went motionless for a moment.
Thud!
The box fell to the ground. The palace shook. The small thing felt like it was holding thunder inside it. It was able to shake the palace with a touch on its ground. I was impressed. Leave it to Ywain to carry toys of mass destruction.
I walked up behind him. The image of Caelan wrapping his arms around Laith's waist flashed in my eyes. I wanted to forget. I wrapped my hands around Ywain's waist and leaned my head on his shoulder.
"Can I? "
Ywain blinked his daze away and turned his head to stare at me with the side of his eye. He remained silent for a moment before he spoke. "Why would you want to kiss me?"
"Because you are my friend, " I leaned in and kissed the nape of his neck. Ywain shivered. His eyes softened as he unwound. Though he seemed to ease my touch, he was still a bit tense. My soft lips brush on the side of his neck. The soft brushes turn into little kisses. "You are the perfect distraction for me, I want no one else, " I honestly let out. Trailing the kisses up his neck to his ear. He winced.
I brushed the hair around his ear out of the way and blew hot breath to his skin. Ywain coiled into my arms, bringing his hand to cover his ear. I noted his cheeks changing color and taking a darker shade of red.
"Are your ears sensitive?" I teased.
"Hmh, " he cleared his throat. "No... No, it isn't, " he nervously bit his lower lip. I raised an eyebrow at his cute reaction. The person I was staring at was the complete opposite of the man I'd grown to know Ywain to be. "Let m...me go, " he struggled to keep his voice steady.
"Red is a good color for you, " I whispered. Feeling much better. Refueled and energized. His reaction was priceless, and it replaced the image of Caelan and Laith kissing in my head.
Ywain's eyes went wide with shock when it dawned on him what I meant. He covered his cheeks and glared at me before pushing me away.
"Do you... Do you want to die! " he let out. I burst out into laughter, he sounded more like a wounded puppy than a threatening evil psychopath. His attempt to threaten me in his current state was nothing short of funny.
"How come I never realized how cute you are?" I asked.