“There will, of course, be a charge for the damage, sir. From what you have described…”
“I will pay handsomely in ironmarks to cover the damage to the suite and furnishings, but also for your cooperation with this matter. You can add this to my tab.” He reassured, holding eye contact as he spoke. Their faces slackened for a brief moment, and as if in unison, the staff smiled and nodded before hurrying off to rectify whatever he had done that night.
Now Rionan looked out to the sea, trying to establish his next course of action. Time was running out, and his dream last night made that quite clear. As he drummed his fingers against his knee, he felt a vibration coming from his pocket.
Alianna
16:37: ok, i am caving and sending you a message first. i had a nice time last night. i thought i would have heard from you
Rionan
16:38: I am deeply sorry. Something came up that required my urgent attention today. I enjoyed our evening together, very much.
He watched as the ‘…’ icon on the screen appeared and disappeared several times before it stopped completely.
16
Falls For
Rionan sat on the sand. He was fairly sure he was in the exact spot that Alianna had found him. Perhaps retracing his steps to his arrival in Porthan would help him understand what was needed of him here.He flicked his mobile phone around in his hand, debating whether he should reach out to Alianna today, or focus on whatever he was supposed to be searching for. Giving in to the strange pull he undeniably felt towards the human, he opened up his messages.
Rionan
17:41: Have I done something wrong?
He waited for her response. Five minutes. Ten minutes.
Alianna
17:52: are you married, Max?
Rionan laughed as he read the message.
Rionan
17:53: What makes you ask if I am married?
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Alianna
17:57: that isnt a no. i didnt hear from you all day. with what happened last night, i thought id have heard from you. then i realised i dont know about your home life. youreon a business trip. i dont want to be the girl that falls for the married man while he is away for work
Rionan took in her words, hanging on to two specific words:falls for.
This wasn’t supposed to be happening. He was being drawn to Alianna, by his power. He was certain of it. Neither of them was supposed to be falling for anyone. Yet, he couldn’t deny that when he thought of her, when he spent time in her company…part of him felt alive. Like he’d found a missing piece that he didn’t know he’d been searching for.
Rionan grunted, fighting the urge to throw his phone down on the sand. In a matter of days, he would be home. He would be trying to right things in Xanthia. He absolutely could not be developing feelings for ahuman.A mortal.
Regardless of his current frustration, he could almost feel Alianna on the other side of her phone screen, waiting for his response.
Rionan
