190: Sweet ride back home (final)

Sweet ride back home (final)

"I'm listening," Egon encouraged.2

"...I went there under the impression that you would either be there or would join us. I even asked him about your whereabouts prior to boarding the ship, but he provided no answer,"

Her tone took on a defensive edge against her wishes. She took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself.

"He was waiting for me at the harbor, and in my fascination with the magical manifestation of the metallic object, I failed to realize that it was a one-way entry and exit," she said with regret. "None of it would have happened if I had only asked the coachman to accompany me."

Egon nodded. "You should be surrounded by more responsible individuals who proactively offer you guidance in moments like these. Continue."

Summoning her resolve, Adela pressed on. "We arrived at the location of the ceremonial dinner, and I noticed that the table was set for two. I inquired about your whereabouts once again," she said, intentionally keeping the details vague. Just then, Aldric's mocking voice echoed in her mind as if he were present in the carriage with her.

I assure you, unlike him, I won't bite.

When a shiver of icy tendrils coursed through her veins, Egon's arms encaged her as if he needed the embrace as much as she did.

"...He... He seemed intent on delving deeper into the nature of our relationship. Even when he saw you standing on the harbor, he strongly insinuated a deep connection between us resembling the mating bond shared by Andreas and Larissa... Or perhaps he is only aware of Andreas's first mate?"

She softly rested her hand against his stubbled chin and traced lines over it as she sensed his tension. She was aware of his aversion to discussing matters concerning Andreas and she wanted to honor his boundaries.

"He doesn't require confirmation from Andreas himself to recognize that Larissa is his second mate. If that weren't the situation, Andreas wouldn't have chosen to marry her," he clarified, responding to her rhetorical inquiry. "Now, it's my turn once more. What unfolded afterward?"

As she noticed his adherence to the conversational rule he had established, her heart fluttered with warmth. His considerate behavior endeared him to her even more, soothing her frayed nerves and allowing her to approach the difficult parts with a newfound confidence.

"It was a tasteless jest on his part," she recounted, "He mocked Healers, belittling their abilities and urging me not to place my trust in anyone." She pondered the extent of the story she could share, weighing the omitted parts that she hesitated to reveal. "He went as far as suggesting that I required an entire army for my survival, and I was subjected to confinement behind a soundproof metallic door to drive home the severity of my predicament."

Egon's chest emitted a deep rumble that evoked images of a mighty beast. The sound stirred a desire to nestle even closer to him within her, for in her heart, he was her beast and the embodiment of strength.

"I was scared," she admitted then cleared her throat, grateful for her safe escape from that room. "I think I somehow summoned you...," a smile played on her lips. "I suppose I'm not so weak if I was able to do that, am I?

Egon nestled his nose in her hair, his warm breath tickling her skin as he placed a tender kiss just above her ear.  "You're one of the strongest people I've ever met," he murmured. "Strong enough to wield a sword even when your hands are trembling facing a man twice your size. Strong enough to assume the guise of a maid and come to the aid of a man in a forgotten cottage... I'm willing to bet you've struck more than just that metallic door."

She inhaled the scent of pine, using it as a brief respite from the tension. "I threw a few plates at him,"

Silence followed, and she wondered if she had shared too much.

"That explains the sauce on his shirt. Did you do more?" 

Adela hesitated, torn between protecting him from the pain of the truth and staying honest. "I've already said it. I am capable of protecting myself," she replied, choosing her words carefully.

She felt the warmth of his fingerless gloved hands on her face as they gently cupped her cheek. Even without being able to see him, she could sense his gaze locked onto her eyes.

"I'm proud of you," he said softly.

That made only one of them.

"What can I say? He got what he wanted. His was a lesson I shall never forget," she muttered bitterly.

"This wasn't a lesson; it was outright bullying,"

She couldn't deny the truth in his words. Egon had only heard a fraction of the torment she had endured at the hands of Aldric. 

"If he truly doubts a mate bond between us..." he trailed off, leaving his words hanging in the air. "Adelaide, what I am about to ask of you is of vital importance. Do you still think his investments would benefit your homeland?"

Whether he sensed that she was withholding something or not, she found herself unable to provide him with an answer at that moment.

"I have to think about it. That is not a decision I can make in a time like this," she said, suddenly extremely worried about what would happen after they left the carriage. "It's my turn to ask the question now,"

He nodded, and she found it adorable once again.

"Once we leave this carriage, will you go back to ignoring me?"

"Ignoring you?" Egon's voice carried a genuine tone of surprise. "I have never ignored you, nor do I ever want to. If it seemed that way, I apologize sincerely for any misunderstanding".

She was filled with awe, for it was the first time she had heard him offer an apology. It made her appreciate him even more, knowing that he was willing to take responsibility for his actions and words.

"...Where is the promise ring I gave you?"

She buried her face in his chest, he must have noticed the bracelet on her ankle when he had pulled up her dress. The thought of Aldric's comments about her affinity for anklets added another layer of unease. Surely, Egon's perceptive nature would have drawn his attention to her feet.

"...You already saw where it is," she mumbled.

"I did," he responded, his voice carrying a hint of amusement that made her blush deepen. "Won't you allow me to return it to its rightful place?"

With gentle and deliberate movements, Egon's fingers grazed along her ankle, delicately unclasping the bracelet that adorned it. As he removed it, a subtle tingling sensation spread through her, as if his touch awakened a dormant energy within her. A breath caught in her throat as Egon carefully placed the bracelet back on her hand, where it truly belonged. The warm metal against her skin brought a sense of comfort and reassurance.

After securing the bracelet on her hand, Egon drew her closer to his chest. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat that synchronized with her own. As a gentle haze descended upon her mind, a soothing tranquility washed over her, lulling her into a peaceful state of relaxation.

"Sleep now," Egon whispered in her ear. "No one can harm you when I'm by your side."

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