129: Dangerous words (part 2)

Dangerous words (part 2)

The darkness persisted in silence for a while longer, and Adela frowned when her awareness gradually expanded. When it was over, it was as though a veil had been lifted.1

Egon...

As she lay still, Adela sensed his presence beside her, his touch gentle and familiar as his gloved hand caressed her hair. It brought her a sensation so heavenly that she briefly considered feigning sleep for a while longer.

"Sleep a little longer," he whispered softly, as if it were perfectly ordinary for him to be beside her in bed.

"I knew you were here..." Her voice cracked, her eyes tightly shut.

"Where else would I be after what you've done?" he retorted.

She fought the temptation to open her eyes and gaze upon his handsome face, all she desired was for him to remain by her side.

"What have I done?" she responded, her tone lacking conviction.

Her head was not resting on his chest, but she could swear she heard his heart quicken its pace.

"Something stupid," he remarked.

Guilt and anger washed over her as she reluctantly opened her eyes and looked at his face. There wasn't much space separating them, and he was hovering above her, propped up on his right elbow and gazing down at her.

"I wish I could have done more of the same 'stupid' thing... How did you find out about it anyway?" 

"I don't need to be informed; I am attuned to you," he stated.

She gazed at him, her olive green eyes filled with a hundred questions.

He smiled softly, "Within a certain radius. You are like mist in the air to me. I can always feel your calming presence," 

"...Like mist?" she whispered.

"I am never too far away," he confessed, his expression troubled deeply.

Propping herself up on her elbow to mimic his posture, her eyes drifted down his torso. Having memorized the location of every scar on his body, she traced the closest one beneath his black shirt with the back of her forefinger.

It was just the way he reacted in the tent; a slight shiver ran through his body.

"They burn when you're out of that radius, don't they,"

His silence, combined with the melancholic look in his dark eyes, confirmed her suspicion. They did indeed cause him pain when she was beyond his reach.

"Scars are meant to be wounds that have healed long ago..." she murmured, swallowing the lump in her throat. Wasn't it enough that they served as reminders? Did they have to cause him pain too?

A sudden realization struck her.

"Bastian... His face..." She sat up straight, "Does his scar burn too?!"

Egon turned into a tense wall of muscles beside her.

"His scar doesn't cause him pain. It's just the incomplete transformation, a mark of my beastly nature..." His face suddenly softened, "...Don't cry."

Unbeknownst to her, tears had welled up in her eyes and began to flow as he mentioned it.

"I'm not..." she tried to deny, her voice choked with emotion.

He slowly shook his head, his hand reaching out to tenderly wipe away her tears. "There are some things that one cannot hide, no matter how strong they are... Tears, for example," he said, his fingers tracing her cheeks to ensure no traces of dampness remained. He then resumed caressing the same strand of hair he had been playing with earlier, eliciting a tingling sensation on her forehead. "Love can't be hidden either," he added softly.

Her heart fluttered helplessly in her chest.

Taking a deep breath, his gaze continued to trace her face as he spoke, "I become anxious when I can't sense you... Do you realize what it felt like to lose that connection for a while?"

Her eyes rolled up to the ceiling as she searched for an explanation, trying to understand what had caused their connection to break.

"I once heard Rauul talk about performing a miracle... He said he slept for three days afterward, claiming that he had poured out whatever was within him,"  Egon held the strand of hair close to his nose, his brows furrowing as he inhaled deeply.

A wave of heat surged through her body, leaving her feeling flushed and embarrassed. Yet, she couldn't tear her eyes away from his face. He was so close, tempting her to touch him. In that moment, all she wanted was to kiss him right then and there.

"Don't..." Egon's voice was low and intense as he opened his eyes. "Never push yourself like that again."

The intensity between them lingered, both of them catching their breath.

Egon averted his gaze and changed the subject and letting her hair go. "What was that about Destan?"

She swallowed, trying to calm herself down. Doubts and questions about her sanity flooded her mind. Were these feelings meaningless to him? What had she expected?

Adela was appalled by the train of her thoughts. She couldn't believe how her desires had taken over.

"It's exactly as you heard," she replied, her disappointment evident. "I'm seriously considering it."

"Why?" Egon's eyes burned with a mix of passion and fury.

Tucking her hair behind her ears, she mustered her resolve. "Destan is the capital. It's where I can make a difference. The King will grant me the authority, just as he allowed me to knight your brother yesterday... I just know it."

Egon's face paled briefly before hardening again. "Whatever you want to do, whatever plans you have, we can do it together. I can provide everything you need right here. Why make things difficult for yourself?"

She couldn't believe his disconnection from reality! Frustration surged within her, and without even looking at him, she turned her back and moved to sit by the side of the bed. Taking a deep breath, she began her monologue.

"I can't comprehend how you fail to see the challenges I face in my life. It's not just about me, Egon. Your uncle's plans threaten the delicate balance that remains in his son's life. Arkin is being manipulated, and it breaks my heart to witness it... I also can't stand idly by while the Archduchess is caught in the crossfire of Leopold's games."

Egon appeared before her; his eyes filled with dismay as he gazed down at her. "And what about your cousin? Won't you have to confront him there?"

She glared up at him, "Claude would never force himself on me," she dismissed confidently.

"You don't know men!" Egon snapped.

"You don't know Claude!" she snapped back.

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