“First of all, no one even knows we’re married, so no one’s judging us. Second, they have no clue what they’re talking about. There are elderly couples who get married and separate. It’s not the age that matters, it’s the commitment, and I’m yours forever.”
“But you’re such a wild man,” she laughed, gently pushing him away from her. Though her face was still tear-stained, her jade green eyes were playful and forgiving. “You just do things on a whim. What’s to stop you from falling for someone else in the future?”
“When it comes to love,” he said with a straight face, “it takes a lot to warm my heart, but once it is, it burns only for the one who kindled it.”
“You’re so full of it,” she laughed, pushing him backwards onto the pillows. “How many times have you said that line to a naïve young girl?”
“Not a one,” he smiled, grabbing her wrists and pulling her on top of him. “And for the record, I don’t just want a girl. I want you.” He kissed her hard and she squeezed her thin arms tightly around his neck. After a few moments, she parted from his embrace and stared deeply into his hazel eyes, searching for something. He allowed her to explore his expression and take in every emotion that he felt for her.
To her, and to her alone was he exposed, and it was so strange by how comforting and free it felt when he was with her. Normally, one wrong word from anyone, human or beast, was enough to make him want to send them into an everlasting inferno, but for her, it was as if every wound had been healed, every dirty deed had been wiped clean, and the life he had once lived was not his – like it was just a recurring bad dream, or a story told to him so many times, he had taken it on as a memory.
He was not the most tactful or articulate man. He wasn’t nearly as strong as he wished he was, and he sure made plenty of mistakes, but he felt close to perfection in her presence. There was little wrong he could do in her eyes. Every act, no matter how heinous, had a reasonable explanation. She thought the world of him, and consequently, he was hers to do with as she pleased. He would transform himself for her, because he couldn’t bear the alternative. For her to see him as so many others did... No, that was unbearable.
“You really love me?” she asked finally, clutching the sides of his face. He tried to give her lips a peck, but she kept his head stationery, waiting for her prince’s answer.
“I would do anything for you,” he said. “And I love you so much that it makes my heart break when you’re not with me.” He meant every syllable.
“That’s just because you’re getting old,” she chuckled, letting him go. “It’s probably a stroke.”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” he smiled, grabbing her shoulders hard. She looked him up and down with a mischievous smile.
“Like you could stop me,” she said. “You know you’re just with me because you need protecting.”
“That,” he chuckled, “is exactly why I’m here. All that stuff I said about loving you – I rehearsed it in the mirror eight hours ago.”
“Eight hours ago you were threatening to kill everyone in Lowsunn.”
“Not you.”
“How thoughtful,” she said, giving him a peck on the lips. He leaned in for more but she grabbed the sides of his head again. “You know I can see right through you, don’t you?”
“I do,” he said.
“And you’ll tell me your secret as soon as you’re able?”
“Of course.”
“Okay,” she sighed, letting go and leaning back onto his chest. Once again he could feel her close her eyes and within a few minutes, her heavy breathing resumed. He adjusted his seating position slightly to make it more comfortable for her neck, then he began to stare out into the space around him. The sun was starting to dawn in the background, illuminating their surroundings so clearly that he could easily see the damage that had been done.
The walls had been scorched and the wallpaper was crispy and peeling. The little of what he could see of the floorboards was black, and the door still had small embers resting within its cracks. Though he was sure Leah didn’t look down on him for his outbursts, he did feel a little embarrassed. It was as if he had had a tantrum, and the destruction caused on the outside was far more damaging than if he had just dealt with it internally.
He looked down at his young wife, sound asleep, and placed a hand on her head. Even her hair was cool to the touch, as if she didn’t have an ounce of rage stirring within her. Perhaps he should consider taking her approach sometimes. Especially since he had been so painfully selfish.
The threats to Mr. Young, the strikes against him, the Discipline Squad, his outbursts, and the occasional damage done to the rooms in which he slept – what had it brought him but trouble? He had a reason to stay in Lowsunn, yet he was doing all he could to get kicked out. He thought nothing of Leah’s safety, he suddenly realized.
She knew nothing of the outside world. How could he ask her to leave with him when her life was already so concrete? What if she was killed the moment they left? What if she wasn’t happy? What if he got into a scuffle over something petty and died? Leaving her all alone? That would be far worse than if he had just sucked it up and finished out his last year.
There was no way he was going to allow the Elders to take his Yen, but he could at least take advantage of them until his inevitable departure came. Why couldn’t he enjoy the free shelter and amenities that he would have to work hard for once he was free?
“I’m sorry,” he whispered into her hair. “I’ll think of another way.”
She moaned in her sleep, as if she had been reading his mind and was now agreeing with every word he said. Satisfied with his conclusion, Aidan settled further back and rested against the bed’s headboard. After a minute had passed, he fell asleep with a clear mind…
A Dawn of Heroes
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The First and Last Kiss Page 5