48. AURELIA

Chapter forty-eight

AURELIA

D amian's steps were heavy as he moved closer to me, his solemn expression revealing the weight of his remorse. His eyelids drooped, casting shadows of guilt across his face. Meanwhile, the others engaged in lively conversation, eagerly devouring the fruits and vegetables rapidly grown by Abner and Clemmy.

"Can we talk?" he asked, worry and concern lining his eyes.

"Yes," I said, and we made our way to a patch of trees, slightly hidden from everyone else.

We made our way to the sides of the trunks of the aspen trees, and I leaned against one, making eye contact with Belle. She glanced my way, but continued to spit flames in the air alongside the other dragons, relishing their company.

I shifted my weight, my gaze fixed on Damian, waiting for him to break the silence. He stood rigidly, his hands twisting with nervous energy. Time seemed to stretch as we both remained silent, giving him the space to speak his mind. "Look. I was desperate, and I messed up."

"Messed up? That's what you call trying to kill me?" my voice rose, and then in a whisper, I said, "You would've killed me." Avoiding his gaze, I couldn't meet his eyes. That was what he originally wanted. He wanted to kidnap a Scaleborne for one of his wishes. He was going to kill me and slaughter me as if I was another animal. An object.

"I know that there's absolutely no excuse. I was lonely. Dragons killed my parents, Aurelia. I lost everything, and I had nothing. And things changed between us."

"But you could've had me," I said, looking up into his warm, soft brown eyes. "Damian," I said again in a faint whisper. "I wanted to give you everything. I wanted to be your everything." His gaze faltered, retreating from mine, unable to hold my gaze any longer. I couldn't bring myself to trust him again, not in the way I once did.

"I have no excuse. I understand that. I was lonely, and at the time, I thought I was doing it for Sebastia. That was until you changed me, Aurelia. You've changed me for the better. I wasn't going to hurt you, kill you . I didn't know that they were following us."

"You don't think that I know what loneliness feels like? Being locked in a tower my entire life, trying to please a father who despises you, never being good enough! YOU don't understand." My emotions were succumbing to the fury that I was feeling in my veins.

He paused, his gaze drifting elsewhere before he stepped closer, intertwining his fingers with mine. Though turmoil churned within me, I remained silent, my heart heavy with comprehension. The unspoken shift between us hung heavy in the air.

"My Queen," he said, his voice shy of a whisper. "You're all that I need." His hand cupped my cheek like he always did. Tears streamed down my face that I hadn't known arose in the first place. "You may have been the bane of my existence, but now you are everything to me. I wouldn't give you up for the world. I would die before losing you." He tilted my head up so that I could look him in the eyes. "I could never hurt you." There was a soft smile on his face. His dimple shone and made my heart flutter. I cared about him, and I trusted his words. I knew that he meant them. I knew that he would put his life before mine. His actions had shown this. "Do you forgive me? For actions and decisions I made before you came in and turned my world into a better place?"

"Damian, how do I know this isn't just another empty promise?" I asked, a tear trickling down my cheek, thinking of the times he promised to protect me. His actions were there, but I wasn't so sure about his true intentions.

"You don't," he paused, "but I will show you until the day that I die that this is more than an empty promise, but a timeless oath etched into the stars of the gates of Ezu 1 itself." He moved closer to me, and I could feel the comforting warmth of his body.

I thought for a moment, absolutely not wanting to accept his apology. He tried to have me killed. Images flashed through my head of what could've happened. What may still happen?

My body trembled with thoughts.

"You need me, Damian?" I thought of the first night we were together when he told me to beg for him to stay. "Beg, and I'll stay."

He halted, surprised by my request. A smirk crossed his face, realizing what I pulled on him, mocking him from what he told me on one of the first days of us being together, only a few days ago. "I'll beg every day for the rest of my life just to have a second to see your beautiful face." I knew that his words were true.

"On your knees," I reminded him.

"I won't beg on my knees, but I will plead for you to forgive me." He came up closer and squeezed my hands with his own. "And to keep our deal with teaching me Satas Lerma ," he said with his dimple peaking through his grown facial hair, and I couldn't help but stifle a giggle from his continuing desire to learn Satas Lerma .

After thinking of all the times he thought of harming me, I thought of the times he didn't hurt me when he could have. He saved my life countless times. At the Scaleborne trade bar, when I almost drowned, when I got shot. He did what the Scalekeeper said to save me. He used his wish to accomplish my desires when he could've easily brought Sebastia back to life.

I still wouldn't be able to trust him for a while. It was going to take time. But I wanted to try.

Tears filled my eyes. "It's going to take time, Damian. But I am willing to take it." He squeezed my hands, affirming his feelings were still there for me. Sometimes true forgiveness was more than a mere answer of words.

1. Ezu (Eh-ooh): Heaven