Where...where on earth...where around the universe did he find someone like her? His knees buckled, and he fell to his knees like there wasn’t an ounce of strength left in him. She followed him, cleaning his uncontrollable tears til he settled his head into her neck again.

Even though she was drunk, even though she might become sober in the next hour and tell him she didn’t mean any of it, even though...

He would not believe her. The raw sincerity he had seen in her eyes had convinced him her words were straight from the heart.

"Crybaby..." She smiled heartily.

"It’s because of what you said." He replied, his cheeks a little red.

"Now that’s what I like to see," She winked at her achievement, and they stood back up to their feet again.

From there, it was like she had put on a drunk show for him. They would both roam around the palace while pulling him with her, and she would spew out words and silly jokes that would crack her up with laughter. She was so active, and smiling throughout that he could only look at her with a smile.

Her bubbliness had him thinking whether it was her true nature. If she wasn’t so distant and cold, would this have been her natural behavior? Would she have been the kind of person that everyone loved? A person that could lift people’s spirits by just stepping into the room?

She was breathtaking.

A few more minutes and he could see that she was getting tired. She kept blinking like she was trying to keep the slumber away, but he knew her condition wouldn’t let her stay awake again for long.

"Come, Join me!" She extended her hand, sitting on the swing in the garden. She thrust herself forward with her weight, and it began to pick up its pace. He took her hand, watching her in adoration.

"You’re drunk," He reminded her.

She shook her head, "I’m not drunk. I’m dreaming." She giggled, "And if I close my eyes, promise me you won’t disappear."

"On one condition, "He tipped his chin.

"And that is?"

"I don’t think there’s any condition involved. There’s nothing you or I can do to make me leave, dream or not," And it looked like he was about to cry again.

Raziah made to move toward him but yawned instead. The exhaustion was really getting to her. She couldn’t afford to close her eyes. She didn’t want to.

.

.

.

Acacia had stepped out about an hour ago to check on the Princess when she felt a familiar presence in the building. Seeing them together had a smile touching her face, and she excused herself from them. Now that Aragon was here, she left the Princess in safe hands and took herself out.

Ten minutes later, she was in a private and quiet cabin enjoying her own privacy. It’s been long since she took herself out to be alone for a while and enjoy herself.

.

.

.

Raziah wasn’t letting him go. He had dropped her on the bed, and she had held onto him with no intention of letting him leave. Even as she slept, her grip never loosened. If it was the past, she would have been pushing him away by now.

Raziah has sworn she wouldn’t fall asleep, but once her head hit her pillow and his warmth encased her on the bed, she knew she was a goner. She would frequently sigh in satisfaction in his arms, and there was a visible smile perched on her lips as she slept.

Sometime in the middle of the night, she began to stir in her sleep.

Aragon couldn’t stop staring at her the whole time. He just kept on looking like he was paralyzed, het his mind was full and his heart was racing.

"Soulmate..." His beast growled lightly in admiration and boast.

"Forever mate." Aragon corrected.

"Eternal mate." It argued.

"What is the difference between forever and eternity?" Aragon eyed him.

" Eternity is more powerful in terms of feelings and emotions,"

"You’ve lived for too long,"

"Point of correction, I’ve wandered for too long,"

"You know, I plan to tell her about us,"

"I’m not objecting. She ought to know if you’re planning to spend eternity with her." The beast paused, then asked, "Wait...how long will she live anyway?"

Before anything else could be said, her eyes began to open. Raziah quickly sat up when she heard the door softly closing, and the sleep instantly vanished from her eyes. If it were Malcolm or Maria, they wouldn’t just run out of the room just like that. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

But when that intoxicating Citrus scent caught her nose, every nerve in her body came to life. She crawled off the bed and made her way toward the door to find him. Her heart soared and burned at the same time, anticipation and excitement rushing through her veins.

She ignored the slight headache she felt, and the taste of alcohol in her mouth. Her full attention was to find him, to see him, to feel his presence in front of her. To know that he was there. She needed to know.

She kept following the shadow slipping around the castle that refused to stop. The guards she came across didn’t say anything to her, but she couldn’t care less. Her legs kept taking her wherever the Shadow went till the exhaustion began to hit her, "What are you doing here?!" She cracked, her eyes trembling.

The Shadow stopped moving, and she took slow steps toward it. The closer she got, the more familiar the presence got and the thicker his scent grew till she was standing just two feet away. His clothes were casual ones, and his long hair was even longer than the last time she saw it.

He had his back to her, so she had to step around to see him. They both stood along the corridor somewhere in the palace.

Aragon thought he would be strong enough to face her once she was sober. He didn’t even realize how fast he had moved the moment he saw her waking up, cowardice hitting him hard. Maybe it was because he was afraid she would tell him she doesn’t mean anything she said while she was drunk.

"Look at me!" Raziah demanded, "What are you doing here?!"

He looked into her eyes, "What else will I be doing here? I came to make those make a statement in your heart and take you all for myself. I came to stalk my claim and make those men know that you belong to me and no one else. I am here to make you understand that there’s nothing in this world you’ll tell me, absolutely nothing you’ll do, that’ll make me leave. I’ll love you til you feel peace with me. I will adore you till your soul and mine become so intertwined there’s no untangling it, I will cherish your every breath like..."

And Her strong face turned into that of sadness and tears. They rolled down, looking like silver waters running down. Every ounce of strength left her body, melting to the ground. The Formidable ice covering her heart turned into nothing, and a strong pound slammed against her ribcage, calling out his name like it was her salvation.

The only person in this world and beyond that could rescue her from her torment.

"I’ve missed you..." She flew into his arms, holding onto him like he was going to disappear. Along the line, while she had been following his shadow about, she had recalled all that happened between them while she was drunk, "Aragon, I have missed you so much!" She let out the confession freely, sobbing in his welcoming arms.