Chapter 59

"He isn't that into you, I'm afraid," he joked, trying to light up the mood.

"Haha, very funny," I reply sarcastically.

"He's not that crazy," Arsen explained, "attacking the North requires a lot of people, power and armament. And even then, his chances would be slim. It just isn't worth it and his father won't allow him to do such thing. So, no war."

"Good," I replied nodding my head, but as I studied his words in silence I realised a hidden message, "but we're not safe though."

He nodded his head.

"What is their plan then?"

"Well, do what they were doing, get their people into the North and try to get you," he explained, "Ascian won't be honourable this time."

"And what is our plan?"

"Get him before he can get you," he informed me, shrugging, there's nothing more he can do.

Their plan had a trick, it sounded easy but it wouldn't be, especially now that my wolf was in her current state. They had been very smart, they had been two steps in front of us, and now the North had to find a way to reverse the situation. I was sure we would find it, or aat least that's what I make myself believe.

"We can mate," I speak out, "when my wolf is better, we can mate. I'm more than ready and it'll help her out." I open up with him, I had been thinking about for a while. The more I think about mating, the more ready I feel and now that it will help my wolf, I feel even more inclined to do so, but his expression tells me already his mind is elsewhere.

He took a deep breath and looked back at me, "we'll talk about it when your wolf is better."

I could've started a discussion then but I knew that it was useless, so I snuggled closer to him as we waited for our food to be delivered. Feeling as my wolf would slowly heal when he was around.

"We may be moving though," he announced after a couple of minutes of silence.

"Where?" I asked, surprised by the news.

"We'll be moving closer to Faljketijn. To Darya's hometown, you'll be safer there and those warriors are the best we have," he explained.

"I'm safe here too," I point out.

Our conversation was interrupted by knocking on the door, "come in."

The same maid that gave me my food at lunch enterred with our food in two different trays, it was easy to see which one was which as one had much more food than the other.

"Set it on the table," Arsen instructed, she did as he asked and left, closing the door on her way out, "I'm going to let you get out of bed, but only to eat, okay?"

"You spoil me!" I answer sarcastically, my actions dramatized, making him laugh as his eyes rolled.

We both got up and sat on the table. I followed the same ritual as before, letting my wolf eat first and then myself, this time much easier than the past two times.

"Is it a closed decision?" I asked, alluding to moving to a different Northern city.

"We're still deciding. It isn't as easy as just moving," he explained, "but once your wolf is feeling better, I don't think there will be much doubt in my mind. You'll be moving if the situation is still out of control."

"Okay," I nodded, whatever it was I didn't want to make his decision making even more complicated than it had to be. If he thought it was the right thing to do, I would move.

We got to eating silently again until I finished my food when I spoke up again, "I wanted to ask you something, I don't know if you'll be able to answer, but oh, well..." I shrugged, cutting myself from mumbling, "how bad of a state do you think my wolf is at?" I asked.

He took a deep breath as he tried to find the right words, "are you sure you want the answer?" He knew it would hurt me to know the truth, but I needed to know, I needed to hurt for what I've done.

"I think I deserve it," I responded, lowering my head in guilt.

"Aelin, look at me," he commanded, I did as he said, "you don't deserve pain. You were hopeful and naïve as you were able to accomplish so much that day. It's useless for you to know that. A better question would be: how much is she healing? When do you think she will be better? Not that, one part of you has been shattered, let's not make it two. Agree?"

I walked over to him, understanding what I had in mind, he turned his chair to face me. I sat on his lap and I hugged him, "I love you, don't forget that, okay?" I looked into his eyes to make sure he heard me and just like the rest of times I felt like somewhere inside of him, he didn't believe those words.

"Good," he stated and with his hands he guided my head back to his shoulder, getting my loving eyes to stop from looking at him.

"Good? I was expecting something a bit more romantic," I giggled.

He lifted me up and walked me towards the bed where he laid me softly on the mattress. He lowered into my mouth, he grabbed my hands and pinned them over my head and kissed me. He kissed me until I was asking for grander pleasures when he stopped and whispered, "I love you too, beautiful."

I let out a gasp and he let my hands free and separated away from my body, standing back up, "was that better?" He asked with a casual chuckle.

I shrugged, "average," I lied, controlling my breath not to pant.

My pupils remained dilated as I looked back at him and I decided then to allow my wolf to do what we were doing for all my meals. I let go of the control and I let that weak force take over. I watch his body again realising how well his body was made, how his waist was narrowed despite having very broad shoulders and how powerfully shaped was his chest. His muscles' fibres in his arms and the way his legs worked so well with the rest of his body, he was so proportional in all his masculine features.

"When you're done eye-fucking me, I recommend you a shower," he informs me with a devilish smile.

"You could help me out in there," I answered and I felt how my wolf and my human were working together to deliver that line, "I'm weak, you know?" I pouted.

"I'm going to be good to you," he answered, "you shower, have a little time for yourself and when you come out you can decide whether you want that towel to fall off your naked body or not."

"I miss those times when you were all about 'your wish is my command'," I admit, getting up from the bed, pulling the most over dramatic sad act that I could as I made my way to the bathroom, making him laugh as he shakes his head. "Those were the days..."

"Do as I say, Aelin and we'll see who ends up benefitting the most," he takes a step, closing the space between us.

My back is pressed against his chest, one of his hands is on the bathroom door, stopping me from opening. Capturing in that tight space between the door and his warm body. His other hand makes his way from the side of my ribs down to the curvature of my hips where he redirections his hand to travel down to my sex, he caresses softly, "we both know you've never felt better than your last time and it will continue to be that way."

"Mhm," I agreed, closing my eyes.

"Beautiful," he commented, "now shower."