Go Away!

Go Away!


Naeris's POV

“Umm…” I inhaled the fresh air and exhaled, my eyes opening to the flowers around me. “Hah.”

A soft smile spread on my face as I bent down and picked a flower. I gently examined it, my smile widening even more. But right then a snap sounded behind me and I turned sharply to see who it was.

The smile on my face disappeared in an instant when I saw him. My brows shot up at him, wondering what he was still doing here.

His eyes stared at me for a while and I saw the conflict in them. “He is going to be fine. Aeron will be back in no time.”

My heart clenched at his words and I remembered Aeron was not in the palace anymore. I had forgotten his absence for a minute, but sadly, Verek here made me remember.

Does he not know how to read the air before speaking whatever gets inside his head?

My eyes rolled at him and I turned away from him, distancing myself as far away from him as I could.

I rarely had long conversations with him which made his presence around me suffocating and tiring.

I quickened my pace, walking further in the garden hoping to get rid of him. I just have to give him the silent treatment and he will get tired and leave.

But… why does he keep following?

“Can you stop following me?” I gritted my teeth in frustration, turning sharply at him. His feet slowed to a stop and he glanced at me silently.

My brows pressed tighter and I shooshed him. “Go away! Shuu!”

He did not move and that frustrated me even more.

“Take a look around you, Verek.” I spread out my hands for him to look. “I am not in danger. I do not sense any around here either. There is no need for you to stick around me like glue.”

His eyes flickered with sadness and that shocked me even more. His eyes lowered and he muttered, barely audible. “I only wanted to get close to you.”

“Pardon?”

He glanced up at me, his hands pressed together in front of him. What has gotten into him?

“The truth is… Aeron never left me behind to protect you.” He started, looking away from me. “I begged him to leave me behind so that I could be with you. It has been really hard trying to be cold around you.”

“I thought that was the only way to make you care for me because I do not want to share you with my brothers. But it has been hell for me…” His eyes moved and he was finally looking at me. “Worse, you never showed concern for me when I never accepted the mate bond.”

“I thought you were weak and…” he sighed helplessly, running his fingers through his hair. “But all you did was detach yourself from me and that fucking hurt. I have never been the same since using training as a silly cover-up. But last night… I felt it…”

I stared at him silently, too stunned to speak. This was nothing like the cold man who stood before me a minute ago.

All I saw was sadness in his eyes and pain buried in his voice. If it were the old me I would have run into his arms telling him I understand… but…

My eyes narrowed slightly as coldness seeped into my heart. He was no different from Nyxion, maybe even worse, and I am not ready to give him a second chance.

“I think you…” I opened my mouth to speak but right then a maid's voice cut me off.

“My lady! A letter delivered to you from Alpha Aeron!” The maid screamed, waving a letter in the air.

“Aeron?” My eyes widened in surprise as joy surged through my heart, kicking whatever I wanted to say out of my head. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Verek's face lose all joy and he turned away from me.

Not that I cared.

“When was this delivered?” I took the letter from the maid and paused when I saw a foreign flower beside it. “No need to reply. You may leave,” I added.

The maid bowed then hurriedly ran away.

I brushed off a strand of hair blocking my view behind my ear before unfolding the letter. My eyes scanned through the content and a smile unknowingly spread across my lips.

\[The flower reminded me of you and I had to quickly write this letter before I forget. The conditions in this place are very harsh, maybe because of the war, but somehow this flower survived through it. I hope you keep it safely and eat healthy. I cannot wait to come back to you. I miss you already, my dearie.\]

“Hmph! I should have lectured him on how dangerous it is to send letters in the middle of a war to me. That is an indirect slap to Talon's face.” I smiled, rereading the letter to be sure that I did not miss anything. “I miss you too, Aeron. I want you to return safely to me.”

It has been different since you were gone.

I pressed the letter to my chest, closing my eyes in satisfaction and relief. I did not realize how worried my heart had been.

He always seems to know what I am thinking. I feel whole again.

I slowly opened my eyes to the flowers swaying in the wind. It was quiet everywhere. I turned to Verek but surprisingly he was not there.

“That is strange. Where did he go?” I muttered, searching around but no matter how much I stretched my neck I could not find him.

“We were in the middle of a conversation.” I clicked my tongue then shrugged. “It is not like I was going to help him anyway. Maybe rejecting the connection with him will be taken care of later. But for now… let me enjoy the view here.”

I chuckled softly, the breeze blowing on my gown, and I tucked my hair behind my ears