Blood Bound - Chapter 59

>>Esra

I grew accustomed to Adam visiting the forest. Somehow, I don’t know how, but the Dryad didn’t mind letting him in.

Maybe it was because he was a werewolf and was a mystical being too.

I had also grown accustomed to healing his small injuries and calling a nymph over if he had any serious ones.

A year passed like that and we had grown really close. We stayed up nights when he was over and just simply talking seemed special too. He was the only wolf in the whole magic realm and he was with me. The thought would often make me feel giddy.

I introduced him to Arsay and her to Adam. Surprisingly they got along well too except the fact Arsay was spending most of her time out of the forest.

Because she was reckless like this, I always had to stay in the forest. Perhaps this is why I was the true Queen and she only had a supporting role, If Arsay was chosen as the first Queen the forest would be in chaos.

I snickered and looked out the window while I sat in my room. I was alone there and had a lot of time to think.

There was something bothering me these days. Adam had recently started visiting less and I would often notice him lost in deep thoughts.

I wonder why he hasn’t come yet?

For the first time Adam hadn’t visited in five weeks.

He always made time to come here so I started to worry, just then my senses caught the portal being open.

I smiled.

I guess I was worried about nothing.

I stood up to receive him but then stopped.

There was something wrong. He would usually run straight to the forest houses to see me but something felt different.

The presence was different and I began to doubt that it was him but then again there was this faint presence that felt like his.

I guess I have no time to waste then. I shifted and flew to the place where I sensed him but slowed down when a wolf came into view.

The wolf looked up at me and smiled and I knew immediately it was him even though there was something odd about his smile.

It felt, sort of sad.

As I got closer, I glided down and shifted back into my normal appearance while he retained his form.

Only when I got closer to him, I realized something.

Today, he was very badly hurt.

“Adam.” I got closer to him, “What happened to you?” I sat on my knees as I touched his face. His left eye was badly wounded and he had cuts all over his body.

“Nothing unusual.” He replied and his answer got me so angry I felt like slapping him but how could I? He was already suffering enough.

“I’ll call the nymphs.” I said and stood up.

“Don’t.” He stopped me and I looked back at him in bewilderment.

Don’t??!!

“Why not?” I noticed he had shifted back into his human form and stood there naked yet it wasn’t that what surprised me. It wasn’t his injuries either.

It was the lack of joy in his eyes and his demeanor. His usual spark wasn’t there, his usual enthusiasm wasn’t there either. Something was wrong with him.

“It’s just, I came to say goodbye.”

Good bye?

The word pierced through my heart and for the first time ever sinceI had met him, I felt scared. The sensation was cold and it hurt a lot.

Adam never said goodbye. He would just leave and maybe that’s why I knew I would see him again.

But today he was saying goodbye as soon as he met me. It felt like the most forgein and strange feeling to ever exist.

“Why?” I spoke, “What do you mean by that?” My eyes were wide open in confusion mixed with some anger.

“Just-” He looked down, “I won’t be coming back again.”

“Why not!!??” I raised my voice. I never raised my voice but something was wrong with me. I was acting like I was desperate.

“…” He didn’t answer so I stepped closer to him and grabbed his shoulders.

“Tell me.” I begged.

“No one knows.” His gaze was on the ground.

No one knows?

No one knows what?

“What are you saying?”

“No one knows I’m coming here.” He said and finally raised his head to look at me, “Because it’s not a common thing but now everyone is noticing things, I always have my injuries healed fast. Even though I’m not home for 2-3 days, having such fast recovery is still strange.”

“But you said werewolves heal very fast.”

“Yeah,” His gaze dropped again, “But still, a year is a long time, people start to notice.”

“What does that have to do with you no longer coming here?”

“I can’t, I shouldn’t, it’s not right.” I felt like he was hiding something from me. Could it be, the thing he wants to hide is the reason for his less visits?

“That’s a bullshit answer.” I can’t believe I used such vulgar language like that. Even Adam was surprised.

“Esra.” He placed his hands on mine and got my hands off of his shoulders gently, “I’m really really thankful for what you did.” His expressions were grim, “I had an amazing time but it has to end. I’m sorry.”

He seemed so serious it was shaking me up but he was so determined I couldn’t say anything.

I couldn’t tell him no even though the word was screaming in my own mind.

“Alright,” I said, “But-” I looked him in the eyes, “Since you’re already here get treated one last time, huh?” He looked at me and thought about it, “You’re not coming back so one last time?” I repeated my words.

He nodded, “Okay.”

I nodded back and we both walked slowly to the river. I noticed how he barely talked to me and was maintaining a distance.

It felt so strange and for some reason I hated the feeling so much I felt sick.

After the nymphs were done treating him she came to me.

“Say your highness?” Her eyes were glittering, “Tonight is the wine festival in Fisilia town. Are you going?”

Fisilia was a small town near the forest. The folks from there often visited the forest.

“Ah.” Oh right, I forgot about that for a while, I was especially invited since Arsay was away or else she always attends events like these.

My gaze landed on Adam. He sat by the river in a broody mood and I smiled. If it’s the last time, it should be at least memorable.

“I’ll be going.” I told her and then walked to Adam, “Adam?” He looked up at me when I called him, “Are you really never going to come back?”

He looked back down towards the river again, “Yeah.”

“Then will you listen to my last request?”

“What?”

“There’s a festival tonight. Come with me.”

“A festival?” I nodded.

“You’ll never be able to attend another fae festival. It’ll become a nice memory.”

“I guess.” He sighed, “I can’t leave right away anyway.” He smiled, “I’ll go.”

***

Fisilia was a town filled with small cafes, small houses, small schools. Overall it was a cozy little town with brick roads and wooden houses.

I had come here with Adam to enjoy the night with music and extra lighting but Adam was staying away from me even though he was getting along with everyone else, even the female fae.

That was the moment I realized it. That very moment when a fox fae wrapped her arms around his and kissed his cheek.

Up until that moment I hadn’t realized I had fallen for him.

I had no idea when it had happened but him ignoring me was killing me inside.

It felt like it was even hard to breathe.

Why was he avoiding me? But fine with other females.

I hated even the thought of it.

It was all too frustrating. I finally realized my feeling but he was going to leave.

It was too painful to even think about and while I was drowning in my feelings I ended up at the wine table.

I was never the one to get myself drunk but I wanted to not stay sober while he was still here.

***

I felt the world spin around me so I decided to let go of the wine glass and sit down. I managed to walk to a sitting area away from the crowd and music but found someone already there.

Adam was there, sitting on the bench while thinking about something. He was holding a cup of wine in his hand while a few empty bottles of it rolled on the table in front of him.

I walked over to him and sat down next to him while he finished another bottle. I looked at the other empty bottles and was amazed at how much he drank.

He did tell me it took a lot of effort to get a werewolf drunk but fae wine is stronger than human wine and he sure had a lot of it.

I looked at him. He was lost in thought with the steel cup still in his hands. I don’t know what he was thinking about but he had a grim expression on his face.

I looked at his face which was illuminated by the lamp flowers hanging all around the town. His eyes were getting droopy and his ears were flushed. I could see a faint red hue on his cheeks but it was barely noticeable.

“Adam.” I called his name and he lazily looked at me.

“Yea?”

“Tell me honestly, What’s stopping you from coming here?” I was dying to know. I had to know!! And I thought now that he was drunk just like me, he would tell me.

“You.” He answered.

“Me? What did I do?” I pointed at myself.

“Because you’re too pretty.”

I blinked in confusion at his compliment but at the same time loved it.

“And?”

“I can’t stop thinking about you.” His voice was low so I had to scoot in closer to him.

He studied my face with half open eyes, his gaze especially lingering on my lips, “I think I’m attracted to you.”

His words, spoken in a low tone, made my heart beat like never before.

His confession left me completely mind blown. I wasn’t expecting that but I was beyond happy.

He moved in closer and I stayed still. His lips were only centimeters away from mine when he stopped as if he realized something but before he could pull away I moved forward and kissed him.

I don’t know why he was scared or what was bothering him but it was okay.

I had no idea then what our actions would cause but I had newly discovered love and I wanted to explore it.