Chapter 37 #2
He tugged on my neck, bringing me within an inch of his stunning face. Tenderly, he reached for one of my hands and I allowed him to hold it as he pressed our clasped hands against his chest.
“I should have come to see you sooner, but I—when I met you it had only been a few years since I lost . . .” It looked like someone slashed a dagger across his face, for so much pain stretched across his features. “Isa.”
Why was I suddenly so nervous to ask the question burning inside me?
I forced myself to find a scrap of courage, even though I could barely think with Alaric this near to me. “Is that who you loved? The woman you mentioned in the library?”
His head dipped, bringing our lips that much closer. “So maybe you can understand why I was such a fucking menace when we met.”
My laughter wrapped around us as he called himself the nickname I constantly cursed him as in my mind. Alaric gaped at me, the unfamiliar sound tumbling out of my lips surprising us both.
Yet, he gathered himself quickly, pressing on. “I felt undeserving of the way you looked at me when you lived in Morotis—you looked at me like I was worthy of someone as pure as you. Like I was deserving of . . . of being loved again.”
Was I fucking dreaming?
All I could do was blink while I stared at Alaric gently stroking my hand with his thumb, the one still cradled against his chest.
“Seera.” The way he said my name had my eyes rising to meet his.
He spoke my name like he was praying to the gods for forgiveness, but I was the only god who could offer him such salvation.
“I’m sorry for being such a bastard to you all those years ago.
I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know what I said was never true.
Our time together meant so much more to me than you’ll ever know.
Words cannot describe the way you made me feel when I was so broken, so consumed by darkness, prior to you walking into my life. ”
My lips parted as I was readying myself to say something, but words were utterly failing me.
“You don’t have to say anything right now, if not ever, but I—I couldn’t live with myself any longer pretending you meant nothing to me. And after what happened this afternoon when we were training . . .”
I dropped my gaze to the floor at the reminder of my breakdown, a bothersome feeling of embarrassment washing over me.
As gentle as a summer breeze, Alaric hooked a finger underneath my chin and lifted my gaze back to his.
“I understand what it feels like when the weight of all your decisions come crashing down on you—how it feels too unthinkable to withstand. I get it more than you think, Seera, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. I recognize the darkness looming within you, because its claws are sunk into every fiber of my being as well. So please, know that you are not alone in this. For I am standing here before you in this moment, letting you know I am here. I will sit with you when the darkness wants to consume you, if you’d honor me with such a privilege. ”
I was definitely dreaming.
Discreetly, I pinched my thigh with my free hand, desperately trying to tear me out of this dream. It was too painful to hear everything I ever wished for. I needed to wake up, to rid myself of such false promises.
After pinching myself so hard I was sure to have broken skin, Alaric still remained before me, offering a sad smile. We stared at each other as I felt the walls we built so high between us over the course of nearly eight decades, topple over, lying completely ruined at our feet.
“So, my Serpent Queen, what do you say? Can we start over?” He took a small step back, releasing my hand.
Suddenly, I missed his touch, but he quickly offered his hand to me once more.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself. I go by the Serpent King, but people I’m close to call me Alaric.
I have a bad tendency of forcing good manners on others, and I love to get underneath the skin of the most beautiful queen in all the realms.” He flashed a dazzling smile at me, putting his elongated canines on full display and making something flutter in my belly as they gleamed.
The memory of those sharp teeth sinking into my flesh to seal our bargain flashed through my head—right after our world-shattering kiss.
I stood there dumbfounded, staring at his maddeningly, gorgeous face. His eyebrows tugged together with worry, and I realized his hand was still dangling between us, waiting to see if I’d accept his offer to start over.
I had two options: I could refuse him after he poured his heart out to me, leaving him feeling dumb and heartbroken like he did to me once upon a time . . . or, I could give a second chance to the man that made me feel things I thought shriveled up and died inside me long ago.
If we were going to enter a mysterious realm together to try to kill a god, it would be beneficial to have a real ally. Perhaps, a clean slate was exactly what I needed after spending years shrouded in a perpetual cloud of darkness.
Thus, I extended my arm to the Serpent King and grasped his waiting hand. The moment we touched, a volt of electricity tingled up my arm, almost like a spark of magic passed between our embrace.
Alaric looked at our hands, almost like he felt the strange current as well. In fact, it looked like he stopped breathing as he stared at our joined hands.
“You still have it.” A mixture of awe and shock graced his sharp features.
I followed his gaze, all the way to the ruby jewel sparkling atop my finger.
“I—I wanted to wear something red.”
Oh, for Serpent’s Sake. That’s the best I could come up with?
Internally groaning, I glanced back at Alaric, only to find him watching me, agonized.
We stared at each other, all the while softly shaking the other's hand.
“One last thing,” he drawled, a newfound spark of mirth crinkling the corners of his eyes.
“What more could you possibly have to say?” I tried to sound nonchalant, yet a nervous laugh escaped me.
He offered me a sincere smile, a hint of red staining his pale cheeks.
“Will you do me the honor of accompanying me this evening?”
I hummed as I took my time, glancing at the ceiling while I contemplated how long I wanted to torture the king for.
His foot tapped with anticipation, making a smug smile slip onto my face.
Instead of answering him with words, I strengthened my grip on his hand and tugged him to my side. Moving my hand up and into the crook of his arm, I glanced sideways at him. Alaric wore a baffled expression, his eyebrows raised as he looked down at me.
The scent that permeated off him during my breakdown wrapped around us. I inhaled the sweet notes of cherries and roses, letting whatever heightened emotion Alaric was feeling to intoxicate my lungs.
“Is that a yes?” There was a hint of uncertainty lacing his words, so I decided to finally put the Serpent King out of his misery by granting him a solid answer.
“Yes, Alaric, I will be your date for the night. Now, if you are done pouring your heart out to me,” I teased, smiling at him mischievously. “Lead the way and show me all the Emerald Glades has to offer.”