38. Longed for Reunions.

38. Longed for Reunions.
I cannot seem to find any words to respond to Caspian's pleading eyes, and I loathe that I even want to. He seems totally ignorant that he has somehow upset his sister, which only vexes me further, and yet I feel compelled to comfort him. It is a thoroughly irritating feeling and unsure of how to deal with all, I instead pull myself free and stand to look at him.

"Is Mira alright?" I ask, ignoring all my other thoughts for the time being.

"My sister?" Caspian asks me, with a perplexed look on his face. "Why would she be otherwise?"

"She just left so suddenly, it would appear she is troubled?" I offer, gently trying to coax him to the realisation I have already had.

"As she should, I am with you now to keep you safe, her presence was no longer required." His arrogant dismissal of his sister only adds to my ire.

Rolling my shoulders back, I look Caspian straight in the eye, "Are you not the one who almost trampled me but a moment ago then?" I have to ignore the look on his face as if I have struck him. "Like you seem to be unaware of your sister Mira's distress, I must admit I too was unaware you could conjure yourself into a space in the moment another of your kind magically removed himself."

"Catherine, I..." Caspian began, his bewilderment pausing and morphing to reveal his annoyance at my obvious disrespect.

"No matter, I shall retire now." I state, so imperious that even I wince internally at my tone.

Unfortunately I do not make it four steps before Caspian is looming in front of me, his nostrils flaring. I should be terrified. The logical part of my mind is trying to cajole me into groveling at this male's feet. In fact, I cannot understand why I am not. It is not that I feel emotionally detached from the situation, but that somehow his presence at my core is not as terrifying as it should be; I know I am safe here.

"Excuse me, Prince Varun." I state with finality, as I try to side step him.

But, he matches my step and before I can say another word, Caspian's arms are banded around legs and I am whisked into his arms like a prized bride.

"Put me down," I shriek at him.

"I will do no such thing, when you will only try to turn your back on me again, Catherine." He responded, and even if I were not looking at him, I would have felt the cocksure smirk in his tone. "You will be my Queen, and I have offended you it seems, because you lash out like barracuda on the hunt. But, no matter - I believe those were the words you said, am I correct?"

I can only seethe and struggle within his grip as he leisurely makes his way through the striking hallways of his undersea home, while he lectures me on my character.

"Yes, that was what you said. Anyway, as I was saying, the earlier events are of no consequence, you see I know the cure for a temper such as yours. The solution is obvious really, is it not? I will ensure we are not to be parted ever again, then I shall not be so frantic to be by your side once more. I shall endeavor to carry you everywhere we go and never go more than ten minutes without hoisting you into my arms or upon my back." He smiles at me smugly. "Besides... It is a Kelpie's greatest honour to carry his mate, whether in his arms or on his back and I can testify that I immensely look forward to doing it a great deal throughout our life, together." He continues before I can object, just as smug, "and anyway, you were storming away in the wrong direction."

"I was not storming away anywhere! How dare you!" I object, finally settling into his grip as my struggles remained futile.

"Oh, you were." Caspian argues back. "It was most adorable, like a baby seal trying to follow its mother across a beach."

"You're manners, Sir, are unbelievable," I counter, wishing more and more he would release me, even if my body seems reluctant to leave the comfort of his arms. I will not be a victim to the whims of my suddenly very tired muscles; so I persist, "Now, I insist you find some decorum and put me down."

Caspian suddenly halts and hoists me upright so my face is facing directly below his and his strong arms belt me to him around the back of my waist. All while he stares at me so intently I feel my mouth go dry as heat begins to creep up my neck. The stormy grey shades of his eyes feel like they are piercing into my very soul, like he is anchoring himself to my core even deeper than I thought possible and though the thought should terrify me, and it does at the very least make me somewhat uncomfortable, I find I cannot look away. I am caught, and I am not sure if I have any energy left to fight off my captor. His eyes jerk to my lips as I try and fail to swallow on a dry throat, if I wasn't staring so hard at his eyes, I would have missed it. But every instinct in my being is alert and telling me he desires to kiss me. That, he is going to kiss me. It is a kiss, that for once I do not feel repulsed at the thought of; Edward's kisses always left me feeling foul and dirty; but the fleeting memory I have of the kiss I long ago gave up on as a dream, from the man who now holds me in his arms is something I do want to feel again. My hands are clutching at his chest, but there is nothing to hold onto. I blush deeply as I realise what I am doing, yet I cannot seem to stop myself. My chin tilts up, just as my feet are placed gently on the floor, and suddenly my blushing skin is deepening for a whole other devasting reason. My jaw drops as Caspian steps back, my entire being betraying me by the bereft emotions weaving through me at the loss of contact with his body, his still naked body.

What was I thinking?

My face narrows to a frown as I look up at him once more.

"Since you asked so nicely, and since we've arrived, I will allow you the distance you seek. At least from my embrace." Caspian spoke, as he came close once again, only to reach around me and opened the door in the wall behind my back.

I turn with a jerk at the movement, my body tensing as he all but pushes me through the door and into the room, swiftly closing the door in our wake.

"Was that really necessary?" I ask, lunging away from him. "You are a most perplexing individual. Really! What is the rush you are in now?"

But before Caspian's arrogant, self assured face can reply, there is another noise which catches my attention fully and has my whole body whipping around in response.

"No, it cannot be... How?" I ask as I sink to my knees, my arms outstretched as her delicate face meows at me again.

My world has stopped, and I find there is not a word within my mind which I could possibly utter right now.

"We have waterproof boxes, in multiple sizes, she only required a small one, so I swam to get her. Under the fortress there are tunnels..." He began, as I scooped her slim figure up and into my arms holding her tightly as I inhale her very essence.

"Thank you," I suddenly cry out, interrupting his explanation further, as Chastity begins her purring and tries in vain to burrow closer to me. "I have no idea how you thought to do this, but I... I have no words for how grateful I am, Caspian. I thought she was gone."

I wept quietly from the joy of having her here with me, so completely engrossed that I did not notice Caspian leave and then return to me clothed. I could not object either as he lifted me from the floor and carried both Chastity and myself back into the bedroom of his quarters. Caspian lay us all down on the bed, and I could do nothing but cling to both him, and the friend I was convinced I had lost, along with everyone else I loved, until eventually I drifted off to sleep.