Page 66 of The Wild Prince's Favorite
He glanced back up at the mountain; there was no way the tribes could spy anything from the heights in this blizzard, and the archery unit might have already persuaded them against coming any closer.
Braver than his peers, Captain Dajan stepped forward, shouting above the wind.
“Sir, the heavy snow should last a while, but we’re taking care of it. Is there any order you’d like us to execute or relay...?”
“No.”
There was no need. The camp knew how to function regardless of the weather, and there was no such rule that bad weather would cut short the training or lessen their tasks either. If they were that weak that they’d complain about a bit of snow, those men wouldn’t have been sent there. It was annoying, but not a problem. At least it looked like it’d keep the men busy for a while.
Kassein didn’t feel like explaining why he was waiting out there, so he just stood up, trying to chase his interaction with Alezya from his thoughts, while at the same time wondering if she was going to be alright dressing by herself. Maybe that was why it was taking a while, but he could hear movement inside, and she hadn’t called for him. He simply had to give her time to do things.
He clenched his fists as soon as he thought about her injuries again. Why? Why had they done this to her? What had she chosen to go back to? Did she know she might be harmed? Had she chosen to go back anyway? He’d spent hours taking care of her and focusing on healing her, but now that he was away from Alezya, those questions were back to haunt him. He hated that feeling of being powerless. He couldn’t attack the tribes without knowing exactly what had happened, and he couldn’t know what had happened unless he found a way for Alezya and him to communicate. His only hope was for Kein to return soon with, hopefully, someone who could help...
Finally, he heard her call him. Kassein took a couple of seconds to prepare himself before walking back inside the tent. Somehow, she had managed to dress by herself, which explained why it had taken a while. She was still slightly blushing when their eyes met, and both looked away, a bit embarrassed by the previous events.
Worse, with that weather, they’d both be confined in the tent for a little while, even if she’d been in a state to go anywhere, which she wasn’t. To give himself a few seconds to regain his composure, Kassein took care of the fire in the tent. It was hard to maintain with the sleet outside that was trying to come through the chimney and wet everything, so he had to add some wood and vent it, a bit of smoke made the tent hotter and their eyes itchy.
For a few minutes, neither of them said anything, but he could feel Alezya’s eyes on him, even as he had his back turned. It made him even more self-conscious. What was she thinking? Was she disappointed to be back here after failing to go home? Or was she glad they had reunited?
His emotions were caught in a fierce battle inside his head, and meanwhile, he had no idea how to react. He hated being so clueless and uncertain, it wasn’t like him.
“...Kassein?”
He had ignored her for too long.
Even with the lack of communication, she was bound to find it odd that he’d kept his back turned to stare at the fire. Kassein took a deep breath and braced himself. When he finally looked at her, it was clear he’d made Alezya nervous too.
She was looking at him apprehensively, which only made him feel worse. He had been so certain he wanted to keep her here, but now, his own willfulness felt childish, and he wasn’t sure what was right anymore. Even if he’d known how to talk with her, Kassein would have probably failed to put his conflicted emotions into words. He knew what he wanted, and he understood his heart all too well, but he wasn’t sure it was right, nor that it wasn’t his own selfishness misleading him. He didn’t know what that woman wanted, or what had happened to her, and being in the dark was nerve-wracking. He hated his own immaturity. It was like having his older brother’s words thrown in his face again.
“It’s alright,” he finally said, more to say something and reassure her than anything. “As long as you’re safe...”
He glanced at her, and went to sit down next to the bed on the fur rug. He didn’t want to sit on the bed. Somehow, he felt he couldn’t be that close to her. But he did put his hand on hers, mindful of her injuries.
This simple, small gesture seemed to comfort her a bit, and Alezya faintly smiled at him. That smile was like a dart to Kassein’s heart. He was afraid to be mistaken, and he was afraid to let his emotions mislead him. He sighed, and leaned against the mattress, staring at her. At least she was back. The gaping hole in his heart had mended a bit with her presence.
Looking a bit reassured, Alezya laid back down on her flank, leaving her hand where he was holding it and curling up her body so that her face was just inches away from his. She pressedher weak fingers around his hand a bit. For a while, neither of them said anything. They were just staring at each other as if trying to decipher the other’s gaze, in a strange silence, with the snowfall in the background like white noise.
Kassein had only ever felt at peace in the midst of a battle, where his thoughts could be drowned out by the sounds of violence and chaos around him.
Yet, in here, confined with that woman, he felt more at peace than ever before, staring into her dark eyes. Neither of them was going back to sleep as it was the middle of the day, but they had nothing to do or say to break the silence, a silence that wasn’t awkward. They were simply there, finding comfort in each other’s company, holding hands as if that gentle, trustful grip could wordlessly carry their feelings to the other.
He wished he could read her mind. He wished he could have asked her all those questions that haunted him.
Alezya was holding onto his hand, as if looking for comfort too, her eyes looking straight into his without any fear; that wasn’t something he was used to, but he did find solace in her gentle gaze. He found that woman fascinating. She could be surprisingly brave at times, and sometimes, she looked incredibly vulnerable.
It made him think about something his older brother had told him before: “You never care about anyone but yourself.” Back then, Kassein had thought that was untrue and got mad as a result. Yet, right now, while looking into Alezya’s eyes, he was beginning to doubt if he had ever known what it was to truly care for someone. He loved his family, but none of them really needed his protection, his care. He was the seventh in a family of eight children, with a difference of over ten years with his older siblings. None of them had ever needed him like Alezya did.
Kassein was woken up by a light stroke on his cheek. He wasn’t used to getting touched in his sleep, and his body reactedto it right away, grabbing the hand. He opened his eyes just as Alezya winced in pain, and immediately let go.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
He must have sent the message across because she shook her head with a slight blush and a guilty expression. She was embarrassed to have been caught caressing his face, but as soon as the surprise had passed, Kassein grabbed her hand and put it back against his cheek. He wanted to show her it was alright; he hadn’t meant to push her away and was now afraid she’d gotten the wrong message. As he pressed her palm against his cheek, Alezya blushed a bit more. The sudden contact felt incredibly intimate, and he felt his own heartbeat quicken. He liked her fresh skin against his, and that soft flush in her cheeks. Kassein’s stomach leaped.
He wanted more... He wanted her to touch him more.
He wanted to touch her more.
As he stared into her eyes, gawking at her reactions, he very slowly turned his head until his lips reached her palm. He held her hand pressed against his face, and with his green eyes riveted on her, he kissed a small square of her skin. Alezya shivered slightly but didn’t avert her gaze. She was breathing more heavily, and he could guess her heartbeat had accelerated too. Kassein was trying hard to read her, looking for the slightest sign of fear or disgust, but there was none. There was hesitation and doubt, perhaps, but she was looking right at him, not shying away, although she did look shy as he held her hand. His gaze went from her eyes to her lips.
