Chapter 40
I stand atop the cliff, gazing out over the vast expanse of the ocean below. "I've never seen anything so blue before " not even the Caribbean can match the crispness of the vivid turquoise and seafoam green. The wind whipped through my hair and clothes, tugging at my shirt and ruffling the pink and white flowers surrounding me.
"Would you mind if I practiced here?" I turn to ask.
Axe smiles: "Besides being alone with you, I brought you here so you could practice unhindered without any prying eyes. It is easier to practice without a master judging you"
"I'm eager, as always, to learn. So I don't mind the instruction or the judging as long as I'm getting better" I say, laughing.
I turn back towards the cliff and open ocean, take a deep breath, feeling the cool sea breeze fill my lungs, and raise my hands to the sky.
With a whispered incantation, I begin to channel the power of the air. I close my eyes and focus my mind, feeling the magic surge through my fingertips and into the world around me. I could sense the currents of wind and energy swirling around me, and I began to shape them into a powerful spell.
Suddenly, a gust of wind whipped up from the sea, roaring past me and sending my hair billowing behind me. I felt a surge of exhilaration as I realized that I had summoned the wind with my magic.
Encouraged by my success, I began to experiment with different techniques, manipulating the wind in new and creative ways. I conjured up miniature tornadoes and sent them whirling across the ocean surface, much to my delight. I shaped the wind into invisible hands, lifting boulders and tree branches effortlessly into the air.
As I practiced my air magic, I felt a sense of liberation and freedom that I had never known before. The power of the wind was mine to command, and I reveled in the thrill of flight and motion.
An hour passes as I continue to hone my skills, testing the limits of my abilities. When I'm finally satisfied with my progress, I flop down next to Axe in the grass. I prop myself up on my elbows and survey the sunset before me.
"I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be here right now. Even with the danger we're facing, I'm more alive than I have ever been. It's hard being alone for so long"
Axe lays back against the grass, pulling me down with him.
"Before I found you, I thought the bond madness was going to take me. I was close to giving up on my hopes and dreams for my kingdom and my family. I could not imagine leaving Alessandra alone after losing our parents so quickly. Polar is still young; he would not have been able to handle the kingdom and our grieving sister. I dreamed about you. You were faceless but, I could feel you out there in the world, and knew I could not give up"
My heart swells with love for him. I kissed him tenderly on the lips, staring into his eyes. His soul shines brightly back at them. I don't know who initiated the next kiss, but this one rages like a wildfire in my heart and across my skin. Goose bumps rose up over my skin; I could feel his warm breath on my neck, and my body responded to his touch. I run my hands into the silk of his hair, tracing a path from his neck down to his spine.
Slowly, he began to undress me, revealing my naked form to the setting sun. He takes his time, savoring every inch of my body with his fingertips and his lips. I moaned softly, becoming lost in the ecstasy of his touch. He dips his head down to my breast, nipping and biting, before he moves on to the other one. He moves his hand down between us, stroking me where he knows I want it the most. I tug at the remaining clothes he has on. I wanted him to be as naked as I am.
Finally, when we were both trembling with desire, he lifted me up and laid me back down on his cape, where we made love with a passion that left us both breathless. He worships my body with a familiarity only he can have.
Afterwards, as we lay entwined in each other's arms, basking in the afterglow of our love, I knew that I had found something special, something that would last a lifetime and more.
"I love you," he whispered, this is the first time he's ever actually said the words, and I wrap them up and bring them close to my heart "I love you too". I closed my eyes and let myself drift in and out of sleep, content to stay in his arms. When the sun fully sets and the temperature drops, Axe rouses me enough to dress me back in my clothes. He cradles me to his chest and waves away my suggestion that he let me walk.
"Are you sure? I am kind of heavy" I tease him.
"What kind of mate would I be if I let you walk back to the castle" he wiggles his eyebrows at me. I laugh because I love when he does that. It makes him appear more human and soft.
"I will only ever be this way truly with you"
"Are you sure? How do I know you don't have some woman out there stashed in a house? I never asked you how many women you have hidden around your country" I giggle.
Axe swaps my ass playfully " I only have enough stamina to keep up with you. Plus, I took you for the jealous type, so I dismissed all of my mistresses before I came for you"
"You were right to do that, because I might possibly cause you and them bodily harm" I grind out.
Axe throws his head back and laughs, "Velvet, I have not kept a mistress, as you put it, in many a century. The thought had quickly lost its appeal"
"Yeah, well, you better keep it that way" I hrump.
"We are almost back at the castle; let me start a bath for you in your strange human tub and ring for food. Training uses up monumental amounts of energy"
"There's nothing strange about my human tub. You're the odd one out for having servants lug hot water up the stairs into your old tin bath. At least I can control the temperature and turn the water on and off as I like" I banter back to him.
"I concede that you may be right. A modern tub does have some appeal if you are in it"
"You're always more than welcome to join me" I wink at him as he puts me down inside his chamber. I saunter off to his bathing room before he can answer.
I turn the water as hot as it can go, because what woman doesn't love scalding water? I add as many salts and liquids to the bath as I can and sink down into it, sighing as the water mixture works its magic on my sore, tired body.
I look up as Axe reappears with a small plate of food, filled with fruits, cheeses, and bread. "They will bring our main course up shortly. I thought you could use a small meal to fill your stomach now"
I thank him between mouthfuls of food. Damn, I was more ravenous than I expected. "I did not want to wait too long to tell you this, but I sent out scouts to find your parents".
I'm not expecting him to say that, and I look up at him with wonder in my eyes. "Do you honestly think they'll be able to find them? I mean, they could be dead or living anywhere. Everyone in this town and the other one has seen me. How many girls with white streaks in their hair are running around?"
"It is possible, after your abduction, they could not bear to stay here and left. I instructed my scouts to go as far as they could, even into neighboring countries. We have names, which is more than we had before. I will not rest until I find them or find out what happened to them. Ingrid has also vowed to continue searching the archives for anything of value"
"I don't even know how I'm going to act when I do meet them. I feel less abandoned, but what if they still don't want me or don't like me? Do you think I have siblings? Or what if I even have nieces and nephews" I rapid-fire out.
Axe reaches out a hand to soothe my nerves. "They would be foolish and unworthy if they were to reject the gift of a daughter. Do not fret. You will always have me, and the way it seems with Alessandra, she has adopted you as her own. You will never be truly rejected" Axe reaches into the tub, letting the water out for me, and hands me a nice, fluffy robe and towel to wrap my hair in.
Luckily, the food is already there when we get out, but I have somewhat lost the appetite I had before, which doesn't matter much to Axe as long as he continues to feed me.
I lay down in bed with a new set of worries.