10-29-2016, 09:46 PM
She bolted to her feet, standing defiant as she'd always done to him as a child. He sighed and shook his head, already seeing the losing battle before him. He was a warrior, he knew when it was wisest to retreat, but it was not something she would allow him to do. He'd have to weather her storm.
She mocked her royal blood, gave voice to the painful truth; that their family was all dead. His face hardened, but he held silent. She had no idea how much pain she threw at him, she didn't know it was all his fault they were dead. Guilt and self-hate fortified him, tensed his muscles then released them in fluid grace. His natural reaction to any kind of threat, even emotional. Ready for battle. Ready for attack.
Then she reiterated that she was not from their king and queen, not truly family to him. He watched her warily, unsure where she was going with it. Her next words surprised him, that she would not allow him to die alone. That she'd be by his side. Her gaze returned to him with a warmth he was not accustomed to. If he'd have her, she said.
She'd called him lover earlier, or something similar to it. Something far stronger than that, truthfully. But he still felt she didn't understand the true meaning behind it. She was too young and untried to know the real depth to it. Now what? Was she offering herself to him? Was she requesting to belong to him, at his side, as a... mate? No, she couldn't be meaning that. Her words must mean something else, he just wasn't understanding her correctly.
Family, she must mean family, of course.
His gaze softened just a little. Of course, Jord. We are family, we will always be connected. It may not be by blood, but it is still strong. Still unbreakable.