Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 845: What Else? ()

Neveah awakened to a hand stroking her hair. The motion was repetitive, every touch tender and light as a feather, radiated warmth, and what else?

What else could she feel for this man? What had she felt for him once? Why couldn’t she recall any of it?

For a moment, she lay still and maintained a slow, even breathing. And she waited... for something else, something more.

When he catered to her like this, with such attentiveness, she sought the familiarity hidden within the blanks. Desperately.

Her heart didn’t recognize this man. It wouldn’t. But there was something there... something she couldn’t quite place a finger on.

He had called it a mate bond. He had said that urge to be close to him was fate’s will, even if it didn’t feel familiar. She wasn’t sure what to believe.

But she was certain he was no stranger to her, and so, she was even more confused.

A cold chill crawled down her spine, that familiar knot of unease churnef in the pit of her stomach and she suppressed it.

These feelings, they weren’t right. Nothing was right.

"You’re awake." He said, he traced an unseen pattern down the side of her face.

Of course he knew. He could hear her heartbeat as clearly as she could.

His hand fell away as Neveah sat up on the bed, cradling her aching temple. "How long was I out?"

"A day." He replied. He watched her with those green orbs, eyes that hid too much behind their veil of tenderness.

What was the truth? What were lies? And why did she even doubt it all in the first place?

"You stayed all along?" Her gaze met his and he nodded slowly.

It should have felt reassuring, but instead she wondered: He was King, yet his castle was nearly empty and he did nothing else but guard at her side.

Was he keeping her safe? Or away from something?

"You are here. Where else would I be?" His hand brushed her cheek, fingers teasing the curve of her chin. "You don’t know... just how long I’ve waited for you. How much I’ve longed for you..."

His voice was thick and husky. His eyes shone with a long suppressed need, darting down to her lips.

The unease grew stronger, wilder. It overwhelmed her senses and she unconsciously leaned away, catching herself mid retreat.

It didn’t escape his notice. He exhaled a shaky breath. His hand snaked around Neveah’s waist, pulling her across the bed so they were barely a few inches apart.

The nagging displeasure grew stronger. But she suppressed it. She needed to know... she needed to understand.

Because only when he was like this, only when he was clouded in his desire for her did he let the mask of composure slip.

At times like this, she would get a hint or two of something that didn’t quite fit.

But she didn’t have nearly enough pieces of this puzzle to comprehend the full picture.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known..." His breath hitched, his eyes glowing and he exhaled raggedly. "No one...not a single one has compared..."

When he claimed her lips, she gave in. His kiss was urgent...almost desperate. He tasted like mint and wine. He smelled like earth, rain and blood.

But he felt...wrong. Like something forbidden. Something unbearable.

He drew her closer, pulling her into his lap. His hand curled around her throat, his tongue stroked hers. She felt him...all of him, and still... nothing.

Frustration burned within her veins. His claws grazed her skin and Neveah’s heart sank to the pit of her stomach, a potent terror unlike anything she had ever felt before creeping down her spine.

She pulled away in shock. "I can’t. I’m sorry."

He tensed. Visibly.

She didn’t wait to hear his response. Heading out of the room.

_____

The training grounds were deserted at these hours. Neveah wasn’t certain how long she had been out here. She had watched the moon go from crescent to full and a few dozen stars turned to many more than she could count.

She had sensed Alessio lurking twice already, watching her from the shadowy darkness of the hallway, but he didn’t do more than that. Retreating when he made certain she hadn’t gone any further.

Annoyance ticked within her, and a brazen thought... ’she could leave if she wanted to. It was audacious of him to think he could keep her locked up.’

But leave...to where?

In the time she had been out here, she had mulled over it a thousand times. But she still couldn’t figure it out.

That terror...it had been too raw. Too visceral to just be a figment of her imagination.

Alessio hadn’t done anything to terrify her. On the contrary, he had been almost too perfect. Too attentive to the point of being obsessive.

Yet...

She was drawn out of her thoughts when a strange light flashed in the forest beyond the palace.

Neveah squinted, leaning forward. The forest was calm and still. As it always was.

But she was certain she had seen something move. Was it just a trick of the moonlight?

Frowning, she glanced over her shoulder to the hallway. He was gone... for now. But he would be back soon.

The forest was a distance away and if she wanted to leave, she would have to head down to the palace doors.

Unless...

Neveah studied the distance from the terrace she stood. It was high. High enough that a fall could be dangerous, but she didn’t feel wary.

She had known all month that she could make the jump if she wanted to. There was just a certainty deep within, one she had yet to put to the test, sparing Alessio’s feelings.

Neveah retreated slowly from the edge, and then she leapt over. Landing soundlessly to the ground far below.

She stared up at the terrace, her brows furrowed slightly, and then to the forest.

The patrolling guards would come by any moment. She had studied their patterns long enough to know. It only took a moment to be decided and when she made for the forest, she didn’t look back.