Chapter XXXVII
Lana's POV
I stared in shock from the picture before me.. Christian. He was there. Alone, just like he said, working solo.. Standing there across from me and looking darker than ever, more intimidating than ever, with the kind of threat in his eyes, the kind of warning that promised that within seconds there was going to be a bloodbath.
I was going to say something.. I wanted to. If he did it.. If he even punched some of Alexander's people, or let alone, him, a war would start because that was how little it would take. I wanted to give him some kind of a sign that it was alright, that I could handle everything myself, but that would've been a lie..
Because no, I could not handle it myself. Alexander was threatening with real proofs, and the whole night I couldn't close an eye hoping and praying that Christian would figure things out and come after me. I was brave when I knew I could win against someone, but I was not stupid.. I knew the advantages Alexander had.
However, still a part of me didn't want to have Christian involved, because I knew that could mean hurt. Actual physical hurt. Death even. A bloodbath. I tried shaking my head at him, but he only scanned me with that same fury, like he wasn't even registering my presence at all..
I still knew that he followed every move, especially when Alexander's arm came over my stomach, pushing me and making me take a step back, almost behind him. I glanced at him, then back at Christian, and saw the very breaking point, the very beginning of chaos behind those blacks. And when Christian allowed his dark side to take over, not many made it out alive.
Something turned in my stomach.. I was staring at him without even blinking, while being pulled and pushed by Alexander, and then by one of his people that kept his back..
I stared at Christian without blinking and saw how he clenched his fists.. How his eyes held thunders of nothing but fury and a simple blood lust that I knew he would make sure to satisfy only by giving Alexander fate worse than death..
As one of Alexander's guards pulled me on the side, as roughly as if I was a rag doll that was in the way, a part of me stayed sane and focused on the situation, suddenly struck by thought that was actually brilliant. How didn't I think of this earlier?!
If I was the initiator of the fight, the beginner of everything, that would not make Christian guilty in any way.. He wouldn't be the attacker and there would be no war.. I could blame it on sudden fear from the guard's quick moves, rough pulls and pushes.. And Christian.. Christian would not have to be the one to start it.. If anything, he would seem like he was defending me.
On the other hand, I did feel angry that the guy gave himself the right to even touch me, let alone pull me around.. Of course because of Alexander's order.
With that rush of fury, that sudden idea that could mean not only a save from the situation, but a save from war, I acted quickly, the way I was taught, following my instincts only.. I acted as fast as I can, because I had to be the first one to throw the first punch..
If it wasn't me, it would be Christian, and I couldn't let that happen. I was ready to deal with the consequences, but by myself.. I couldn't allow him do it. It would mean a bloodbath, a war to two species.
I rose my arm the very second the guy pulled me back and towards himself.. I swung my bent elbow as high as I could, pretty heavily from the anger that was already boiling inside me.. It hit his face, the very center of my target, his nose, and I swear I heard it crack.
From the corner of my eye, I saw everyone almost jump back in surprise, because everyone expected Christian to be the one to attack, not me, who was actually standing on their side, in the middle of five large men, including Alexander that guarded me like a damn prey.
I heard Alexander shout something out, take a step towards me, and I remember feeling and arm from behind, pulling me back, almost as if they were trying to hold my arms so I wouldn't punch anyone yet..
I looked on the side so quickly that the picture became a blur.. I heard shouts and noticed people running.. I heard punches, and before I could even react to what happened, I just felt slight wind in my hair, an arm wrapping around my waist as I was pulled away from the man that held me arms..
The guy from behind disappeared, and I seemed to be snatched off my feet within a second.. My heart preformed a sharp shallow skip because my first thought was, Alexander took me.. But there was this familiar scent instantly hitting me.. Instantly dominating over my senses. It was Christian.
He pulled me away from the guard behind so effortlessly, it only proved that he could kill them all within a second without even trying.. I was pressed so tightly against him that I barely noticed what was going on, until I felt the ground underneath my feet disappear and realized that I had closed my eyes as Christian with full speed, faster than the wind moved along with me..
All I heard was gushes of wind.. All I felt was his hard chest against me, his strong arm holding me tightly pressed against himself while he moved with the speed of a lightning, and stopped only seconds after as I my back was pressed against something solid..
I managed to open my eyes, reaching for air as if I had held my breath the whole time he used his speed that I was still not used to, but his hand instantly came over my mouth to keep me quiet.. I realized I was pressed against some tree, looking up towards him. He had me trapped against the tree with his body, shielding me in a way that I couldn't move an inch.
It was dark, the night already dominating through the woods that we were at, probably still near Alexander's house, but somewhere behind it, somewhere in the forest.. Still, I saw how that perfectly sculpted face of his was near mine, above because of our drastic height difference, but still right there, and God, there was no way I could bare with the sudden rush emotions that flooded me..
He was,- hell, he was right there.. In front of me. Looking on the side with those spending lines of his jaw a little above my head, probably checking if we had them near, but still.. He was there. His scent flooding me, controlling me.. Giving me the kind of relief I needed. The kind of relief that came by feeling him right there against me, not only wishing for him in my thoughts..
But we still had Alexander and his people onto us. The woods had at least one of the Vesnetsovs behind every second tree.. I could still hear voices and my bones trembled..
I felt safe near Christian. What scared me was It was what he was capable of doing when it came to me. I couldn't deal with it. Not just yet. It was no time for a war.. That was why I did it. That was the only way of making myself look guilty rather than having Christian attack them.
He looked back at me, and in that darkness and adrenaline rush, our gazes still managed to meet. Furious pitch black pearls scanned me, and I felt the kind of weakness that I was addicted to..
Neither of us moved because we could be heard.. We were barely breathing, especially with his large hand covering my lips.. We seemed to be just communicating by nothing but our eyes as we stayed quiet.. And on top of everything, he was looking at me like he was still in some kind of disbelief.. Like he was still processing if I 'just did that'.. Punched one of Alexander's people.
Orders given, shouts, and footsteps were heard.. I realized I was still holding onto his shirt so tightly that my knuckles were white.. He glanced on the side again, pulled me by my waist back against him, and right before he moved, I heard him speak..
"Not a word, Lana." A whisper, right there near my ear as he moved with that speed again, with the kind of rush that made me close my eyes and hold onto him just as tightly..
The ground underneath me disappearing as all I could feel was the kind of coldness against my skin, like the air itself was cutting me.. My head was still spinning because he kept taking turns, one side, then the other.. Even though my eyes were closed, I was still feeling it..
I felt almost nauseous when I was once again pushed against something solid, but this time flat.. It was no tree. The ground underneath my feet was not soft, not mud like it was in the woods.. It was solid. Wood.
I opened my eyes again, and this time, no hand came over my mouth.. I breathed in the air slowly, gulped, and looked up. Again, I was trapped the way I was before.. His hands against the what seemed like a wall that I was pressed against.. His body against mine and his face turned to the side, observing, checking, but still right there, near mine..
My heart was beating so fast, I could barely breathe.. I looked on the side and realized we were on some porch.. A wooden porch. A wooden house. He was looking on the side while I stared at him in shock, struck by the confusion on where the hell we were..
He then looked at me, and the anger than his eyes still held froze my bones. His face was inches away from mine, his breath against my own, yet not even slightly as rapid as mine.. His eyes did scan my face, as always with the kind of intensity, the kind of focus that made my legs weak.
But they still held the kind of fury I didn't understand.. I didn't understand because I kept thinking that that fury was towards me, and I did everything I could to make things right.
Seconds passed.. Neither of us looked away. He seemed to be making sure I was alright without asking me. I could tell that that anger was towards me now. And I knew the reasons why he was angry.. Probably because I left his house the previous day and didn't say a word about Alexander.. Hell, he might've even thought that I went there willingly.
But still, we were there, alive, together again, and a war wasn't started.. Yet. Which was good. I was ready to do everything to provide that war from starting. He was supposed to be relieved, not still angry..
I was still in shock from running and my head wasn't working straight.. I looked down at his lips and still didn't say a word.. If I moved an inch, our lips would've touched, and I was so damn desperate for that. I was desperate to drown in a kiss like that. Only a day, yet it felt like a damn year..
But I read him right. He was angry. He took a step back and released me from that trap. As simple as that.
Turning on the side, he walked towards the near door, reached for the top frame and took a key.. In that full silence, a click was heard and he pushed the door open, walking in and leaving it open..
My heart was still going mad against my chest. I closed my eyes for a second and pushed myself off the wall.. Christ, I didn't want to explain, argue or be angry with him. Heck, I wanted to just kiss him and have him hold me. Yet he was obviously angry with me, and I had a thought or two why..
I took a few steps, slowly peeking and carefully walking in the house.. Everything was made out of wood. It was the cozy kind of small, still pretty wide as I walked in the living room, and quietly closed the door behind.
Christian was near the kitchen that was in the same area, just separated with a counter, pouring himself a glass of whiskey that he had taken out from the near cabinet..
I- I was speechless to how it all happened so fast firstly.. Then, I was frustrated because he was angry with me and wasn't even bothering to tell me why.. And on top of everything, I was still anxious because I had no orientation on how far away we made it.. If it was safe even.
How was he so damn calm and chill, sipping whiskey after all of that?! From what I saw, the house was still in the woods.. We were that far away from them?
"Where are we?" I managed to ask, still taking a few steps towards him.
"My old lake house.." He closed the crystal bottle and didn't even bother looking at me. "There's a sealing spell put on it. They can't see the house or us as long as we're on this property. And it's around two miles away, so it's safe."
Silence fell over. He downed his drink and still seemed determined to keep escaping my gaze.. I was ready to tell him about the letter. I had it in my jeans because I put it there that morning.. I wanted him to see for himself..
"Christian," I started off but he quickly interrupted.
"Don't. I don't want to hear it." He placed the empty glass down and started walking somewhere to round the counter..
His way of shutting me down seemed like the burst of anger I needed in that moment. I found myself staying on my exact spot, and clenching my fists.
"You don't?"
He turned to look at me and once again spoke coldly yet loudly. "I don't want to know, Lana.. I don't care, alright?"
That was the limit he had to cross to have me completely allow the anger to take over.. He didn't care? Was that what he said? After everything we went through, for the past half an hour even, that was what he had to say to me?
"Oh, you don't care.." The irony in my voice was clear.. I was starting to talk loudly now, crossing my arms over my chest and taking a small step closer. "If you don't care, then why the hell did you just make me run with you, Christian? For two damn miles!"
"I didn't make you do anything!" There was no mistake that his voice held nothing but anger.
But he was right. He didn't make me do anything.. I perhaps misplaced the words a bit, but he corrected me loudly and clearly, speaking nothin but the truth.
"You didn't.." I shook my head slightly, took a step on the side and ran a hand through my hair.. "You're not the one that makes me do things.."
I spoke quietly now, mostly to myself, but he didn't miss that. He heard me perfectly, and soon I heard a confused tone from the side, filling the silence strictly and clearly.
"What?" I walked towards the living room window, keeping quiet and regretting that I even brought it up. "What did you just say?" I heard him repeat himself, but I just ignored him and looked outside the window to check if someone was around the house.. It was pitch dark outside.. Nothing could be seen.
I'm not even sure what went through his head.. What he must've thought when I said that Alexander was making me do something. The worst must've crossed his mind.. But I was simply talking about the letter. About his threats that were written in there..
I heard Christian cuss something underneath his breath before he spoke loudly. "What did he make you do?" The question was followed by angry footsteps. I didn't turn around or move.. "Lana."
I felt a strong grip over my elbow and was turned to look at him. The warning in his voice was clear.. And I could feel his gaze on me, furious black eyes scanning me, but I kept looking on the side, not wanting to deal with it at that point.
He was frustrated, angry to the point of forcing me to look at him with his hand suddenly over my chin, quickly and certainly directing me to look up at him.
"Look at me, dammit." There was some kind of panic behind his eyes.. He was eager for an answer, already furious with what I had to say.. I saw the murderous glare behind those blacks.. I knew he was ready to kill Alexander and not even blink about it at that point. "What the hell did that bastard do-"
I pulled myself away from his grip, moving my head. "You think I went to that house willingly? Did you really think that, Christian?"
My interruption seemed to had soften his expression a bit.. The darkness in his eyes was dangerously growing, but my words seemed to tame it a bit. He seemed at a loss of words for a second or two..
"I thought you changed your mind."
"About what?"
"What do you mean, about what? That damn marriage arrangement.." I heard him say, I watched him mouth out, yet I couldn't believe my own ears.. He actually thought I went to Alexander willingly? Because I was agreeing to some marriage that my father was arranging?!
I- I couldn't believe what I was hearing.. He was- he was angry at me because he thought I left him willingly.. That I turned my back on him.
The shock must've been clear in my eyes. That sudden frustration rushed through me like I was struck by a lightning.. My blood started boiling so quickly that I felt it rush up my cheeks, and I probably even went red in anger.
"I cannot believe you right now,-" Was all I managed to somewhat shout out, bringing my hands up to my forehead, pushing my hair back and taking a small step back. "Why,- why the hell did you even come after me if you thought I ran away from you?!"
"I don't know, Lana! I haven't been thinking straight since the moment I realized you were gone!"
He snapped right back at me with an even harsher tone, bigger anger, and I realized that while I was staying up all night, thinking that he was worrying, thinking that he probably figured out that Alexander made me leave him, he was thinking that I did it all willingly.. He was actually angry at me because of that.. And heck, he still came after me..
"I got Calliope to do a simple locator spell on you, and just left. Good thing she thought of putting a sealing spell on this lake house.." He tried explaining, but then focused back on shouting. "But I.. I did not think, Lana. It just fucking happened. I was there, in front of the house, ready to kill them all without even blinking! Don't you know till now that I have no control over myself when it comes to you?!"
Oh he had no clue.. He had no clue how much I was angry. I thought he knew me better than that.. I thought he knew me better than to think that I would leave him for someone like Alexander. Christ, he was making me lose my mind.
"I-" I tried, but it was worthless. I didn't have the nerves to argue, and just then realized that he was shadowing over me, standing there like a damn building. "Move!" I pushed against his arm, and tried passing him, but felt that familiar grip over my wrist that jerked me very slightly, just so I would stop and look at him.
"What the fuck did he do, Lana?!" I pulled away from him in one harsh sudden move, and it seemed to surprise him.
"He threatened me, alright?! How could you even think that I would willingly chose to leave you?!"
I had lost all my patience I had left and yelled out the explanations, the points I was trying to prove. I reached in my pocket, took out the piece of paper and pushed it against his chest as he took it.
"He knows about us, Christian! He has the necklace! He has a witch and he can wake up Adam any damn second now!" He was going through the rows of the letter quickly in one serious frown but I still continued. "He sent me a damn letter that had threats about not just your life, but about a war that still might fucking start!"
He stared at the letter for another few seconds and then shook his head. "This means nothing." with that, he crumbled the piece of paper and turned around, running both his hands through his hair in that same frustration as before..
His slow moves, the slow steps he took.. They were a sign of that state in which he thought through something for a second or two, and then simply snapped.
His words still confused me. "What?"
"The necklace cannot wake Adam. It can kill him, yes, but he cannot draw any kind of energy from it." He turned around, looking back at me with that same anger as before, now just seeming eager to explain something that I obviously never heard of.
I could see how bothered he was from this subject. I could see that the more we talked about Alexander, the more he was ready to end him.
"The witch that made the spell on the necklace made sure to chain it with his life.. She knew what kind of a monster she was working with. In cases like this, she made sure to create the spell's loophole, a way of the necklace being the very weapon against him, the only.. Telling him the story that it would rather protect him, but leaving out that very part."
The way he ran a hand through his hair truly seemed like a way of trying to ease the pressure in his head, trying to find some control over his fury, because the whole conversation around the letter, the threats and the necklace obviously triggered him to the fullest.
"It can only kill him, it cannot help him in any way," His jaw was clenched and he almost spoke through his teeth. "The bastard fucking lied to you."
Alright. That was a good thing.. It was-, Gosh, it was a relief. Knowing that Adam could not be awakened from the necklace gave me relief. But, he had three angry witches on his side. They were the ones that could wake him, and I don't think at that point Christian was even thinking of that.. And I didn't want to bring it up. I didn't want to flame his fury even more..
So I asked the obvious. I crossed my arms over my chest and scanned him in silence for a few seconds. He looked back at me almost like he was trying to convince me in his words with his steady gaze, and I believed him..
But there were other things that Alexander threatened in that letter. Other words he said. And we had to discuss it. The sooner, the better.
"Okay, what about us?" His expression didn't change. Confusion didn't wash over him because he understood me damn well from the first time, but still chose to ask.
"What about us?'
"He knows, Christian.."
I watched him take a step back, turn his back on me and walk towards the kitchen counter. "So? A war, is that what you're afraid of?"
He looked back at me as he leaned both his hands on the wooden counter, and now had that cold emotionless expression on his face that always drove me insane. I hated when he showed no emotions.
"Yes!" I yelled the obvious, taking a few steps towards the counter and gesturing with my hand somewhere on the side as I started proving a completely different point, yet with the same eagerness for understanding from him. "How can you be so cold about this? I thought we both agreed that us had to stay a secret from the very damn beginning because of exactly that! War."
"War can easily be won." We didn't discuss this earlier. Not like this. Not with this kind of intensity. And the way he showed calmness about this subject dared me to the fullest.
"Christian, don't you understand that I will be torn between two sides if a war starts?! It's not Alexander, but my father that's going to be you opponent. My whole family." I continued trying to explain with the tension, the frustration that I couldn't control. How could he be so damn calmed?! "I cannot believe that you think that I can choose between the two sides!"
"Can you?"
Again, a calmed tone asked.. Black eyes stared daring back at mine, and I couldn't believe my own words. He was supposed to know that! He was supposed to know that a war would mean an end to us!
Confusion struck me and left me speechless for a few seconds.
"What? No!"
"Why?" He continued calmly while I continued shouting and desperately trying to prove a point like it was a life or death situation.. And it fucking was!
"What the hell do you mean, why?! Because they're my family."
I realized he took a few steps closer to me. "So choose them."
Those words.. Those words caught me off guard. I thought he understood this by now.. I thought he-, Christ, what was he trying to do to me?!
I was losing my mind trying to explain to him, hoping he'd get that I could not live without him at that point, and that I couldn't go against my own family either, yet he.. He made me say, explain every word separately, and it was driving me mad
"I can't choose them, don't you get it?! Then I would have to stand against you!" Closer and closer he got, and I saw clearly how my last statement made him snap, saying the words that were a breaking point of my patience.
"Why can't you, Lana?!" He yelled and almost completely closed up on me against the counter.
So I said the words I never thought I would be able to. I pushed him back because I was angry at him, but said words that I had kept to myself for the past day, and that had been eating me alive ever since.
"Because I fucking love you!"
My vision was blurry from angry tears. I couldn't even believe my own ears. I said that so damn loud that it echoed in the empty cold space.. And as a result, I had a pair of black familiar eyes staring back at me, close yet away, angry yet soothed.. It didn't seem to surprise him, but at that point, I didn't care.. I continued and it seemed like I couldn't be stopped. Not now that I had said it.
"I see that picture of you unconscious, laying lifelessly on the floor every damn time I close my eyes, and you know what I feel?! I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. And I have the need to scream in agony how much it hurts just thinking of you hurt like that again!"
Feelings like that weren't familiar to me.. Saying them was even more unfamiliar to me. Even more insane.. I couldn't believe myself that I allowed those feelings to flood me, but with Christian..
With Christian it was always one extreme or another. He made me love for the first time, and the feeling was stronger than I ever expected it to be.. I was ready to die for him, but I couldn't allow a war kill him or my family.
He didn't say a word, just listened to me without even a spark of surprise or confusion. Almost like he knew. So I continued somewhat more calmly, only because the lump in my throat wasn't allowing me to yell..
"How the hell do you expect me to watch my own father hurt you.. Or see you hurt them? I would have to hate you after that, and damn me, but I cannot fucking do that. It would only mean going against my own self."
At that point, my voice trailed off, raspy and even slightly shaky when I became aware of the closeness between the two of us. He was just standing there, his body near mine, almost pressed against mine.. Almost. His brows furrowed as he scanned me and listened to every word I had to say..
"If I wanted a war, I wouldn't had ran with you today, Lana. I could've killed that bastard right there. I wanted to."
I looked down. "But you didn't." And he did the right thing not to.
"I didn't. I didn't because of you."
Just a simple lean closer was enough for him to put his hand against the counter behind me and trap me right there. The closeness gave me relief, making me look up at him and see the longing in his eyes, reflected back on mine.. Hearing the truth behind his words and feeling my heart melt.
He inhaled sharply. "I went against my own instincts for the millionth time, all because of you, Lana. Because I know how much that war can ruin you. And killing him would've started exactly that.. A war."
"Then why..- why did you make me explain all of this to you if you knew?"
The simple reach of his hand towards my face gave me the kind of relief I was longing for, for what seemed like months, when it only had been a little more than a day.. His touch soothed the mightiest flames that burned in the darkest depths of my soul, and I could somehow breathe again.
"I knew a lot of things.. I just wanted to hear you say them. To my face."
At that point his breath was against my own, and a simple lean from either of us would've been enough for our lips to touch.. But neither of us did it because that closeness offered enough soothing for that moment, almost as if we were more desperate to keep looking into each other's eyes than for anything else.
He ran the tip of his finger lightly over the side of my face, turning his knuckle and continuing that gentle trace down my neck.. Down my shoulder and arm. I watched how he followed his own touch, and I had had enough of keeping my hands to myself..
A simple lean, a simple wrap of my arms around his torso was enough for him to do the same thing, pulling my closer effortlessly by wrapping those strong arms over my whole back..
Keeping me against him in a way that my head was pressed against his chest, right where his heart beat rhythmically.. Right where his warmth melted my soul, his presence giving me the kind of safety I couldn't get enough of..
That simple hug seemed to be the key, the way of us soothing that fury, that anger that we spent almost an hour trying to get out through yelling, yet it was silence what we needed.. Each other's arms that gave the calming.
A minute passed, and I just snuggled closer to him, feeling him leave a soft kiss right there on top of my head, inhale deeply and run his hand through my hair from behind.
"You know, that night, after the ball, you said something when you were falling asleep.." I kept my eyes closed and allowed myself to feel how his chest slightly vibrated as he spoke. "You said these exact same words."
My eyes instantly opened, feeling my heart preform a skip that almost knocked all air out my lungs. However, I didn't move. I seemed to hold my breath, frown in confusion as I tried remembering when I could've said such words that I had never said to anyone else before..
He once again ran his fingers through my hair, over my back. "You know what I told you?"
He obviously knew I didn't remember, and probably knew that it would freak me out that I didn't remember saying such things, so his hand moving over my hair and back, his lips moving against my hair as he spoke.. It calmed me and kept me in place..
I mumbled a slight 'Mm?' and looked up at him slightly, still keeping my arms wrapped around his torso like I just didn't want to let go. And I really didn't. Because I knew eventually I would have to.. Maybe even forever. So I was trying to take in the moment, absorb every second of it and have it carve in my brain as deeply as for me to be able to remember it forever.
Dark eyes looked down at me, and the very second I had that perfect face of his near mine while looking up at him, I felt tingles in my stomach, loss of thoughts..
"I said them back, princess."
His soft deep tone almost made my legs give out on me, but his arms held me tightly and safely against himself, having me get on my tiptoes slightly and bury my face against his shoulder, near his neck, just so that I could have his scent flood my senses enough to leave me dizzy..
He pulled away slightly, just enough to have me look at him, make me hypnotized by that perfect serious frown that only proved how true his words were.. He scanned my face slowly and surely, brought his hand over my chin and ran his thumb over my lips as lightly as to tingle, causing my eyes to flatter closed..
"Lana, I'm ready to start and win a war for you," The words should've frightened me perhaps, but they soothed me in that moment, making me only look back at him and once again hold my breath in fascination from how damn perfect he was. "And a war is nothing compared to just how damn much I love you."
My heart flattered in the most unusual way.. My hands suddenly went numb from how quickly those feelings for this man flooded me.. Underneath my veins ran tremors, tingling my palms to the point where my skin was itching to touch him..
And that's what I did. My hands went over the sides of his face, and a simple pull from him was enough for our lips to connect in one breathless move, one simple need for that doze of each other.. In that moment of despair, his lips were the cure my soul needed, and his words the encouragement my mind longed for, just to keep fighting.
In that moment, I knew it was either the beginning of something wonderfully unfamiliar, or the simple beginning of the end.. Not just only for us, but for perhaps a whole kingdom, either the one that I grew up in, or one that stood behind him..
***
The truth has been spoken! Finally these two admitted their love for each other!
Let me know what you guys think Lana will do next? Whose side should she chose?? Because there doesn't seem to be escape from war if these two want to stay together..
Comment and vote if you enjoyed babes! Kisses, 😘
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