"But where are you going?"
"I need to investigate this."
"Alone?"
"Yes, now please go find Sorin." He turns and swiftly walks into the tree line.
I grit my teeth. "Fine." Turning around I make my way back to Sylvie's cottage.
Chapter forty-nine
Sex and Chocolate
Alaceandra
Ifind Sorin at the table. He has my breakfast set on one side of him and some potion bottles on the other. When I walk in his face lights up, causing me to smile despite my bad mood.
"Hey Firefly. How was today's training session?"
I join him at the table. "Different." I answer honestly. "We worked without the daggers today. I learned how to get out of some holds and defend against oncoming physical attacks."
"That sounds pretty cool!" He smiles at me but noticing my sour mood he pivots the conversation. "Are you ready to dig into potions 101, or would you prefer to eat breakfast first and talk for a bit?"
I grab the breakfast bowl as my stomach growls yet again.
He laughs. "That's what I thought. How are you doing, Firefly?"
I shove a bite of food in my mouth and chew, thinking about my answer. Swallowing, I look back at Sorin. "Not great."
"No? Why is that?" He fiddles with his potion bottles on the table, giving me room to think without the pressure of his eyes on me.
"Fear maybe?" I question myself more than him. "I do not know." I pinch my nose. "Things are just getting more and more confusing as the days pass by."
"In what sense? Are you still okay with everything that happened the other night?"
My mind flashes back to him in between my legs and a blush steals over my face. "Yes."
"Good." His warm hand finds its place on my thigh. "What is going on, Firefly?"
I pause in my eating. "What has been going on since I was shipped off to Helomasi. While I feel like I have gained more control over my physical self, I still feel as though I do not know what is going on around me. All of this feels so… temporary. Like if I breathe the wrong way all the training and playfulness with the three of you will be turned to dust and I will be left to play political games once again. It makes it hard to enjoy anything. On top of that I had a really weird dream-"
"Dream?" Sorin questions.
"Or nightmare? I do not know. It was of a man I did not recognize. He told me not to trust the three of you. And although I want to believe his words are full of shit, the other two havemade it really hard for me not to place any weight in what he said."
Sorin's thumb caresses my hand. "I will not tell you that dream walkers have a proclivity for manipulation because I am sure you have heard enough of that already from Sam." I nod jerkily. "What I will say is that Sam and I would never do anything that was meant to endanger you or put you at risk. We care for you deeply, Lace. Us following you was to keep you safe, whether that meant putting aside our feelings for you or not."
"Because I am so valuable to others." I spit out.
Sorin places a gentle hand on my cheek. "Because you are valuable to me. Not because of any powers or prophecy, but because you are you, Lace. If you had no standing at all, no higher calling or crazy powers, I would still want to be with you. Adventuring and growing with you has only made me want to be stronger and better for you. It always has."
"Then why must you keep me so in the dark when it comes to my father's plans and my future?"
Pain etches his features. "I have tried to give you every hint towards those intentions without saying the words, Firefly. Those words would-" He chokes and grabs for a bottle on the table, drinking down the potion quickly. I clutch at his hand my heart racing. After a moment, he continues to speak, and I relax. "All I can say is to remember our capture and the rock. Forces want to ensure your tale goes their way, but let us ensure that your future is your choice."
I nod at him, still concerned about his pale features. Smiling at me once more he leans in and kisses my lips gently. I allow him this kiss and rake my hands through the back of his hair to deepen it. He responds by pulling me into his lap, his lips taking full control over mine. Our hands wander over each other, and I cannot help but moan as he pinches one of my nipples betweenhis fingers. Lifting me up, he ends our kiss and walks over to the ladder leading to his cottage before jumping down the chute.
I laugh. "Where are we going?"
