Free Web NovelChapter 147: Episode 147.
Morning came softly.
Golden light slipped through the curtains slowly while the fire burned low beneath the hearth, almost completely gone.
Aire stirred faintly beneath the blankets.
Warmth lingered around her skin.
The realization came immediately alongside the memory of last night and heat crawled softly up her throat.
Aire opened her eyes slowly.
The first thing she noticed was the empty space beside her.
Her breath caught immediately.
She turned quickly toward the other side of the bed, and it was cold. The blankets there were untouched.
A faint panic twisted briefly through her chest. Was he back to his old self?
"Nate?"
No answer came immediately.
Aire pushed herself upward quickly. Her silver hair fell loosely around her shoulders as she looked around the room.
Then, she heard a low grunt from beside the bed.
Aire blinked.
She leaned over the edge slightly, and found Nate on the floor.
He sat slumped awkwardly against the side of the bed, with one arm folded beneath his head while the other rested across his stomach.
Aire stared at him. From the bond, she felt him completely relaxed and settled.
"Nate?" she called again, softly this time.
He woke up instantly.
His eyes snapped open with immediate alertness before softening the second he saw her looking down at him.
"My apologies," he said immediately while sitting upright. "Did I wake you?"
Aire blinked again. "What are you doing down there?"
Nate straightened slightly. "I did not want to trouble your sleep."
Aire shook her head, then laughed softly.
The sound hit Nate harder than claws ever could. His entire chest tightened unexpectedly at hearing it.
Aire looked down at him with sleepy disbelief. "You slept on the floor?"
Nate frowned slightly as though that was perfectly reasonable. "You needed rest."
Aire shook her head softly, still smiling.
Gods.
She looked beautiful like this with her disheveled silver hair, bare face, and sleepy eyes.
Nate stared too long before catching himself.
Aire noticed anyway. Her smile softened faintly afterward, then she tapped lightly against the empty side of the bed beside her.
"Come up here."
Nate blinked once. He genuinely looked caught off guard. "Are you sure you want me up there?"
Aire’s expression turned almost incredulous. "Always." She said, as a matter of fact.
Vulnerability flickered briefly across Nate’s face before he stood immediately.
"Good," he muttered while climbing onto the bed beside her. "Because I’m not going anywhere."
Aire laughed softly again.
The mattress shifted as Nate settled carefully beside her before pulling her gently into his arms.
This time, Aire went willingly without hesitation. Her body melted naturally against his chest like she belonged there.
Nate exhaled quietly.
Relief spread through him so powerfully it made him shut his eyes.
Aire rested her head beneath his chin comfortably while his arm tightened carefully around her waist.
For several seconds neither of them spoke.
They simply stayed there beneath the blankets while morning light slowly filled the room around them.
Nate eventually brushed his fingers through her silver hair quietly.
"Do you laugh more when half asleep?" He wanted to know. He believe he had never given her a reason to be free around him in the past, but he’d love to give her a million reasons from this day.
Aire snorted softly against his chest. "That sounded insulting." She tilted her head slightly to look at him. "You sound very proud of yourself."
"I usually am."
Aire stared at him for one second before laughing again.
Nate’s mouth twitched faintly. The warmth in his chest returned. He was becoming addicted to hearing her laugh.
Which honestly felt ridiculous considering who he was.
Aire noticed the almost-smile immediately.
Her eyes narrowed faintly. "Was that a smile?"
Nate looked offended instantly. "I smile."
"No," Aire corrected immediately. "You glare at people. Especially me." freeweɓnovel.cøm
Nate stared at her with different emotions swirling through his eyes.
Aire’s lips curved further.
Suddenly Nate shifted fast. He rolled them both slightly until Aire landed beneath him again with a startled sound.
"Nate!"
Nate held her gaze intensely. "Do I glare at you now?"
Aire shrugged lightly. "Depending on your knowledge of a glare." she taunt playfully.
"You mock your future king boldly."
Aire laughed harder immediately.
By the Gods and the Moon Goddess, the sound completely ruined him.
Nate buried his face briefly against her neck with a low groan. "You need to stop doing that." he pleaded.
"Doing what?"
"Making that sound."
Aire blinked innocently, taken aback by his request. "Breathing?"
"Laughing."
She looked genuinely confused now. "Why?" this was the lightest she had been in years and he wanted her to stop laughing?
Nate lifted his head slowly to look at her. The raw honesty in his expression suddenly softened the moment completely, and Aire seemed to understand where he was standing.
"It makes me want impossible things." He whispered.
Aire’s breath caught slightly.
The teasing warmth between them quieted. Nate brushed his thumb gently against her cheek afterward.
"Yesterday," he said quietly, "I thought I might lose you in the dungeon."
Aire’s chest tightened immediately.
Nate looked away briefly before continuing. "When they chained you underground..." His jaw flexed once. "I have never hated myself more."
Aire’s expression softened slowly. Her heart clenched hard at whatever he was feeling. She could feel the intense dejection he felt towards himself. "Nate..."
"I keep replaying it." His voice lowered further. "You looked at me like you were afraid."
The confession sounded painful for him to admit.
Aire reached upward slowly and touched his face gently. "You came for me." she reminded. "I almost lost control with my power but you were there."
"I should have protected you before it ever reached that point, and not condemn you."
Silence settled softly afterward.
Aire studied him carefully.
This was still Nate. Still sharp-edged. Still possessive. Still dangerous. But now, Aire could finally see the terrifying depth beneath all that restraint.
The man beneath the wolf.
Aire brushed her thumb softly across his cheek. "You’re trying very hard now."
Nate looked at her quietly. "Yes," he admitted simply. "If you’re a monster. Then let me be accused of it."
