021 - Bittersweet

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE 

NYMERA POV

I crawled deeper into the cave as the footsteps approached nearer.

I pressed my palms to my mouth to muffle the groans. My heart thudded.

"Where the hell is that witch?" A man's voice boomed.

"Do you think she's dead?" Came another voice.

Two unknown men were after me. Things would have been better if I could at least be able to save myself.

"How the hell am I supposed to know? If only you had drugged that horse enough for it to go mad," the former hissed angrily.

His words answered my question. Someone really tampered with the horse. Tears rolled down my face with my hands clenched.

I know so many people don't like me, and I've accepted my fate, but why would anyone want me dead?

How am I a threat? Maybe, but only to one person - Ophelia Voss.

"It’s either we find Nymera and confirm her death or beg for mercy for madam."

Madam? Yeah, I was right after all. It could only be Ophelia.

They continued searching, and they flashed the torchlight towards the cave where I hid.

I backed away until my back hit the wall. The cold I felt was replaced with heat. My whole body was on fire.

The light got brighter, and their footsteps, louder. I closed my eyes and sighed. Death was already here, and there was no way out.

Suddenly, the light went off. The men whispered, but it was loud enough for me to hear because of the proximity.

"Someone is coming. Let's move," one of them said.

"We can't leave until we complete our task," the other replied.

"We can always deal with Nymera some other time, but it won't be funny if we are caught and the traces lead back to Madame Carrie"

After a brief silence, they ran away. I removed my hand from my mouth and breathed out heavily.

Aunt Carrie was the mastermind and not Ophelia? Why would she come after me? 

Did the family send her? Are they finishing me for not doing what they asked of me?

But how would my death benefit them?

My thoughts were jumbled. I held my head as a terrible migraine hit me.

My tears ceased. I wasn't hurt or disappointed by her action. Just shocked.

Not because she was a good person but because she could go to great lengths to get rid of me.

"Nymera!" I heard a familiar voice call out to me from a distance, but my brain couldn't make out whose voice it was.

Just when I thought I had lost hope, a savior showed up and gave me a second chance at life.

I don't know who would care enough about to search for me or notice my absence. 

It could only be Zephyros, but he isn't within Caspian pack as he left immediately the hunt started.

The rain didn't reduce. Lightning became the only source of illumination.

The voice got louder and clearer - Dorian?

Why does he care? Zephyros wasn't available. He didn't have anyone else to please. So why?

He saves me unknowingly, and I'm grateful, but unfortunately, I couldn't shout back since my body had gone limp.

The person wasn't with any torchlight. My heart skipped a bit when the person stood at the entrance of the cave.

"Seliora! Is that you?"

"Zep... Zephyros?" I asked with a cracked voice.

He charged towards me and engulfed me in a tight hug. I hummed softly at his warmth he provided.

I cried out when he mistakenly brushed his hand against my bruised elbow.

He broke the hug immediately and held my face in his large hands.

I had questions, but I couldn't voice them out. Only tears spilled. I gripped his wet shirt and buried my face in his chest.

No words were spoken. It wasn't needed.

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my hair.

Minutes passed, and he let go of me after I calmed down, but I couldn't look at him.

My emotions ran wild, and I lost control and got vulnerable in front of him.

My cheeks were flushed.

He pulled away and diverted his gaze to my swollen leg.

"What happened to your leg?" he asked.

Zephyros could see perfectly at night or in darkness.

"I fell from a height and broke a bone," I replied in a low voice.

"How are you here? Weren't you headed to the South?" I asked.

"I was on my way when I got a message from the secret guard I left behind. He told me you went missing," he grumbled without looking at me.

Zephyros left a guard to secretly look after me? My lips curved into a small smile as I stared at him.

His presence made my fear, doubts and pain all go away.

I didn't realize until this time just how much I crave and need him.

"Hold me tight, baby. This is going to hurt," he said as he caressed the leg.

My eyes widened in shock. No, don't tell me he was about to fix a broken bone in a cave.

"No, I can't, Zephyros," I shook my head as my eyes welled up again for the millionth time in the last hours.

I detest pain, and I can never bear it.

"Look at me, baby." He held my face and locked eyes with his dark ones.

The well-concealed rage flooded within the worried look.

He continued. "If I don't do this, you might actually end up with a disfigured leg, and I don't want anything to ruin your beauty.”

"I need you to trust me," he pleaded, and I nodded hesitantly.

Carefully, he raised the leg and swiftly reset the bone. A piercing scream tore from my lips as the pain wrecked my body.

I dug my nails into his skin and latched my teeth onto his shoulder until I drew blood.

"It's fine now, baby." He stroked my back after he had tied the leg with his shirt.

I calmed down and hiccupped. Though it still hurt, it wasn't as bad as before.

The cave fell into a comfortable silence as none of us said a word.

Zephyros pulled away, wiped my tears and kissed me gently as though he didn't want to hurt me.

The kiss wasn't like the usual domineering and hunger filled kisses we've had before.

We both needed each other, and this was the only way we could explain it. Words alone can't do it.

I melted into the kiss, and he groaned deeply. Zephyros was restraining himself from losing control.

He wasn't a gentleman, but for me he forced himself to be.

Nothing else mattered except us.

My lungs contracted, and I was out of air. I slapped his chest softly, and he broke the kiss.

"I'll make them suffer. They'll beg for death, but it won't come to them. No one hurts my woman and goes free." He seethed.

Butterflies filled my stomach as he called me his woman again. I don't think I could ever get used to him saying that.

He placed me on his thighs and cuddled me like a baby, and I snuggled deeper.

"You looked breath-taking today. My choices are always perfect," he said.

His choice?

"What did you choose?"

"Your outfit," he shrugged.

I looked up immediately. "The dress and coat were from you?"

"Hmm," he nodded.

Was this man for real?

"Did you send the healing balm too?" I demanded, but he shook his head.

"What healing balm? What happened?" he demanded.

I hung my head low and bit my lip. I should be careful of what I say in front of this man.

"It's nothing.”

I knew that he wasn't satisfied with my answer but kept quiet.

His scent became overwhelming, and my hormones became excited and my eyes droopy.

"People who know my secret, call me a curse but why do you like this curse?" I enquired.

He didn't reply but kissed me for a few minutes before pulling away.

"I don't like you," he stated, which made me furrow my brows.

"Instead, I love you. The woman I love is not a curse. You, Seliora, are my blessing. I want to make you mine and bring the world before your feet."

"What can I do to take you away from here?"

I pinched myself to hold my tears. "Nothing. I can't leave here, Zephyros,"

"Why? Is it because of your mother?" He asked.

Time stilled. I froze.

What else does he know? I thought he was in the dark, but what if I'm the clueless one?