Chapter Text
Chapter Five
After that dramatic reunion in Alex’s room, Aven was dragged back by his brother to his room while Kyia bounded away to bring the palace physician. Alex had followed the princes to Aven’s room, watching in amusement as Roka mercilessly fussed over an annoyed Aven. The younger prince kept on darting looks at her, silently begging her to save him from Roka’s smothering.
“I think Aven likes his personal space, Roka,” Alex said, deciding to step in to rescue. She gently pried Roka’s tight hold on Aven’s arm, like he was afraid his younger brother would suddenly vanish without warning, then directed Aven back to his bed. He looked paler and still weary from the poison.
Roka was ready to run out of Aven’s room to hunt down the palace physician and personally drag him back, but Kyia had finally arrived right on time, the physician not too far behind. Alex was surprised to see that both the King and the Queen were also present.
Alex wobbly smiled when Queen Niida burst into loud, relieved sobs, collapsing unceremoniously on the floor beside Aven’s bed just so she could properly pull him into a tight hug. Aven was quietly reassuring his mother, gently patting her back as an added reminder that he was very much awake.
King Astophe’s eyes — ones that matched Aven’s golden color — were suspiciously shiny as he gently coaxed his wife to relinquish her firm hold with their son just so the palace physician could examine Aven.
It was becoming too crowded inside Aven’s room. Alex thought it best to leave the royal family to fuss over the youngest prince while she went back to her room.
But Aven seemed like he knew what she was thinking, for his bright, golden eyes met her gaze.
Stay, he wordlessly said. Stay, please.
She gave him a small smile; his attention was soon directed to the palace physician, who started asking him a litany of questions while simultaneously doing tests.
‘Maybe just for a little while,’ she thought.
It felt like the whole of Meya released a collective sigh of relief now that Prince Aven had recovered from his close encounter with death.
While the royal family was being deliberately reticent about their youngest son’s lack of presence in the kingdom, there had been rumors going around. There were at least twenty or so Garseth who’d witnessed Aven’s collapse. Alex wasn’t surprised that news like this had spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom.
Which was why, when Aven stepped out of the Meyarin castle for the first time for a brief stroll, there were audible gasps and sighs of relief following his wake.
“You should have seen the Meyarins, kitten,” Niyx reported to her, as he had accompanied Aven on his first public appearance after recovering from Sarnaph poisoning. “I think one mother even started crying in relief. It was outrageous.”
“And Aven?” she asked, lips twitching into a smile as she went back to defending absentmindedly against Roka’s controlled attacks. “How was he?”
“The stupid kregon basked under all of the attention, by the light,” Niyx replied. “I’m sure he’d get poisoned again and again just to receive the love of our people.”
Alex hissed - both because of Niyx’s words and Roka’s jab against her ribcage.
“Too soon?” the Raedon heir asked. “Judging from the sudden pain that appeared on my chest, my words may have distracted you from your training with Roka.”
The Crown Prince had furiously apologized for it. Alex got annoyed that he’d decided they were done for the day.
“Too freaking soon, Raedon,” she grumbled, grimacing as she poked at the tender spot to see if it was cracked. “It will never be okay for me to joke that, I fear.”
“Aww, is the mortal getting all softie for Aven?” Niyx then teased. “Be careful, Aeylia. It kind of feels like you’re falling in love, too.”
Her cheeks reddened in horror, a huge huff of indignation blowing out of her lips.
“Is everything all right?” Roka asked, worry in his eyes.
Alex dismissively waved her hand and excused herself for the day.
“Kitten? Still there?” Niyx asked.
For her answer, Alex sharply poked at the bruise she knew surely blooming under her tunic. Pain crawled throughout her chest, and judging from Niyx’s sharp hiss through their mental bond, she knew he had felt that too.
“Did you just poke your own bruise just to spite me?” he asked incredulously. “Stars, Aeylia, sadistic much?”
“Shut up, Niyx,” she snapped.
“Why, Aeylia? Did I just hit a nerv—OWW! Stop poking your bruise!”
Alex’s face had scrunched up in pain, now regretting the two painful jabs she had given herself. “Shut up, Niyx,” she hissed once more.
She blocked off his incessant chuckles in her mind, stomping mindlessly around the castle. It was only when she heard the familiar cacophony of servants preparing for dinner that she realized her feet brought her to the kitchens.
“Lasa Aeylia!”
Alex turned around and smiled brightly upon seeing the familiar, friendly face of Mirin. “Hello, Mirin,” she said in the common tongue. The servant tilted her head in greeting, although Alex knew she did not fully understand her. “Umm.. Kendara, Mirin. Doro trae melana aus kraemsah?” Now that she was in the kitchens, Alex wondered if Mirin could prepare another bowl of kraemsah she had eaten last time with Aven.
The palace maid smiled and tilted her head. “Sesu, Lasa Aeylia,” she agreed, then directed Alex to sit at the circular table in the middle of the kitchens.
It didn’t take too long before Mirin brought her a full bowl of kraemsah. Alex beamed at her brightly when she also gave her a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
“It felt like you needed one too,” Mirin said in Meyarin, pointedly looking at the dark bags under her eyes.
“Am I too obvious?” Alex asked with a deep sigh. Mirin merely gave her a sympathetic stare, no doubt already updated with what had happened to the royal family for the past week.
The kraemsah and the hot chocolate provided the much-needed comfort for Alex. Now that Aven was up and about, Alex… Alex was at a loss. She was glad he was fussed over by his parents and brother during his days of recuperation, since he had basically left Alex alone to her own devices.
She knew something inside her had changed since Aven got poisoned. Her worry for his well-being was at the forefront of her mind during the days when it was still uncertain whether he’d survive or not. Without a possible death looming over their heads, Alex was finally able to sort out her feelings. Through all this ruminating, she had landed on a conclusion that she would, without any ounce of doubt, be quite devastated if Aven did not wake up. As devastated as if this had happened to one of her best friends.
Alex—terrified—thought it might even be more.
“Alex?” Xira softly asked in her mind. “What is it? I can sense your distress.”
“When can a girl get some peace and quiet here?” she asked, her lips twitching into a small smile when Xiraxus chuckled. “Remind me again why you bound yourself to a teenage girl with too many feelings?”
“Umm, maybe because you would have died if I didn’t?”
Alex sighed and took a sip from her hot chocolate. “Touché,” she replied.
“Care to share with me what distresses you so much?” Xira paused for a few moments. “Is this about Aven?”
A surprised laugh escaped from her mouth. This drew a curious look from Mirin, who was standing a few paces away from Alex, waiting to be ordered around. Alex sheepishly smiled at her and gently dismissed her, promising that she was all right on her own.
“Alex?”
“Why did you think this is about Aven?” Alex asked once Mirin went back to her chores.
Xira snorted in her mind. “Alex, please, everything has been about Aven for the past few weeks,” he stated matter-of-factly. “You have so many feelings regarding the youngest prince, I honestly cannot keep up anymore.”
Her heart thudded loudly inside her ribcage, suddenly having lost her appetite. “Oh, Xira, what am I going to do?” she asked.
“About what?”
Alex ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “Honestly? I don’t even know,” she grumbled. “I don’t even know where to start. I don’t know what I’m even feeling. I don’t know what to think. It’s like… It’s like one day I just woke up and Aven had invaded all of my thoughts and feelings for the past weeks and I…” She closed her eyes in misery. “I don’t know what is happening with me anymore.”
“Alex,” Xira gently said, “you just witnessed a very traumatic experience in the past days. You saw one of your friends almost die. I think it is valid that you feel so overwhelmed with emotions.”
“That’s the problem, Xiraxus,” she said. “Because I know I should feel happy that Aven’s finally well. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am happy that he is better now. But why… why do I feel all this confusion and awkwardness when I am around him?”
Xira didn’t answer her for a while, and Alex feared she’d dumped a lot on him and driven him away.
“Alex…” She could detect the discomfort in Xira’s voice. “Maybe the best thing to do right now is to be honest with yourself.”
“That scares me the most, Xira,” she sighed. “I think—” She paused and gulped down the remaining hot chocolate. “I think I’m not ready to face the truth.”
Alex knew the Meyarins were already noticing how deliberately she had been avoiding Aven for the following days. The meals shared with the royal family were excruciating for Alex because she always had to sit beside the youngest prince and endure the huge tidal wave of emotions slamming against her heart just with his close proximity.
She had congratulated herself for trying to appear well to stave off any more curious questions from the others, but Aven was starting to get persistent. Besides the meals, she had made sure she would never be alone with Aven in a room. Anytime Aven would approach her and just talk, Alex would stammer half-baked excuses just so she could escape. Their common tongue tutor sessions had ceased, because let’s face it, Aven was already well-versed with the language, and he didn’t need Alex’s help anymore.
“Put the poor bloke out of his misery, Aeylia,” Niyx told her after brutally drilling her to walk to and fro the edge of one of the floating lands in Draekora. “He’s been pulling me everywhere just to rant the heck out of my ears. He is confused. And actually hurt with your avoidance, kitten. Maybe cut him some slack. He just got back from almost dying.” His amethyst eyes pierced right into her soul. “Don’t make him feel like he’s dying all over again.”
“Well, that’s such an exaggeration,” she lamely replied, pointedly avoiding Niyx’s gaze. “Nobody can die from that.”
Niyx snorted. “Aven might just prove you wrong, Aeylia,” he claimed so matter-of-factly.
When Alex continued to stubbornly meet his eyes, he sighed and asked, “What’s really happening here, kitten? Why are you suddenly keen on avoiding Aven like he’s contagious or something?”
Alex failed to answer him.
“Alex just has a lot of feelings for the Meyarin prince,” Xira suddenly piped in.
“Xiraxus!” she hissed, glaring darkly at the amused draekon. “Help me out here, will you?”
“I am helping you out, Alex,” he rumbled, lowering his face just to bump his muzzle against her head affectionately. “And helping myself too. Frankly, Alex, your overwhelming feelings are starting to keep me up at night.”
She looked properly shamefaced, lifting her hand to pat Xira’s snout in apology. “I’m sorry,” she said, closing her eyes and leaning against his scaly neck. “I don’t know how to stop feeling.”
Throughout their whole exchange, Niyx had fallen silent. It was only when she felt him clutch her hand that Alex finally, reluctantly, looked back at his eyes.
Niyx had an unreadable look on his face, his amethyst eyes staring intently into her own as if trying to make sense of her actions for the past days. At the same time, his thumb was rubbing comforting circles along her silver scar on her left hand, which somehow helped her calm down.
Clarity now colored his features as a slow, sad smile appeared on his face. “I believe you’ve found yourself in quite a conundrum, Alexandra Jennings,” the Meyarin said. Alex flinched; Niyx only used her real name when he was being serious.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said with a stubborn pout.
Xira blew warm air against her head from his deep, belly sigh. Niyx looked above Alex’s head to catch the draekon’s eyes, a small grimace now on his face. Alex wasn’t sure what was happening, but an understanding was exchanged between the two.
Niyx shifted his gaze back at Alex and said, “I’m going to slowly spell it out for you, kitten.” He tightened his hold on her hand, just so Alex would stay put with whatever he was going to say. “I think… I think you just caught some feelings for him, and it’s been driving you crazy.”
Alex took a sharp intake of breath. She felt like Niyx had given her a literal physical blow against her chest, knocking all the breath out of her mouth. Her throat was starting to close up in panic as she mightily pulled her hand away from his grip and wobbled back on her feet.
“Get me back to Meya, Xira,” she said, her voice shaky from panic.
“Alex…”
“NOW!” she roared, crazed eyes landing on the worried draekon.
Niyx had jumped onto his feet too and latched onto Alex’s hands.
“Let go, Niyx,” she cried, already feeling lightheaded with all the revelation she was currently having within herself.
“Take deep breaths with me, Aeylia, okay?” he asked in a soothing voice. His other hand gently gripped her chin so that her panicked eyes connected with his. “That’s it. Deep breaths, Aeylia. Deep, deep breaths.”
As her heart started to slow down from its rapid beating, tears filled her eyes. She refused to let them fall, afraid she would break further, and steadfastly held Niyx’s gaze.
“I know it is disastrous,” Niyx whispered, pulling Alex back down on the ground to sit beside her. “I know who he is to you in your future. That is why you are confused, Aeylia. And terrified with all these new feelings you’re having for Aven.”
Despite her overwhelming feelings, an amused chuckle still broke out from her lips. “Since when are you an expert on the matters of a teenager’s heart, Niyx?” she teased, a single tear escaping from one of her eyes.
Niyx smiled and gently brushed the tear away. “Since I’ve become bonded to a very emotional one, I think,” he replied, marginally calming down to note that Alex was still well enough to joke around.
“I can release you from the Claiming, you know?” Alex softly said, squeezing his hand in comfort. “It’s scary how I trust you with my whole heart. I know you’ll keep my secret to your grave long after I leave this place.”
“And miss all the fun of you sorting out your feelings for my best friend?” he asked. “Not a chance, Aeylia.”
Her face shuttered. “This isn’t a joke, Niyx,” she mumbled, a few more tears slipping down her face.
His gaze softened as he brushed away her other tears. “I know, I’m sorry,” he said. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry too that you are feeling all of this.” He gestured at her wet face, then to her heart. “I understand, Aeylia. I remember the visions you showed me of Aven, the future one, who leaves hate and destruction in his wake.”
“I don’t know what to do,” she said, as all the fight left her and she now slumped forward, resting her head against his shoulder. “Hypothetically speaking, you are correct, Niyx, about… the feelings you claim I’m starting to have for your best friend, what do you think I should do?”
Niyx snorted and placed a hand on top of her head. “Okay, so hypothetically speaking, I am correct,” he fondly drawled, “I think you should do what feels right, kitten.”
“That’s the problem!” she said, pulling away to catch his indulgent gaze. “I already know what is right! I know I should go back to my timeline and continue fighting alongside my friends and family. I know—”
But Niyx cut her off with a sharp shake of his head. “No, no, Aeylia,” he said, “do what feels right for you. Not for your friends back home. Not for your family.”
“That’s terribly selfish of me,” she pointed out.
“Is it? Really?” he softly shot back. “Does following your heart make you a selfish person?”
“Yes, if it means I betray the trust of the people I love.” Alex sighed and shook her head. “You’ve seen what Aven will do to my future. You’ve seen how much hurt he’ll give to my family. I can’t just… I can’t just follow my decidedly fickle heart.”
Niyx was shaking his head again. “He isn’t the Aven of the future yet, kitten,” he said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Truthfully, I cannot fathom a version of Aven who is ruthless and murderous. He’s been my best friend since I could walk—my brother in all things but blood, and if I have the power to do anything to save him from his dark future, then I will.”
“And you think I do?” she asked him. “You think I have the power to save him?”
“I… don’t know,” he answered with uncertainty. “You said Aes Daega was adamant in saying the future, your present, is set. That no matter what you do and how long you stay here, your departure will trigger Aven’s path to doom. But I just can’t accept that, Aeylia. I can’t. Because Aven is my brother and I don’t want to give up on him.”
Alex cracked a watery smile, noting the sincerity shining in Niyx’s amethyst eyes. “Well, at least now that’s something we can agree on,” she said.
Niyx pierced her with a stare. “Don’t be afraid of what your heart is telling you, Aeylia,” he continued. “From what I’ve gleaned from the visions you’ve shown me about your timeline, I believe it has never failed you. Trust your red, bleeding heart.”
She snorted and buried her snotty face against his neck. “Thanks, Niyx,” she murmured. “And you too, Xiraxus,” she added through her vaeliana bond. “I don’t think I’ll survive in the past without you both.”
For the following days, Alex still could not fully trust her heart. But, she followed Niyx’s suggestion to stop avoiding Aven. She was still walking on eggshells around him, but she could now speak to him when he asked her questions, just as long as she didn’t look at his eyes too long.
She was relieved Aven had stopped looking like a sad, kicked little puppy every time she bolted at the mere sight of him. She knew he was still confused about how cold she had become, but bless his heart, he continued to persistently try to strike up a conversation with her as much as he could. Alex couldn’t help but appreciate him for trying so hard.
One day, during supper with the royal family, Alex’s attention from her silly, teenage heart was diverted when Aven made a startling announcement.
“You what?” Roka asked, jaw dropped as he looked at his brother with sheer surprise on his face.
Aven coolly darted his eyes from his brother to his equally dumbstruck father. “I’ve thought long and hard for days after I recovered,” he elaborated. “After that attack, I can’t stop thinking about the possibility that they might become more violent with the human traders. And so, I’ve decided – I will lead the special envoy to the Medoran capital to discuss strategies on how to handle the Garseth.”
“But… but you just got better!”
All eyes landed on Alex, who realized it was she who had spoken those words aloud. Judging from the gazes of the other royal family members, she knew it wasn’t only her who was thinking the same thing.
“She is right, my love,” Queen Niida said, her gaze landing back on Aven.
“I am well now,” Aven insisted, briefly looking at Alex, whose cheeks had bloomed red from their attention. “The palace physician’s latest examination showed that all of the Sarnaph blood had already left my system.”
Alex could observe that the physician was right. The brown veins were already gone; the only indication that Aven had any wound on his face was the thin, silvery scar under his right eye.
“But—”
The Queen’s protest was cut off when King Astophe held her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Is that what you really want, Aven?” he softly asked. Alex could see the worry shining in the king’s amber eyes, but mixed with that also was unmistakable pride.
Aven did not hesitate to nod his head firmly.
“Very well, then,” the King said. Queen Niida slightly slumped on her seat, dejected, but the king continued to comfortingly hold her hand. King Astophe then looked at the silent Crown Prince and said, “Assemble your most trusted Zeltora, Roka. They will leave in three days.”
“I’m coming too!” Alex blurted out before she could stop herself. For the second time that day, all eyes landed on her. “I-I’d like to join the envoy, too.”
“No, Aeylia,” Aven said, shaking his head. “It will be a long, arduous journey. Quite dangerous, too.”
Alex ignored him and stared squarely at the King’s eyes. “I have been training for the past weeks with Roka,” she insisted. “A’enara is mine to command, and I am bonded with the Heir of the Sky Kingdom. I am well-equipped for this journey, Your Highness. Please allow me to come with the envoy.”
“Aeylia—”
This time, she pierced Aven with her determined eyes. “I was raised by humans,” she continued. “I know their ways. I speak their language and know how to interact with them. It will be easier for the envoy if there is someone who knows how to be both a mortal and a Meyarin. So, it just makes more sense if I were to come.”
Aven looked conflicted, wanting to object more.
“You know I am right, Aven,” she said, allowing herself to be vulnerable at that moment as she reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I am right.”
It was Aven who looked away first, knowing that her decision was set and no amount of protesting from him would stop her from coming.
“Very well, then,” King Astophe, pulling Alex’s attention back to him. The king had a small, understanding smile on his face, which widened a fraction when he briefly glanced at their clasped hands. “You may join the envoy, Aeylia.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” she said. “Then, I must prepare for the journey.”
It was the night before their departure to Tryllin, and Alex was restless.
Things had been hectic in the castle after Aven declared he would be leading the envoy. Alex scarcely saw him, as he was always locked inside the war room with his father and older brother.
She busied herself for the following days by continuing her training with Niyx, who would also be joining the envoy. Kyia had helped her pack all the essential things needed for the journey. Even Queen Niida, during their breakfast meals, would helpfully tell her about the current King and Queen of Tryllin.
Now that they were nearing their departure and Alex was all set, she was able to properly think about what this envoy would mean to the Kingdom of Meya. Spending a week amongst humans made her nervous, especially with Aven among them. She already firmly believed he wouldn’t spiral into the psychopathic murderer he was doomed to be, but a lot of things could happen in a week. Alex still could not help feeling nervous.
Knowing it was futile to sleep on her bed that time, what with all the tossing and turning she’d been doing, Alex purposefully strode out of her warded room before summoning Valispath.
Her travel to the Golden Cliffs was brief. As she jumped down the Eternal Path, her eyes were already distracted by how beautiful Meya was under the night sky. She glanced beyond, knowing that they would be journeying out of the borders of the Golden Cliffs to the mortal lands tomorrow.
Alex sat down on the grassy ground and tightened her cloak around her shoulders. She let the peaceful night calm her tumultuous heart and mind, breathing in deeply the cool, night air. As she breathed out, she hoped for the best.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
She gasped in surprise and swiveled around. Aven stood a few paces behind, a small smile on his face.
“A-Aven,” she stammered, warily watching as the prince closed the remaining space between them and sat down beside her. Alex tensed with their close proximity, but did not dare to pull away.
"You should go around Meya alone, Aeylia," he admonished. "I just recovered from an attack."
She frowned and ignored his words. Instead, she asked, “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“I came to your room a while ago to check on you on the eve of our departure,” he explained, stretching his long legs in front of him. “I almost panicked when I noticed you were nowhere in sight. But then, I saw your draekon was sitting patiently outside your balcony and informed me where to find you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Xira, you traitor!” she cried.
“You looked like you needed some company, Alex,” Xira answered, sounding unrepentant. “You’ll thank me later.”
Alex briefly closed her eyes and fought the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose in annoyance. When she opened her eyes once more, it was to see Aven carefully looking at her.
“This envoy expects us Meyarins to stick together, especially in a land of strangers whose motives we are not familiar with yet,” Aven slowly started. “Are you sure you still want to come, Aeylia?”
She threw him a withered glare. “If you came here to convince me to stay, then you’re just wasting your time, Aven,” she said, stubbornly lifting her chin to prove her point.
Aven softly chuckled. “After three days of trying to dissuade you from joining, I think I already got the point,” he replied. “No. What I meant was, are you certain you still want to come? Now that you’ll have no means of avoiding me?”
She stiffened at his words, noting the knowing look in his gaze. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered.
The prince snorted and rolled his eyes. “Please, Aeylia, spare me,” he said. “I’m not blind; I knew you’ve been avoiding me after I recovered from the Sarnaph.” His face then slightly crumpled, uncertainty in his eyes. “Although I don’t understand why you’ve been avoiding me so persistently.”
Alex felt her heart jump to her throat at the look of hurt on his face.
“Did I do something wrong to you, Aeylia?” he softly asked. “Did I say something you didn’t like? Did I hurt you?” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, and Alex noticed that there were dark bags under his eyes. “I’ve tried to rack my brain just to make sense of your avoidance, but I’m afraid I’m still at a loss.”
“Aven…”
His earnest, golden eyes met her gaze. “Tell me what I did wrong,” he softly begged. “And I’ll do everything in my power to make it up to you.”
The telltale signs of her tears prickled her nose, and Alex refused to let them fall. “No, no, you’ve done nothing wrong,” she assured.
“Then why—”
“That was all me, Aven,” she cut him off. “You’ve done nothing wrong. You were just… you.” ‘And that was the entire problem.’
After her heart-to-heart talk with Xira and Niyx, Alex stopped lying to herself. For some bizarre reason, all she felt was deep fondness for this young prince that wasn’t the same as how she felt for her friends. Admitting the truth to herself was especially difficult, but it did help assuage the turmoil inside her heart.
“I don’t understand,” he confessed. “If I didn’t do anything wrong, then why were you avoiding me, Aeylia?”
She could not bear all his difficult questions. Alex turned her head away just so she wouldn’t spend more time staring at his kind eyes, but Aven grasped her chin and gently tilted her head once more so that he could look at her eyes.
“Help me understand,” he whispered. Alex started feeling breathless, noting how his golden eyes distractedly glanced at her parted lips.
Emotions clogged her throat. “I-I don’t belong here, Aven,” she finally whispered. “In Meya. With the royal family. With… with you.”
He smiled and shook his head. “No,” he said, his voice dropping an octave lower. “No, Aeylia. You are right where you should be. In Meya. With my family. With me.” He grasped both of her hands and placed them against his lips. “If you feel lost and unmoored, know that you already have a place in my heart.”
Tears tumbled down her face with his words. Unable to stop herself due to her overwhelming feelings, Alex leaned forward until her lips were pressed against his.
Aven took a sharp intake of breath at the brief contact.
“This is a mistake,” she whispered with shining eyes, as she slowly pulled back. Her heart was beating wildly inside her chest.
Before she could completely pull away, Aven had tenderly cupped her cheek and anchored her back. “Does this feel like a mistake to you?” he whispered back. He did not give her a chance to answer him because he dipped his head down and gave her another kiss. Alex’s eyes fluttered closed as she leaned closer, kissing him with equal fervor.
“Aeylia,” he rasped out in between kisses, “Aeylia. You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to do this.”
She kissed him more deeply, her arms already snaking around his body just to keep herself upright.
‘Alex,’ she thought, sighing against his lips when he pulled her nearer. ‘My name is Alex, Aven.’