Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Colt
The vibrant colors of the flames dancing in the fire before me captivated me as I watched the way individual flames would ebb and flow in a teasing manner around each other before merging into one big flame.
That's how I wanted Ama and I to be. I wanted us to be individuals who learned how to live in harmony together in a way that merged our passions, desires, and unique traits into a beautiful inferno of happiness.
I sounded like a fucking sap. That woman had completely twisted my reality, and I found myself questioning whether I knew which way was up or down in life at this point. In a way, she brought me both everything I wanted in a partner and everything I’d been taught to not want.
She pushed my buttons and had a sass that made my arrogant side revel in the challenge she presented.
Sure, that made me sound like a bastard, which I partly was, but I'd always longed for someone who could challenge me mentally. So far, I had come up short with every woman who’d tried to lure me into her grasp.
Being by my side had been a spot that many coveted, wanting to become next in line to be queen of our Kingdom.
This brought out a fuck ton of shady women who thought that they could play their mind games on me.
Perhaps one would think that would have provided me the mental challenge I desired by evading their tactics, but that wasn't the kind I was interested in.
I wanted a woman who would call me out on my bullshit when I was being a downright ass or if I said something that was wrong. I'd push back and try to steamroll her at that moment, and I needed someone who would double down and fight back tooth and nail.
I craved that kind of mental fortitude and stimulation, and I had found it in Ama.
The beautiful hybrid who, for all intents and purposes, should have been off limits in my head.
My parents had been open about their dislike for hybrids my entire life, and while I hadn't quite adopted their mentality, hybrids had still firmly been the last option in my mind for a companion or wife.
When Ama had run into me at the restaurant bar in Mortem's territory, she had changed my life with her sass and the audacity she’d had to smack me with her wing.
Who knew I'd be such a glutton for punishment? She hadn’t let me get away with acting like I was too good for her when I’d thought she was a Succubus trying to lure me in, and she’d damn well made me realize what a cocky fuck I had sounded like.
She made me question myself, which was something that rarely happened.
I had been raised being told that confidence in myself and my abilities was key to becoming a great king one day.
That I needed to believe in who I was more than anyone else if I expected our people to follow me.
I was told they would detect any ounce of weakness.
So, I’d built a wall around myself that had an air of arrogance and self-assuredness.
But deep down, I had always hoped for a woman to come along who could challenge those mental walls and wouldn't hesitate to rip them down.
Ama had done that, but I had pushed her away, initially.
It had been the moment we had been transported outside the capital, just seconds after my parents had been slain, and we had been arguing over what to do from there.
Did we go back to the capital or did we chase after the elusive hybrid rebellion?
When she had made her stance clear, I’d immediately found myself wanting to bow to what she said, which angered me.
How had I allowed myself to fall at the feet of a woman I had known for mere days?
When my parents had just been killed before my eyes.
I should have wanted to go back and avenge their deaths, not follow her around like an abandoned animal.
So, I blamed her, like the pathetic man I had been in that moment. I blamed her for their deaths and for distracting me. When in reality, I’d hated that she had such a strong hold over me and had felt like I needed to break it.
Then, when I’d felt myself softening towards her once more and desiring a deeper relationship, my jealousy had clouded my mind as I saw her forming connections with the others.
I had felt left out, and my pride had been wounded as I’d realized we were not even close to the same level.
Seeing her casting sweet glances and blushing around the others, when she walked on eggshells around me and only gave me looks of apprehension. It had torn me apart.
Once again, I blamed her for my insecurities and fear. I'd shamed her for having so many mates because I had been scared that I'd be left in the dust.
The tentative peace between us now was only the start of what I wanted, and I knew now that Ama felt something for me, too.
I wasn’t sure if it was as strong as what I felt for her, but I had decided I was done playing games.
I would tell her exactly how I felt and hope that she could feel the same one day—that she could feel for me even an ounce of what I felt for her.
A hand on my shoulder had me jumping and whirling around, prepared to attack, but when I saw the woman of my inner thoughts in front of me, I relaxed.
She grimaced, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Although you looked like you were quite lost within your thoughts, so really I should have known.”
She was adorable when she rambled awkwardly, and I found myself smirking at her. I didn't second guess myself for once, instead allowing myself to reach for her and pull her down to sit next to me. Placing my arm around her shoulder, I felt her immediately lean in and ask, "Are you okay?"
I chuckled softly, knowing she was confused about my reaction to her and Adrien, and I kissed the top of her head and murmured, "More than okay."
Her head turned so that her pink eyes were searching my face inquisitively.
I couldn't look into her face as I admitted all of this to her. I wasn't that much of a man yet. It was scary as fuck opening up like this, and I needed that security blanket of not seeing her reaction as I did. What if she rebuffed me?
Pulling her head down to rest on my chest, I inhaled deeply before exhaling, "Ama, I've come to a lot of conclusions very quickly. The main one being that I'm falling madly in love with you, and it scares the hell out of me."
She let out a squeak, and I had to hold her firmly to me to prevent her from looking at me. I chuckled and said, "Let me get this all out before you look at me and I pussy out."
She let out a small laugh, instantly covering it, before relaxing back into me, reassuring me that she didn’t hate my words, at least.
"The two times I felt myself opening up and realizing the depth of what I felt for you, my knee-jerk reaction was to pull back and slam that door firmly closed.
In the process, I hurt you, and I'm sorry.
I wasn't ready to accept it all, and with my parents dying...
" I trailed off, "My entire world was turned upside down for a multitude of reasons. "
Her right hand reached out to grab my left hand, which was resting on my knee, and she threaded our fingers together. "It's okay."
"No. It's not okay, and I'm done being the boy who was scared of opening up and being vulnerable for the first time. I'm done being the weak person who needed to hurt you in order to try to put a wall up to protect you from truly seeing me."
I squeezed her hand gently, "I'm ready to be the man who gives you everything in me, if you'll have me."
This time, when she pulled out of my embrace and turned to face me, I let her.
At the same time, I prepared myself for the rejection that was possibly coming.
I had been an asshole countless times since the very first interaction we'd had, and the fact that we were somehow fated to be together didn't excuse that.
She could decide that she deserved better, and it would hurt like hell, but I'd respect it.
"Colt, you aren't that bad," she scolded, but she had a small smirk on her face.
My own lip curled up in response as I joked, "I know. I'm perfect. I didn't mean any of that. Obviously."
She let out a genuine laugh as she punched my shoulder lightly, "Well, I wouldn't say you're perfect. But I think I'll keep you."
I reached out, unable to help myself, and pulled her to me, arranging her so that she was straddling my lap as she sat.
Her face turned serious as we stared into each other's eyes, which really felt like she was peering deep into my soul as she said, "We all make mistakes, Colt.
None of us are perfect, but all that matters is that we own up to our mistakes and try to be better. I forgive you."
It was as if one hundred pounds melted off my shoulders at those three little words coming from her. I hadn't realized how much I needed to hear that.
She cocked her head to the side and smiled, "Are you sure it isn't my Succubus powers making you fall for me?"
Cheeky woman, referring to our first meeting. I mused, "Could be. But at this point, it doesn't matter why I'm falling for you, because I'm all in."
Her bottom lip was sucked between her teeth as I said that, and she nibbled on it nervously before she lurched towards me.
Her lips found mine, and I held her to me so tightly that I should have been worried if I was hurting her, but I figured she'd definitely tell me if I was.
Instead, I let myself melt into the woman who made me realize I wanted to be a better man—for her, and for our entire kingdom.
Our tongues tangled together in a passionate, almost desperate kiss, like we couldn't get enough of each other.
As my hands roamed, they found her wings, which I realized popped out whenever she had a strong emotion that broke her glamor.
I stroked them absentmindedly as I slowed and deepened the kiss, wanting to feel what they were like.
They were so different from my own, which were covered in soft down feathers.
"Hey!" she pulled back, excitement and heat shining in her eyes, "If I show you mine, you have to show me yours."
I chuckled quietly and said, "I can't pop them out when I'm sitting. They're too large."
"Well, get up then!" she commanded, making me roll my eyes in mock annoyance.
I held her to me and stood, enjoying the way she wrapped her legs around my waist with the motion. Letting my wings unfurl from under my skin, I felt the moment they were out completely as the bottoms scraped gently against the ground.
Her eyes lit up as she reached for them and cooed, "Oh my devil, they're so soft!"
I cleared my throat as her stroking my wings brought on a strong desire to sink my cock into her.
I hadn't realized it would feel like this if she touched them, and it wasn't my intention to take things that far tonight.
One day soon, but not now. At this moment, I just wanted to hold her to me and show her that I was serious about us.
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she held me tightly and asked, "Can we go lie down together and get some sleep? We have a long day ahead of us."
I ran my free hand down the back of her hair and asked, "Can I hold you while we sleep?"
Her head nuzzled into my neck as if already settling in to sleep and she murmured, "I'd hit you in the face with my wing if you didn't."
Folding my wings back into myself, I had to stifle the laugh that threatened to burst from me so that I didn't wake everyone as I walked us back to the tent.
She was perfect for me, and I was never letting her go.