Lycandra's Pov:
"This is a dream..." I whispered, trying to convince myself.
Nathanael smiled again, "I'm standing right here, Andra."
My eyes brimmed with hot tears, as we crossed the room the same time to meet each other halfway. I went in for a hug but taking me unawares Nathanael cupped my cheeks and kissed me deeply.
The kind of kiss that conveyed more emotions than words and love letters could. It was quite similar to our first kiss in the Bridge Mountains except this one had more happiness attached to it.
I didn't know I was holding in my breath until he let go and embraced me, resting his chin on my head.
My head was spinning with so many questions.
"But how?" I stuttered.
Guilt danced inside my belly, my mind hadn't swung in Nathanael's direction since I was freed from the dungeon of arts. In my defense, I had been preoccupied with self and family issues that were springing up from the dust. That could also explain why I didn't feel any tingle when Nathan kissed me this time.
"Hope kept me alive I guess." His charming smile hadn't left his face.
I freed myself from his grip, "The silver moon appeared Nathan. I didn't think you'd make it."
You didn't even think about him at all. My subconscious reminded me.
I felt so stupid, Nathanael was my best friend, heck I was in love with him. He was the only one who ever truly understood me in all of Kosmos. I mean Chief Acwulf tried from time to time but he was too occupied to deal with my late bloomer limitations. Nathan on the other hand was never too busy for me.
The guilt became a rising bile in my throat. I didn't even remember to ask after Nathanael when I saw Deucalion.
"I guess love is truly the greatest force of all." He cooed, staring into my eyes he tried to kiss me again.
Subtly, I pulled back, "I still have so many questions, Nathanael."
"I am so happy to see you too, Lycandra."
The clogs in my brain were ticking away.
"Wait, you're in our Palace. You're not in chains. How long have you been here? How did you even get in here without being seen?" I queried, finding it suspicious that I hadn't even overhead about the stranger within our walls.
It was sketchy. Something else was amiss.
"It doesn't matter." He blew my questions off and tried to take my hand, "I found a way, Lycandra."
"What?"
"A way for you and I to be together. Maybe it can't be possible in this world. Maybe our love story was never meant to take place in Kosmos. But what if I told you we could go to Orbis–"
And I thought I was the late bloomer here.
"You're talking dreams, Nathanael." I shook my head desperately, my heart aching inside of me.
"A place where you and I can be accepted, where no one would question our difference in specie. A world where our love wouldn't be forbidden." Nathanael spoke with a certain light in his eyes.
"To what end Nathanael? And leave all these behind? For what? For a future of uncertainties? For–"
"For Love! That's why anyone does anything, Lycandra."
Doubt didn't let me desperately hold unto his promises.
For Love. He had said.
Should I tell him about meeting Prince Deucalion? I mean For Love right? Love doesn't keep secrets.
For all the contemplations in my head if it were to be Duke he would have gotten in my mind and ridded me of every arising doubt. It was a simple act that made me feel so connected and drawn to him.
My blood ran cold at the thought. Prince Deucalion had me charmed, I hated it so much and yet I couldn't wait to see him again.
In the last decade, today was the second time I was setting my amber eyes on him, we could not be anymore different but knowing that he was just beyond the Bridge Mountains was comforting enough. Now if indeed I left Kosmos with Nathanael that would mean I wouldn't get to see Deucalion ever again. My stomach churned at the thought. I wouldn't be able to survive that.
My breathing became haphazard, "Still you haven't answered my question Nathanael. How did you get in the Palace? How did you even get into the west mountains without being seen?"
Nathanael gulped and withdrew from me, "You hate the idea of us eloping together, don't you?"
"No, no, no I don't. I'm just confused." I paused and narrowed my eyes at him, "Why are you avoiding my question?"
Nathanael stared back at me trying to form the words, I could tell by how his lips quivered. He started to say something when a slight creak alerted us both.
My pulse skyrocketed.
I spotted the black high heeled boots first before the figure stepped into my bed chamber, poised at my threshold with a wicked smirk on her face.
"Sorry to interrupt love birds." Lexa cooed and turned to me, "Aw, I see you received my little gift."
Cautiously I watched her gingerly close the door behind her.
Looking between Nathanael and Lexandrea, I gaped in disbelief.
"I asked that you spare his life not haul him directly into the lion's den!" I didn't know when I lashed out.
Lexa clucked her tongue, "Don't be ungrateful in front of our guest, Lycandra. Where are your manners?"
"What if someone found him?"
"Are you going to be the snitch?"
Looking at Nathanael as he stood in stony silence, I began to realize what was really amiss.
"You want to ruin my life and now you have the weapon." My body shuddered.
"You begged and I did you a favor."
"We need to get him out. He's a wolf, Lexandrea. He's not safe here." I tried to bargain with the devil.
Lexa bit on her red lower lip and quirked her brow at me.
"I need your help getting him out of here." I said.
"No can't do, too much risk." Lexa replied, arms crossed under her breast.
"Too much risk? Says the person who brought all the baggage to our front steps." I sighed heavily and rubbed my temples, "Chief Acwulf is still on bed rest, now's the perfect time."
"No Lycandra do you even think? Now's the worst time because more than ever we are being watched. Any little misstep and the council will deem us ineligible for the throne."
The throne. Right of course. That's the only thing that ever really mattered to Lexandrea Deveureux.
"So what are you suggesting?" Nathanael finally spoke, placing his hands on my shoulders from behind.
Lexa looked at me, "He stays. The Palace is the only place we can't be monitored."
I gulped, "How are we ever going to pull that off?"
We. I never thought I'd see the day when Lexa and I would work together to achieve something.
She smiled that teasingly wicked smile of hers, "Oh have a little faith baby Andra. Three can keep a secret."
Like it or not this had to be the most generous thing Lexa had done for me in all the seventeen years of my Kosmian Life.
I sighed in relief, "Thank you, Lexandrea."
Lexa looked at Nathanael and nodded towards the door signifying it was time up for our little reunion.
"Orbis, Lycandra. Think of all the possibilities, the freedom that awaits beyond this realm." Nathanael whispered softly.
Oh how I wished he offered this salvation before now – weeks before the silver moon appeared – only he didn't.
And now? Little Lycandra Acwulf had too much to loose.
If I deserted Kosmos with my alleged lover, this could be the last time I'd see my Pa alive. And Leonard? It'd be cruel of me to strip him of the one individual closest to the female parent he never had casting him under the bipolar wings of Lexa. Then there was Prince Deucalion who made me feel like I've known him my entire life...
Love is sacrificial.
If I couldn't sacrifice all my present life was offering to be with Nathanael, it only meant one thing. Did I really love him then?
Did I?
I already knew the answer to that question but I didn't know the why. Or maybe I did.
Living in self denial was so much easy right now.
I needed to get in the bath and go see how my father was improving.
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