Word Count: 1624

~Rosie

We didn't resume our task until the next evening.

Time and I spent most of the next day in the hotel room, hiding from both the public, and the blazing sun outside. It seems everyone has taken shelter from this heat, which seeps from the concrete outside, and wafts in through the open glass doors. I tried to spend some time on the balcony, watching people, but the heat became too much.

Throughout the day, Time remained absent-minded. He paced often, speaking to me only in increments that were provoked by me. He gets into his own head often, clearly anxious about what he's planning to show me tonight.

When we did sit down together and have a conversation over lunch, he was almost unnerving. He couldn't take his eyes off me, as if he was scrutinizing my every move in order to determine whether or not I'm okay with what is about to happen.

To be completely honest, I'm not.

Time tried to make me feel better. He tried to comfort me. He tried to remind me that I'm his mate, and despite Amaris being a massive part of his live, that consumed every facet of his love and attention for a great amount of time.

Perhaps what bothers me most, though, is the fact that I'm feeling this in the first place. I shouldn't be so bothered, when I know what will come after we deal with Sinful. I will be reunited with my brothers, and I won't see Time again. Regardless of us being mates. It's something I've accepted a long time ago. But yet, these feelings arise.

Now it's evening, and Time leads me briskly down the street, holding my hand tightly. He wears a dark hood over his head, which almost appears comical from the back. I wear a gauzy white veil like thing, which at least blends in with all the people we brush past.

At least no one seems to notice us.

"I know it's going to be hard, but I'm going to be using magic to get us in there and keep us hidden from both my previous self and Amaris, so I don't suggest talking. Once we have seen all we need to see, I'll take us away," he explains, pausing in a small secluded area on the street, his voice low and hushed.

I eye Time suspiciously. "How private is this encounter going to be...because there are some things that you really shouldn't show your mate."

"Not like that, Rosie darling. Although I'm sure there are some things Amaris could share with you, that would have you excited for your future," he grins, exploiting my original disgust, only making it so much worse.

"Okay, disturbing," I comment, wishing my cheeks wouldn't flush.

"Now, on a more serious note, this will be relatively private, but to understand how why I made my next moves, you will have to see what happened," he tells me. I nod, deciding I'm not going to ask more questions. I've learnt that I cannot be surprised by him anymore. It's doesn't get me anywhere.

Searching my face for any sign of hesitation, only to find none, Time finally decides to initiate this. It's gotten dark now, street lamps coming on, the night life starting up. As night looms closer, Time seems to get more on edge.

He grabs my arm, and suddenly everything goes black.

I don't emerge from the shadows right away. The lulling sound of hushed voices shakes me into full consciousness. Everything around me is still dark, until finally my eyes adjust.

My ears and eyes focus together, allowing me to come to terms with the environment Time had thrust us into.

We stand in a room, with a four poster bed in front of us. Time stands next to me, hand on my wrist, ensuring that I don't move from my position. There are people in the bed, which as my eyes eventually adjust to the light, I can see it's Time and Amaris. Time sits up slightly, while Amaris rests on his chest.

Now I know why Time said this was going to be an intimate moment to witness. I'm not sure why he has brought me here when they are in the middle of a moment I doubt they ever wanted anyone else to witness. At least for Amaris.

That is, until they start talking.

"I don't think I tell you that I love you enough," I hear Time say from the bed. It's unnerving hearing him say that, until I realise that of course, he isn't talking to me. The immortal beside me still clutches my wrist, not saying a word, just staring into the bed, reliving memories from many years ago.

It makes me wonder if he still feels this way about her. I know that he's talked to me about it, and how I'm his mate, not her, but I can't help but feel these insecurities seep in as I watch them together, no matter how much I attempt to ignore it.

"What's with this sudden admission?" Amaris questions. She doesn't look up at him, staring down at her hands as she plays with the edge of the cover.

At least they are clothed. That's one small mercy.

"Well, we are here, on vacation, enjoying each other's company, so I thought I would let you know that I appreciate you," Time tells her, pulling her closer to his chest. "We have been together for many years now, and it's not hard to forget to remind each other."

I watch her expression carefully, which never changes. She's very pretty. Her facial features are delicate but pronounced. She has a sharp nose and slightly downturned lips, giving her a constantly solemn look on her resting face. However, her large green eyes compliment her appearance wonderfully. She is truly beautiful.

No wonder Time fell so deeply in love with her.

"You don't have to be so dramatic," she comments, the moonlight coming in through the window behind us haloing her golden hair.

"Dramatic? I'm just telling you I love you. You know that. You know I will love you forever, which could be longer if you agreed to letting me turn you into a pureblood immortal like myself. You could be immune to your sickness," Time says, sounding genuinely concerned. I'm witnessing a real vulnerable moment of his, which I'm surprised the Time standing beside me would want me to see.

Amaris' eyebrows furrow. "I thought you promised you wouldn't talk about it on this trip. You promised you wouldn't bring anything up about the sickness."

Time looks troubled. "I'm sorry. It's just on my mind a lot."

My heart jumps into my throat. She's sick, and clearly it's terminal, otherwise Time wouldn't be so concerned. But the lingering thought in my head is wondering why she doesn't want to save herself.

"Why are you so worried about this? You talk about forever so much, when we aren't mates. You're meant to waiting for your mate, not worrying about me," Amaris mutters, turning over on her side, facing away from Time. I see the flutter of concern on his face, as he swallows a lump in his throat.

Slowly, I'm beginning to see the seams slowly tearing away.

"You shouldn't get hung up over this whole mate idea. I may never find my mate," Time tells her, resting his hand on her shoulder to shake her gently. Amaris stares at the wall opposite her, her expression still unmoving. It looks as though she is stuck within her own head.

"And if you do?"

"If I do, then I could never just leave you. You mean more to me than someone fate tells me I need to be with. It's you I want to be with," he says.

I know I shouldn't feel it, but it strikes me right in the stomach. Hearing those words from his mouth, regardless of how long ago he said it, hurts. I can feel Time beside me staring at me, watching my expression, but I remain impassive. I don't want him to look too much into it.

"You shouldn't have so much faith in me Time. I agreed to come to this vacation so you wouldn't bring up everything going on beyond this...In our personal life," she tells him, her tone almost close to scolding.

The confused expression on Time's face is one that I share. He sits up properly, shaking her so she turns her attention back to him.

"You're hiding something."

"What are you talking about?"

"Amaris, I can tell when you're hiding something. I've noticed it the moment we came on this trip, as if you didn't even want to go," Time notices. I can sense the pain in his voice, which completely breaks my heart in two. "Do you not love me anymore, is that it? Have we been through all these years for it to mean nothing to you?"

The girl with the beautiful emerald eyes and golden hair turned around, and looked him dead in the eyes, that cold tone she almost always sports not going anywhere.

"I've fallen in love with your brother Time," she says suddenly.

I'm not even completely invested in this relationship, and just hearing that has me going cold. This is a horrible repeat of history, and now a lot more makes sense.

🖤••🖤

Hey guys! If you're enjoying the story, you can head over to Radish and read Time ahead of Wattpad!

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Hey guys! I've released Thought's own story on Radish, which is available now! I want to see by the end, which of the brothers your prefer

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~Midika 💜🐼