"What?!" Islinda blinked up at him in surprise, her mouth hung open. She wanted to speak but her words failed her as she was still filled with surprise.
Had it been a human spouting such nonsense, Islinda would have thought that he was pulling her leg or running crazy, but this was Valerie, a Fae and he looked so serious with the concern on his face and that was when it hit her that he really was ignorant.
"Oh." Everything finally made sense to Islinda.
In the same way, she had thought that all Faeries were wicked and cruel until she met Valerie and he proved her wrong, it seems the Fae had limited knowledge and conceited views about the humans too. Of course, why wouldn't it be so when the humans stayed in the human realm and the Fae in theirs as well?
But then there were rumors of humans stolen by the Faeries or the foolish mortals who struck a deal with them and are unable to pay the cost in the end. It was more possible for a Fae to trick a human into crossing the wall than kidnapping them, unlike the humans who do the opposite and use blunt force.
Doing so would be going against the rules of the treaty and most Faeries captured by the humans are usually those who stepped into the human realms. Both sides would have to break the law first before either of them could use it against one another. She could capture Valerie right now and would not be faulted by the law.
At once, her features softened with a ghost of a smile at the thought that he was worried about her. So she explained to him as gently as she could, "I am not going to die, Valerie."
His brows twitched in response before they narrowed in suspicion as he studied her. Valerie believed that she was lying to him, so she reached out and clasped his face with her palm to his surprise, hoping to convince him.
She said to him, "Yes, humans are fragile and die when they are sick, but we don't succumb to all illnesses. In the same way, you didn't die from the wound you suffered and fought bravely, I did the same as well and wouldn't have to die anymore. At least not now."
She saw the moment the tension left his body and it might have to do with the fact she caressed his face. And like a contented cat, Valerie let out a small sigh and leaned back against the wall, with his eyes shut instinctively. Islinda would have stopped if it wasn't the fact that he leaned into her touch and she was thankful that his eyes were closed because she was blushing hard.
She wondered if Valerie knew that her action was considered intimate and such an act should be enjoyed between couples in a relationship. She was close to hiding her face in embarrassment already and her stupid heart wouldn't stop pounding in her heart.
Were Fae creatures touchy-feely with each other? Do they have no sense of propriety? Do they have loose standards when it comes to intimacy? We're they immoral? Or does he simply enjoy her treatment? Islinda had a lot of questions in her head.
However, it was at that moment that she discovered that this was the same spot that she had left him days again. Had he been sitting like this all this while? She was sure that he has had nothing to eat ever since then. Not to mention, has he… err felt the urge to have a leak? Or was his own thing, a-hem! built differently?
By the gods! Islinda was so red in the face at her ridiculous thought that she wanted to fan her heated cheek with her palm, but that was the moment Valerie opened his eyes, and something lodged in her throat. Ba-dum, Ba-dum, her heart pounded in her chest and her jaw slacked.
They stared at each other for about a second before Islinda parted from him, clearing her throat awkwardly. She must be losing her mind if she thought of Valerie as handsome again. Fae and humans weren't meant to be together, it just doesn't happen.
Moreover, Valerie didn't seem like an ordinary Fae, perhaps a Lord over his estate or something. She could sense the power exuding from him and it was a bit overwhelming when it called to her, teasing her all over. That alone was not a good sign.
Islinda needed to do something to keep herself distracted which was why she reached inside her shirt and began to pull out the leavy wraps where she had hidden the medicines. She said to him,
"I'm so sorry that I didn't bring you something to eat. I was so invested in keeping you alive that I forgot that you needed food to live too." She added, "But don't worry, there's still a lot of time and I would hurry to the market to get you food."
"Don't bother about that."
"Huh?" She lifted her head, tilting it to the side unsure, "You don't need food? Figures, you're not human anyway."
"Of course, I need food. But unlike humans, I can go far, far longer without it. Moreover, I doubt your human food would be substantial enough for me." He said so hauntingly, feigning the superior race that it brought a smile to her lips
"Don't be so sure, Valerie," Islinda smiled at him, "If you don't leave for your realm immediately, perhaps you can take time to visit our marketplaces and test that opinion of yours."
"You mean like a date?"
"What is a date?" Islinda asked, having no idea what he meant. It was said that the Faeries were far more advanced than the humans and that seems to be the case in vocabulary as well.
This time, a lot of emotions played out on Valerie's face and she had a feeling that he just said something inappropriate
"I urm… it's urm… a kind of pre-arrangement to meet… how would I say this?" He was already going red in the face.
Islinda must have caught onto the point because the color on her face was becoming closely similar to his.
"You mean like courtship?" Islinda said, her heart missing a beat.
He shook his head, "Not exactly like courtship, assuming that two people who love each other will eventually get married. We aren't getting married, just two friends exploring their cultural differences."
"Oh." Islinda nodded her head yet what was that cloud of disappointment hovering over her head? Something must be seriously wrong with her.
"What is that?" Valerie tactically changed the topic having sensed the awkward tension in the room.
She looked at her hands, "Oh, this is your medicine…"
"I mean, why are you taking it out of your clothes as if you have stolen them," He had been paying attention all this while.
"Oh, this," Islinda was amused, "I didn't steal them, they are all mine, but I had to make sure no one caught me in the act. You see, not every human is as kind as me and if my stepmother finds out what I'm up to, you're as good as dead."
"Oh." Valerie nodded his head, curiosity in his eyes, "You have a stepmother?"
"Yes. Do you?"
"Kind of." He answered curtly, almost dismissively.
It was weird how she could read Valerie so well considering he wasn't even human, hence she didn't push at the conversation anymore.
"Now, you should take off…" Islinda rephrased her words, "I mean, lift your clothe…."
But the words died from her lips when he grabbed the bottom of his tunic and hoisted it over his head. Islinda was not the one for hysterics but this was too much for her virgin eyes.
She should have looked away but there was no hiding her interest in his beautiful body. Islinda almost suffered a nosebleed, how could someone look this beautiful, so perfect, so surreal? He had beautiful bronze skin. Lithe, but muscular. A solid six packs flowed down his abdomen, disappearing under the trouser he wore. Whoever assigned her to this fate wanted her dead! Her heart wouldn't stop beating.
Islinda would have been drooling at the sight if it wasn't for the gashes on his side that drew her attention. Oh right, she had a life to save. Islinda was relieved to see that the wounds did not look as bad as they had the first time. The blackish blood was gone and now she could see clearly, the gashes were deep but missed all the major arteries and organs. Thus, if his anatomy were arranged the same as humans.
However, it was amazing to see that his wounds were beginning to heal and that was another great reminder that the both of them were worlds apart. Islinda drew strength in that reminder and focused on treating him.
"I'm done…" The words trailed off when she found him fast asleep. Her brows at once furrowed, was he simply tired, or had he not been sleeping?
Nonetheless, Islinda carefully got rid of her working tools and sat beside him. She then carefully lifted his head and placed it on her shoulder, he would be more comfortable that way.
However, even while asleep, Valerie must trust her because he leaned closer and pulled her to his side till their bodies were pressed flush and his hand rested on her thigh.
Islinda swallowed, this was quite a precarious position but the Fae was innocent and needed his sleep. So she let him be and watched over him while he slept.
In no time, Islinda was asleep too.