Chapter 63

Aelin P.O.V

I wake up with a staggering headache. I open my eyes shyly to the light piercing through the window, I groan as I pull my head back. A pair of strong arms wrap around my waist and I exhale some of the pain away. I snuggle closer to him, pushing my hips back to meet his body.

"How are you feeling?" He asked kissing my shoulder.

"My head hurts," I complained, "a lot."

"I'm sorry," he apologized, pain lingering in his voice.

"It's not your fault," I answered.

His body stiffened and silent took over the room. My head hurt too much to figure out what his change in demeanour had been all about. I was happy just to wake up in his arms.

"Are you hungry? I can get you some food," he finally spoke as his hands continued to caress my skin, propagating sparks everywhere he touched.

"I'd prefer using whatever time left I have this morning with you cuddling," I admitted. By the look of the sky and the sun, I could tell it was quite late. With Ascian's troops going to Kylain, I'm sure he had a lot of work on his hands.

"Today, you can have me for the whole day," Arsen answered.

I turned around surprised, as I slowly melted at his words, that was all I could wish for today. However, I spun too fast in excitement making my headache even worse. My smile leaving my face as I groaned in pain.

"You have to be more careful," he reminded me, as he cupped the back of my head with his hand.

"Don't you have to look out for Ascian's troops in Kylain?" I wondered.

"They already attacked, you've been out for a couple of days, Khann has been killed. A slow, painful death according to my spies," he explained.

My lips formed a tiny, "oh." I didn't feel any type of sympathy for Khann, he was slaughtered like the monster he was and I wouldn't shed a tear for him. Not anymore. I felt some type of way knowing that Ascian had killed him, looking for revenge. It had come late, some would argue too late, but I guessed I crossed his mind more times than I thought.

"They came for you too," he continued, "that's why you've been out. You're going to move with Darya and Ulises to Darya's hometown. The little city next to Faljketijn. There you'll be safer."

"You're not moving with me?" I asked, my voice not louder than a whisper.

"We both know that if we were up to me, you would be always with me," he recognised, grabbing my chin with his fingers and lifting my gaze up. "However, I can't run things from there. I have to be here to keep you and the rest of the North safe," he explained, making oour eyes meet so that I could see how he meant every single word. Nobody disliked the distance more than him.

"So, is this today our last day together? Is that why-?" I began asking yet he cut me off.

"I'm going to Fajl as well, I'll stay there with you for a couple of days and then I have to come back. Today will be your last day here though," he informed me.

I nodded. Too much information in very little time, while still having a painful headache. I decided to push everything aside and simply throw myself into his arms, placing my head in the crook of his neck. Enjoying his scent as I was engulfed by his warmth and calmness. I could never get enough of that feeling of safety that he was able to give me. It threw away all my insecurities and all my anxiety. Every wound was carefully attended when I was with him. His arms that wrapped around me and held me as if he was afraid someone would take me away. Yet I was here and I wasn't leaving, not now, not never.

No one would ever be able to replace him, to show me the love that he shows me, to care for me like I was a snowflake. Delicate yet beautiful. I closed my eyes enjoying everything about him, but most importantly how now I could begin to feel his wolf too. He was an extension of Arsen that offered me even more of what Arsen already did.

I giggled lightly, "I'm beginning to feel your wolf," I admitted.

"I know," he replied lightly.

"Is he happy?" I wonder innocently.

"What do you think?"

"I hope so," I answered. My mind was telling me that he was, yet I didn't know whether that was hopeful thinking or not.

"I don't think he's not been happy since we've met," Arsen replied. His ability to show how much he cared for me always surprised me, but I appreciated it everytime. He was exactly what I needed, he knew exactly what to say and most importantly, he meant every word and I knew it.

"But, at first you didn't know-," I argued, knowing there were a few exceptions to what he said.

"Deep down, he always knew, just like deep down you knew as well," he countered. He wasn't wrong, I think all that time, while I may have been extremely confused by everything, I knew something was different with him. I knew there was something special between the two of us.

"Good," I muttered.

"Do you want to eat now?" He broke the silence after a few minutes. I had grown a bit more hungry and he could be hungry as well.

"If we're cuddling more later yes," I admit with a silly smile on my face.

"Today's your day," he winked.

"Are you sure? That may be too much power," a cheeky smile forming on my lips.

"You can abuse that power all you want," he said cupping my cheek and stroking it with his thumb.