Word Count: 1555

~Aven

The inside of Avila's home is even more beautiful than out.

The entire colour palette is very pale, complimented by lush green foliage seeming to grow from nowhere, blooming the same pink flowers from the outside. This place is the embodiment of Spring, and is as effortlessly beautiful as Avila is.

After the past few hours that I've had, I feel almost too dirty and unkempt to be standing in here right now.

"What brings you here?" she asks, looking over her shoulder as she leads us through the main entrance, and to around the stairs. Stained glass windows cause a stunning, colourful reflection to swirl at our feet as we walk. Stace doesn't seem as in awe as I am, looking straight ahead where Avila takes us.

"I'm showing Aven, my mate, the territories," he explains, resting his hand on my lower back.

Avila turns, seeming to look at me in an entirely new light.

"Mate? Interesting." She sounds genuinely shocked, if not slightly judgmental. Does she not think I'm worthy enough to be mated to him? She obviously didn't assume it was possible upon first meeting. "It's nice to meet you. You're all welcome here whenever you please, although I must ask, what's with the body guard?"

I frown, following her gaze over my shoulder to see Eyrk walking in behind us. He looks a little ruffled, and the way he walks makes it seem like he's exhausted.

"Eryk, what are you doing here?" Stace questions, seeming surprised at his sudden appearance.

"I used the residual magic from your transporting. It was enough to get me here," he explains, running a hand back through his dark hair. I can't but feel relieved to see him okay, although I should have known he would be fine...He's attached to me, and I'm perfectly fine.

Eryk shifts on his feet, glancing between Avila and Stace. "Figured you would come here."

"Doesn't answer my question," Avila cuts in, raising her brows. I can hear the sharp tinge to her voice. She's a Princess, used to getting her own way.

Eryk doesn't look at me. "He's here to keep Aven safe."

Avila seems surprised. "In danger?"

I open my mouth, suddenly tempted to tell her about my powers, about how I can burn things, people, to an aggressive extent. Despite my fear, I'm even about to tell her that I can keep myself safe, although Stace cuts me off before I can admit anything incriminating about myself.

"No, just a precaution," Stace explains with a tight smile. Avila's eyes narrow only slightly, before she shrugs. She knows the dangers of being mated to someone in power.

"Alright, well come with me and let's have a drink. I've been getting into making cocktails," she says excitedly, turning a corner that leads to an outside area.

She pushes two large glass doors open, leading out into a pretty patio area that looks out toward a vast forest. I had no idea this was here, the mountain this estate is propped on extending up further toward the clouds. The perfect lawn before the forest has been cut into, a pond that could almost be a lake is etched into the landscape, a short wooden pier extending out into the middle of it.

*Where's Tade?" Stace asks, shrugging his jacket off.

"Oh, him?" Avila says, smoothing her hair back. The name, unfamiliar to me, seems to be a burden to her, as she chews on the edge of her lip. "He's never around anymore. I mean we are to be married shortly, so once that's done, I'll have to deal with him."

I frown. Interesting.

Avila doesn't seem like the type to divulge something that would disrupt her immaculate life, so I don't ask. Maybe Stace will explain the relationship between Avila and Tade to me later, after we have discussed all that is weighing on my mind.

Stace smirks. "Still don't like him?"

"Can't stand him," Avila snaps, rolling her eyes. "But you know my parents, it's always about the politics."

She doesn't seem so sad, or as downtrodden as I would be if I were in an arranged marriage. She can clearly look after herself, considering her sharp attitude and keen stare. I wish this Tade man the best of luck.

"You'll be Queen soon, and it will be your choice," Stace says, as if to comfort her. Avila doesn't look at him, adjusting her lace sleeves. Her and Stace seem like the complete opposite. She seems so light and open, whereas Stace and his dark tattoos and enigmatic air make them nothing alike, so far.

"We shall see," she sighs, before summoning a deep breath, focusing on the two of us again. "Anyways, mates huh? That's interesting."

"Why's that?" I ask.

For the first time since I laid eyes on Avila, she seems anxious. She shows it in the way she fiddles with the material of her dress, in the way she takes a long pause before speaking again.

"Poppy's here," she murmurs quietly.

Stace's lips part slightly. "Oh..."

"Who's Poppy?" I ask warily, both of their reactions suggesting this is far from good news. Even Eryk tenses up beside me. Stace turns his gaze to look toward the forest, as if he's contemplating running straight forward and vanishing forever.

A hand grasps my forearm, turning my attention around to Eryk. "Aven, can I speak to you inside?"

Part of me wants to say no, to stay here and find out who Poppy is, and why everyone seemed to go stone cold at the mention of her name. Yet I need to talk to Eryk, and a chance to push him on everything he knows has been hidden from me is far too tempting to say no to.

I nod. "Actually yes, you can."

He seems relieved to be pulling me away from that uncomfortable situation, until we are back inside behind closed doors, and the overwhelming emotion with everything that has been revealed to me comes out.

"I wanted to-"

"No, you don't get to talk," I snap, pushing at his chest. He steps back a bit, frowning at me. He's confused, but I don't care. He is just as much a part of this as Stace is.

"Ah..."

"Are you tied to me?" I growl, gesturing between us as if the magic is physical. "Like if I die you die?"

His gaze is hard, until his eyes flutter closed, and he starts massaging his temples. This is clearly something that was never meant to come out, which means they have been willing to keep this from me this entire time...

"Yes." He winces.

"And why exactly was I not told that from the beginning?" I demand. Even with Eryk's stunned, near innocent look, I could strangle him...if that didn't mean I would probably drop dead too.

"We figured you wouldn't allow it," he admits. I can't do anything but gape at him, wondering what words I can say that would convey what I'm thinking. Even though I'm angry, it almost feels useless to be. I can't change any of this now...

"How could you agree to that?" I ask softly. No wonder Eryk isn't very warm with me. He probably resents me. I guess that explains why he has been so unreasonable though, and so aggressive about keeping me safe.

"It's my duty. Stace is my leader, and I do as he says." He says it like it means nothing.

I step forward, grabbing his shoulders. He flinches slightly, but not in a way that is uncomfortable with my touch, just wary. I've never heard of Eryk having any real relationships that haven't been forced since I met him. I just want to end this magical bond between us, and se him free.

"This is wrong...You cant be threatened like this," I murmur.

"I'm not threatened. I'm doing this willingly. He did not pressure me," Eryk assures me, voice soften. Even though I can tell he is being genuine, my heart still hurts. "Aven, I don't think you understand the lengths Stace will go to keep you safe."

I sigh. It's starting to become very clear...

"Well he couldn't have chosen a worst way to go about it," I say.

"I wanted to ask you if you're okay, above anything else. I wanted to know if they hurt you," he admits, eyes roving over me. Thankfully the only physical evidence that it happened is the slight burn marks on my wrists from the rope.

"They didn't, they just revealed a lot." That is an understatement. "But that I need to speak to Stace about."

Eryk seems relieved that he doesn't have anything more to do with this. "That's probably for the best."

"Also, who is Poppy?" I ask, unable to help myself. It's been itching within me, needing to be answered since I got everything off my chest with Eryk, who is looking incredibly uncomfortable at my question. "Eryk...Tell me, you owe me for all the secrets you keep."

He sighs, digging his hands back through his hair.

"She's Stace's past lover," he admits.

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If you guys want to read more of KISSING DANGER you can find it 10 chapters ahead on Radish (:

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~Midika 💜🐼