The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 201: All The Way ()

"Drink it all up, it will help with the pain." Nile encouraged, handing Zariah the bowl of tonic.

"You can all leave, you know. I won’t get better if you just keep staring at me like this." Zariah pointed out.

Allen scoffed beneath his breath at Zariah’s attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

"Just drink." Allen said.

Zariah sighed but complied, downing the bowl of tonic. Her face scrunched up slightly at the bitter taste and she hurriedly swallowed.

Zariah was still lamenting within her heart at the bitterness when the doors came open and the least face Zariah had expected to see stood there.

"A...Askel..." Zariah stuttered out in surprise.

She had not expected Askel’s presence, especially since no one had seen or heard from him for weeks now.

Zariah had not even thought news of what had happened to her would reach Askel or that he would come, not when he had not even reacted to the damaging rumors being spread about him.

Without a word said, the Crimson wolves who had refused to leave just a moment ago excused themselves and Zariah stared helplessly at Allen who ignored her look, took his leave.

Darren also left, as did Nile and Kirsten. Eloneth was the last to leave after helping Zariah finish the tonic and now, Zariah was left by herself with Askel.

As the door went closed behind Eloneth, Askel and Zariah both fell into silence. It was hard to decide on what to say when their last meeting had not gone by so well.

"You should take better care of yourself. How can you get hurt so often?" Askel broke the silence first as he walked further into the room but he stopped a good distance from Zariah’s bed.

That deep baritone, Zariah had not realized how much she had missed it, how much she had longed to hear it until this moment.

It was only that blended in that voice she so dearly adored was pain, raw and audible.

Askel did not even attempt to hide it, just one look at him and Zariah felt like giving herself a slap.

’I caused him this pain... I am the one who has hurt and disappointed him.’ Zariah thought in guilt.

"I... I was careless." Zariah admitted.

She did not even dare argue with Askel, her heart clenched in guilt as she got a clearer view of him and Zariah could not help but note the dejected look in his eyes and his rough appearance.

It seemed he had thrown on the nearest clothing to him to see her in a hurry given the creases on his robes which was unusual.

"You can afford to be careless...do you know I cannot afford for you to be? If you do not want me by your side, looking after you...you should at least take good care of yourself and stay safe. How much more must you hurt me?" Askel asked Zariah.

His tone was completely devastated and Zariah’s heart ached terribly, she opened her mouth to speak but had no words... she wanted to confess of her longing for him, of how he had been on her mind at every waking moment, and all the moments that came after that, but she did not dare to.

She wanted to provide an explanation but could not explain her actions if she tried.

Explaining would defeat the purpose and how could Zariah even claim to have missed and longed for him as dearly as he had her, when she had been the one to push him away in the first place? 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

It was as hypocritical as Caedmon worrying for Zariah after setting her up for danger in the first place.

"I... have no justification..." Zariah whispered,

Tears of frustration sprung up to her eyes.

Askel was quiet for a moment just staring at Zariah.

"I have missed you dearly, Mhijani." Askel said, after that moment of silence.

The tears Zariah struggled to hold back escaped, dripping down her cheeks as Askel called her in the fond endearment he did, in the ancient wolven tongue.

Mhijani...My Queen. Was she still worthy of that title? Zariah was not certain.

"Tell me you have not missed me. I want to hear you say that." Askel whispered in a pained tone.

"I... I cannot..." Zariah whimpered quietly.

"Then tell me that you do." Askel said, taking a step closer to Zariah’s bed.

"Tell me that you have missed me as madly as I have you. Tell me you long for me as I do you, tell me I have always been on your mind...tell me Zari, that I can close this distance and come to you." Askel asked, his tone almost desperate.

Zariah’s heart tightened, her hands trembled at her sides as the emotions she held at bay flooded back into her heart.

Zariah tried, she did try to hold them back but with Askel so broken before her, it was a lost cause.

"By the Creator, I missed you Askel...there was not a moment, not a single moment I did not think of you...not a moment I did not long for you. So please... come to me." Zariah said, gazing up at Askel through teary eyes.

Askel sucked in a sharp breath and in a flash he was seated by Zariah’s bed. He reached out and wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"Do not cry, Mhijani. I cannot bear to see it...it is hard enough seeing you hurt." Askel said, his tone pained.

Zariah nodded slowly, blinking away her tears.

"I am fine, I am healing." Zariah reassured.

"Am I close enough?" Askel asked Zariah quietly,

"Not nearly..." Zariah replied, shaking her head slightly.

"How close can I go?" Askel asked, leaning forwards slightly, his gaze darted down to her lips and then back up to her eyes.

"As much as your heart desires." Zariah replied.

"All the way?" Askel asked again.

"All the way." Zariah agreed without hesitation.

Askel covered the remaining distance, and his lips claimed Zariah’s in a bruising kiss.