Chapter 198: For you
Ayla was on her feet before she even realized she had moved, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.
Cassian looked up in surprise.
"Ayla, is everything alright?"
She didn’t answer.
Her eyes were fixed on the doors Ares had disappeared through.
Something was wrong... she knew it and she had to know what. So she hurried out the door after Ares.
The moment she stepped outside to the courtyard, the noise from the celebration dulled behind her.
Ares stood several feet away, speaking to the guard who had approached him earlier, his arms were crossed over his chest as he listened.
Ayla slowed, her heart was pounding.
"What is it?" she approached him.
Both men turned and Ares’ eyes widened in surprise.
"Ayla..." He looked at her from head to toe. "What are you doing? You should be inside."
"Tell me." She reached him and caught his arm. "What is wrong? I know something is wrong. So tell me."
Ares blinked in confusion.
Just then movement caught his eye behind her and when he looked, Cassian was approaching them with concern etched on his face.
"Tell me, Ares." Ayla’s voice cracked. "Please."
Cassian reached them, his eyes moving from Ayla’s face to Ares’.
"What do you have to tell her?"
"I do not know." Ares’ said carefully.
He looked at Ayla again.
She seemed distraught. She was trembling and her breathing was uneven.
Ares immediately stepped toward her, placing both hands on her shoulders.
"Ayla, there is nothing wrong. The guard merely came to tell me that some of the people are clamoring at the gate, trying to fight their way in. We are looking for how best to tell them off.
Ayla stared at him.
"Really?" Ayla heaved a, her shoulders sagging with relief.
"Yes." Ares said, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze.
He glanced at Cassian, who was frowning and arched an eyebrow at him. Cassian shook his head in a way that said he had no idea what was wrong with her.
Ares’ gaze returned to Ayla.
"What did you think was wrong? You can tell me."
"Us," Cassian said, stepping forward.
Ares glanced at him and nodded.
"You can tell us." He corrected. "Whatever it is, we will handle it."
Ayla swallowed, her eyes dropping to her feet.
She didn’t know how to explain it. She had followed Ares because something inside her had told her there was danger.
"Nothing," she finally said, her voice was small. "I just thought..."
She took a breath.
"I just thought the worst." Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress. "I assumed somehow something would go wrong and it would interfere with the happiness we have now."
There was a pause before she raised her head to meet Ares’ soft eyes.
"I have been having...nightmares."
"Nightmares," Cassian repeated. "Since when?"
"Since we returned from Emberfall."
"Why did you not say anything, Ayla?"
"I did not want to bother anyone." she looked away. "You all have lost so much because of me, and I didn’t want to..."
"You will never be a bother to me." Ares’ voice cut in. "Or to any of us. I thought I had made that very clear, Ayla." He peered into her eyes.
Ayla swallowed again and nodded.
Ares’ thumb moved gently against her shoulder.
"I will brew a special potion for you to take." Cassian said. "It will relax your mind and, with any hope, dispel the nightmares. You have nothing to worry about, Ayla. No harm will come to you." He reached out and gently touched her arm.
Something about the certainty in his voice made the terror in her chest ease.
"Thank you." she smiled at him.
Cassian nodded.
"Come." He held out his hand. "I will take you inside."
"No." She pulled back, gently shaking her head, and managed a smile. "I am fine. I do not want to be led by the hand like a child."
She turned before either of them could argue and walked back toward the doors of the hall. She could feel their eyes on her the whole way.
Both men watched her disappear into the hall and the moment she was gone, Ares’ smile disappeared.
"Something is wrong." he stated calmly.
"I agree." Cassian responded.
Ares looked toward the doors where Ayla had disappeared in.
"She is not herself." he said. "She was also out of it this morning when she came by my room."
Cassian turned to him sharply. "Came by your room?"
Ares rolled his eyes. "Not now, brother. I cannot deal with your jealousy."
"I am not jealous." Cassian’s jaw tightened. "I simply..."
"Yes, you are." Ares turned to face him fully. "In the past, this was me in your position and I remember you telling me that we could share."
Cassian let out a breath. "What is your point?"
"We need to look out for her and we can only do it together so I suggest we share."
Cassian stared at him for few seconds before he sighed.
"Fine." he said at last.
...
The coronation ended later that day with Ayla back in her room, alone.
Ayla appreciated Astrid wanting to be with her but tonight, she needed to be alone so she had sent get away.
Ayla pulled the blanket closer to herself, staring at the ceiling. She was exhausted but sleep would not come.
A knock came at the door and Ayla froze, sitting up in her bed.
She glanced toward the door.
Who would be knocking this late?
"Who is it?"
There was no response.
Ayla slowly climbed out of bed, grabbing the night lamp by her bedside table.
"WHO is it?" She asked again,, her voice louder.
"Ayla, it is me...Damon."
Ayla heaved a sigh of relief, dropping the lamp.
She rushed toward the door and opened it.
Damon stood there fully dressed with a smile on his face. His dark clothes fit him perfectly, and his hair looked slightly tousled as though he had been in a hurry.
Ayla stared at him.
"Going somewhere?"
"Yes." A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "With you... get dressed."
But when she stood there, staring at him; his gaze traveled down her body, taking in the thin fabric of her nightgown and the outline of her breasts beneath it...
"Or you could come with me like this. I do not mind either way."
Ayla felt the blush climb her throat. She crossed her arms over her chest which only drew his attention to what she was hiding.
"I will get dressed," she said. "Come in. Do not stand out there."
He stepped past her, close enough that his arm brushed hers, and the contact sent a shiver down her spine.
The door swung shut behind him, and the room, which had been vast and silent a moment ago, suddenly felt very small, and very full of him.
Ayla turned to the wardrobe, her hands already reaching for the ties at her shoulder. She felt his eyes on her back and a wild, reckless boldness rose in her.
The nightgown slid from her shoulders and pooled at her feet and heard his breath catch.
She smiled to herself, not turning around. Instead, she reached into her wardrobe for a dress.
Ayla did not hear him move so when his arms wrapped around her waist, turning her to face him, her gasp of surprise was true.
His amber eyes were almost golden , and he was looking at her the way a man looks at something he has been starving for.
His thumb traced the curve of her breast just before his head lowered, his mouth closing over her nipple.
Ayla’s head fell back, a moan escaping her lips.
"Damon..."
"Hmm."
"Don’t we..." Her voice broke as his teeth grazed her gently, and she shuddered. "...have somewhere to be."
"We do." His mouth lifted, and he looked at her.
His lips were slick and his eyes burned with desire.
"We will pick this up next time," he stepped back. "Now get dressed."
Ayla laughed,
"Turn around."
"Why?"
"So I can dress without you watching like a hawk."
"Ah." He turned, giving her his back, and she dressed quickly, her fingers clumsy on the laces, her skin still flushed, her body still humming from his mouth.
"I am ready" Ayla announced.
He slowly glanced over his shoulder, his eyes sweeping over her new clothes.
"Now, I have to blindfold you."
"What? Why?" Ayla’s voice rose in alarm.
"A surprise." He stepped closer, and the silk came up, settling over her eyes.
"Damon..."
"Trust me." He whispered in her ear.
She felt his arms close around her as he lifted her into his arms. Ayla settled against his chest, the scent of him clouding her mind.
When they had walked for sometime, she finally asked
"Where are you taking me?"
"You will find out."
Damon carried her for what felt like forever. She could hear their footsteps and at one point, she felt cool air brush against her skin.
"Are we outside?" She asked.
Damon did not respond.
Eventually, he stopped and her feet touched the ground.
He kept his hand on her waist, steadying her as his hands came up, and the silk slid away.
Ayla blinked and gasped, her hands flying up to her mouth.
They were standing inside a hidden grove and it was unlike anything she had ever seen.
The grove was enclosed by enormous trees whose branches twisted together overhead, forming a natural canopy. Tiny lights floated between the branches... hundreds of them maybe thousands.
They glowed softly, casting enough light to illuminate the entire grove without making it too bright. The effect was almost dreamlike.
The ground was covered in soft grass and tiny flowers. A narrow stream curved through the center, its surface reflecting the floating lights and there were smooth stones scattered around it, and small wooden benches beneath the trees.
Ayla slowly turned in a circle.
"Damon..."
"I knew you would like it." He smiled.
"How did you find this?"
"I didn’t."
"Then who did?"
Damon simply smiled.
Ayla’s eyes widened when movement caught her attention.
There was someone in the trees!
She stared mouth open as two figures stepped out of the shadows.
It was Ares and Cassian.
Ayla’s hands flew to her mouth.
The tears came before she could stop them. She stumbled forward until Cassian caught her.
"What is going on?" She asked.
"We figured you needed a night that was just yours," Cassian murmured against her hair.
"A night where nothing is wrong," Ares added, "and no one is watching."
Ayla felt her heart swell with joy.
Damon stepped up beside her, and his hand found the small of her back.
"After you, princess," he said.