Sure, it’s not as blue as I imagined. Maybe dark indigo. It’s still one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I could never thank Tegwyn enough for this. He gave me a wonderful gift tonight, and I will cherish it forever.
“I finally made it to the ocean, Mama…Papa.”
20
Tegwyn
Idon’tgetmuchsleep.
Ivy just looks so perfect beside me, an expression of pure bliss on her angelic face. How could I even contemplate closing my eyes?
So, I stay awake the whole night, remaining on high alert. My fingers clasp the knife tightly as I listen out for every minuscule sound, like a rat scurrying behind the walls, or the other guests of the inn checking in and out throughout the night.
In the never-ending void, my mind wanders back to the moment she caught her first glimpse of the sea. The way her eyes sparkled made my black heart thump twice as fast, and now I rest my hand against my chest, feeling the organ beating within.
Except, it beats only forhernow… I risked everything just so she could wade through that river of shit. I’ve never been the self-sacrificing type, as it’s not in my nature to give so freely. What is this human doing to me?
The one thing I know for certain is that I’m in big fucking trouble. My own dreams are becoming a distant memory the more time I spend with her.
Do I even still want to leave the kingdom? All I’ve ever wanted was to make enough money to leave this godforsaken place, but if I left… Who would take care of Ivy? She would be defenceless. The thought of leaving her alone opens up a sinking hole in my gut, and I tighten my leather grip around my knife, keeping an ear out for the slightest sound.
It’s almost dawn. Gilded light pours in from the dusty, leaded windows, painting her face in a fiery glow, and the sight of her leaves me breathless.
It's best we make a move, and soon. I just don’t have the heart to disturb her. The sunlight brings out the velvet texture of her rosebud lips, and I yearn to feel them pressed against my own.
How would she feel about kissing the lips of a cold-blooded monster?
I caught the way she used to stare at me when she first moved into the mountain. The girl was truly alarmed by my appearance, yet her eyes have softened lately.
She smiles at me now.
But it’s all probably in my head. A woman of her grace should be with a dashing prince or a knight. Not a horned, impish faerie who looks as if he were forged in the burning flames of hell.
Her eyelashes flutter as she begins to wake, and I finally meet those starburst eyes of blue-green.
A crooked smile tugs at the corner of my lips. “Sleep well?”
She yawns, rubbing the grit from her eyes, and even of a morning, she’s as precious as a newborn fawn.
“What time is it?” she asks.
“Too early…”
Ivy peers at me blearily, a small smile teasing the corners of her own lips. “How about you? Did you sleep well?”
I shrug. “Not complaining.”
Her eyes widen at my response, and then her blonde eyebrows furrow. “Was it me? Was I snoring?”
A laugh spills from my throat as I rise, tucking my knife into my pocket. “Trust me, princess. It wasn’t your snoring keeping me awake…”
“Then what?”
I meet the spectacular light of her eyes, deciding it’s best to keep that information to myself. I’d probably just make her feel worse; she can’t help being beautiful after all.
I don’t need to dress, as I never took my cloak or boots off to begin with. So, I lean against the wall, waiting for her to gather her things.
Once she’s finished, we head for the door, yet before we depart, I grab my scarf, wrapping it around my face. “We’re going into the market today. No matter what happens, you mustn’t leave my side. It can get… overwhelming…”
