AvaleaI'm digging my nails into my palms and biting my lips to stop myself from calling Aldrich's name.Don't go! I shout in my head as he steps outside.What sort of danger is out there? What if something happens to him?No!I won't let anything happen to him. I can't remain here like a helpless damsel when he's out there facing danger.I get to my feet and center my breath. It takes some doing as I was moments away from… something… when Aldrich's attention was focused on me in that intense, toe-curling way. His kisses, his words, his touch… it was driving me out of my mind. I was on the verge of giving in before we were interrupted.Despite the possibility of danger, a part of me is slightly disappointed that we were interrupted, and another part is hugely relieved.Shaking my head, I try to clear all wayward thoughts.Closing my eyes, I summon every defensive spell I know to the forefront. It isn't a whole lot, but I know I'll be able to aid Aldrich at least a little.At this mome

AvaleaWhen I wake up, bright daylight is flooding in through the wall I demolished yesterday. And Aldrich isn’t around. Disappointment stabs at me. I was angry with him yesterday, but I wish we’d had a chance to talk things over this morning. He probably had to leave early because of his work; probably left without waking me up so as to not disturb me. I’m touched by his thoughtfulness, but still disappointed nonetheless. I really wish I had been able to talk to him this morning.I tell myself he will come back in the evening, but the thought of spending the entire day without him, with only my thoughts to keep me company doesn't help my mood.Shaking the melancholy away, I sit up, pulling the rug close to me. There’s plenty of other things to think about. There’s plans to be made. I’m only temporarily seeking shelter with Aldrich. Temporarily. I have to remember that. My primary purpose right now isn’t to develop a friendship with him, but to heal, to get better, and go to Uncle Hor

AvaleaI’m unable to stop my emotions from spiraling as I head back to the hut. The more I think about it, the more convinced I become that I have caused something sacred to break by not upholding the law of the land. I have blatantly broken the rules.Both Ann and I questioned some of the laws when our tutor taught them to us, but not forcefully enough. The explanation for our questions was: that is the Altairain way, which wasn’t much of an explanation at all.The circumstances after Father’s assassination were such that disregarding the rules was essential for survival. But others I have willingly broken: not just conversing because it was necessary, but bantering with Aldrich, kissing him, lying on the same bed as him. Wanting him to kiss me, and do much more to me than just kissing. My breathing quickens as my thoughts invariably go to the sultry, seductive words he spoke when I tried to lay down some ground rules. The image that formed in my mind after hearing his words is deep

AvaleaI would have loved to spend the day practicing my magic, but those eyes… I shiver when I think of those eyes. There was only one thing to do after seeing those eyes keeping a watch on me. I had to place defensive spells around the hut, the path to the privy, and the actual privy itself. Since I have received at least some kind of defensive magical education, placing the protective spells around the area was relatively simple. The protection is still basic, and given that the assassins breached the much stronger defenses of the palace, the hut is still vulnerable, but it is better than nothing. Given time, I might be able to strengthen these defenses in the ‘right way’, the ‘legal way’. And time is not something we have.Besides, using strong protective magic presents another kind of danger. It invariably leaves a trail that other magical beings with certain skills can detect. The Werewolves, with their acute sense of smell, are already trying to track down Ann and I. I don’

Avalea“The protection around the hut… did you place it?” Aldrich asks.I’m finding it difficult to concentrate on his words.The kiss has left me shaken to my very core. His lips, his tongue, even his teeth… especially his teeth, drove me to the very edge of insanity. If his hand hadn’t drifted down to my behind, I don’t know what the kiss might have led to. When he cupped my behind, it shocked me, but I was more shaken by how it made my desire spike up. I’m thoroughly inexperienced in the various ways in which a man and woman might touch each other and pleasure each other. From the way Aldrich looks at the swell of my breasts, I think he might be interested in touching me there. I can’t be certain, though. All I have is bookish knowledge, and the books I read weren’t even the raunchy novels Ann’s maid used to smuggle for Ann sometimes. I merely know the science behind it. When I read the chapters on procreation as a part of our Council-mandated syllabus, I was blushing red the ent