Page 65 of Tales of Fire and Embers

“Do I need it?” I asked, thinking that if the woman showed willingness to sacrifice a life, or an energy as she called it, my state must be more severe than I thought.

She nodded quickly, just as another tear made its way from her cheek onto her chin, quickly crossing the barrier of her neck and I knew. I knew then, that I would do whatever. Whatever she needed, whatever she asked, whatever she wanted me to, as long as it stopped her pain.

“I’ll drink it then,” I confirmed and she exhaled with visible relief. So long, that I didn't even know how such a large amount of air could have occupied her small chest and immediately brought me back the cup.

“When I drank it, it made me sick, and then I fainted. We also have food, but it’s best to drink the tea first and see how it affects you before you eat. Think of it as medicine,” Anwen said while placing the cup back into my hands.

I didn't dare check inside the still steaming cup, the smell was enough to announce the foul taste, so I rushed it to my mouth and drank quickly and deeply, holding my breath and swallowing big gulps until the only thing remaining was the dark root.

By the time the liquid reached my stomach, I found myself wrapped in heaviness, my limbs dense and begging me to lie down, so I did just that, unable to situate myself in a more proper position on the bed to allow her space if she needed to sleep. I simply fell on the mattress, feeling like I was flying on clouds while my eyelids opened and closed until I lost all control of my senses, surrendering to the healing liquid.

“Are you crazy?” a female voice gripped me from sleep. I did not know how long it had been since I drank the tea, but even half asleep, I felt no more pain. For the first time in however long I could remember, nothing ached and nothing bled. I dare even say I was comfortable.

“It’s the only way, soon you will see the king and are in no way prepared for what’s to come,” a male voice replied. I opened my eyes wide enough to spot Anwen at the door, though I could not see the male she was talking to. She held white fabric, possibly clothes, and I had to assume the male brought them for her.

“And how do you think it’s gonna go? Oh, hi Ansgar, you know how were been tortured for a year and you are barely able to heal your wounds even after four Cloutie roots? Yeah? Okay let’s fuck now,” she replied in an overly sarcastic tone.

“It’s up to you, but be advised that the king is angry with the general. For sparing you and releasing him, for giving you this... honeymoon. He knows what your bond can do to him. We all saw it. Even the general took him for dead but a few hours by your side and the prince is whole again.”

“And you expect me to trust you?” Anwen huffed, shifting from one hip to another, which led me to think the conversation started some time ago.

“You have no reason to trust me, I agree. But know that I was once Wind Kingdom. If there is an escape for Earth, maybe I can do it too.” His voice sounded broken, the same fracture I felt while dominated by the urge for revenge and I knew he spoke true.

I guessed Anwen felt it too because she did not protest or comment, she simply nodded and thanked the male, then took a step back to notify him of the ending of the conversation. The door closed a second later.

With quiet movements, I shifted in bed, faking to wake up just then, and within a second, Anwen was next to me. She placed a gentle hand on my cheek and caressed my skin, whispering, “It’s alright, you’re safe, rest.” She did it with ease, her movements so sure that I could not help but wonder how many times she needed to do just that during the time I slept. How many hours had I rested while she had to care for me? Did she even sleep? Eat?

“How long was I asleep for?” As soon as I said it, I recognised it for the stupid question it was since we had no natural light or clock in sight and had no idea how to measure time.

“I’m not really sure but I made you four cups of tea and we ate twice, so I guess it’s more or less been a day,” she replied, her fingers still trailing soothingly across my cheek in gentle caresses.

I frowned and stood a bit straighter, though my body begged for more sleep. “I have no memories of that.”

“I should think not, you were a bit zombie mode, reminded me of university hangovers,” she snickered and that sound was music to my ears.

“Who was that, at the door?” I asked and her eyes went wide, a blush climbing on her cheeks. She looked beautiful.

“Did you hear that?” she pulled her hand away but I caught it in mine, the gesture somehow familiar. I nodded.

“Part of it, about meeting the king and—” I stopped, not knowing how to say it, unsure that I even heard it right, because how it sounded to me was that the male advised Anwen to bed me.

“Don't even worry about it. Rest up, we still have a day to figure things out,” she waved her other hand, the one that wasn’t held by my own.

“Why does he think that our… union might help?” I asked, struggling to find the right words.

“He thinks that the mating bond will activate your memory since the effects of whatever they gave you stopped when we reunited,” the woman said, the blush overpowering her features and turning her cheeks a deep crimson.

“His logic makes sense,” I nodded in agreement, finally able to understand why this woman had such an effect on me and for the first time, she shifted her gaze to me, our eyes locking.

Anwen blinked a couple of times and I did the same, none of us daring to say it, yet both wanting to. I remembered the way she touched me in the cell, how she connected to me and how her skin felt against mine while a jolt of desire sprang in between my legs. And by the way her fingers interlocked with mine, her skin hot and full of goose bumps at my touch, she seemed like she wanted it too.

“It’s fine, we’ll think of something else, we don't have to…” Anwen was the first to speak and as soon as she said the words, her hands abandoned mine. She rose from the bed and stepped away.

I shook awake, immediately reacting. “No, of course. You've done so much for me already, I couldn’t possibly ask you for more,” I stood straighter on the bed but realised I was completely naked under the covers and started growing an erection so there weren’t very many options of movement in my situation.

“Me?” she responded. “No, I’m, no... I’m worried about you. You’ve been through so much and the last thing you need is a woman you don’t know, demanding things from you.” She started pacing across the small room, showing her nervousness. “You haven't seen me in a year and you don't know who I am, and it's probably the last thing you need right now since you are still healing.”

It sounded like the arguments were designed more to stop her own thoughts on the matter than my own, so a whiff of courage overpowered me as I spoke.

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