LeviShock reverberates through my body, but I don't step back. The contact of Arya's lips against mine is something that I have always thought about, always dreamed of when she was gone, and now that I have it, I don't know what to say or do.And maybe it's just me being carried away into the moment. Maybe it's me being stupid and taking advantage of the situation. Or maybe it's all the months of longing and dreaming for her, all the years of wishing for something to happen.Either way, I feel all the emotions inside me eroding, and I give into every single desire in my heart.Without thinking about it, I grab the back Arya's neck and pull her closer.And I deepen the kiss that we're sharing.The sensation of her lips is . . . unbelievable. My heart is beating so fast that right now it's just nothing but a quick thrum in my chest. I raise my other hand to touch her waist and pull her even closer, but I end up touching something wet and strange on her waist.Startled, I immediately pu
Arya“Nancy. . . .” Duke Basset trails off. “The young woman who helped us save Arthur before?”“Exactly,” I say. My hands are shaking from both fear and anticipation. “We have to tell her what is happening, and she has to come here herself to experience what we are experiencing. She will know something, I know she will.”Duke Basset nods, but for some reason the sound of Nancy’s name seems to put him off. “Is she . . . trustworthy? Do we have to watch out for her?” When I don’t say anything, he shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being paranoid, but I don’t like the things that are happening. I’m old and yet I have never experienced anything like this before. Anything unfamiliar makes me nervous, I must admit. And when it comes to my boy. . . .”He trails off, and my heart clenches. I completely understand what he is saying, and I feel the same. I grew up being surrounded by different people and creatures and yet I know nothing about what is happening. I have never even heard of
Arya Tears start to run down my cheeks. I wipe it furiously and look at Gammie. “That’s not . . . that’s not good. That’s not acceptable. We have to do something about it. We can’t possibly just sit here and do nothing while he’s. . . .” Dying. I meant to say dying. It’s the truth and I can’t deny that, but it’s the hardest thing I have to say and for the life of me, I can’t voice it out. Nancy steps forward and puts her arm around me, patting me softly and whispering comforting things that I can no longer hear. “She’s right,” Duke Basset puts in. His eyes are shining and his voice is unsteady, but I can see him trying to keep it together. “Leaving him to it is just cruel and wrong. You’re a skilled sorceress from what I heard. Is there something we can do to aid him at least?” Gammie looks at him and to me, her wrinkled face contorting in thought and confusion. For a while the only sound in the room is the heart monitor, then she speaks. “There really is nothing we can do,” she
LeviDarkness is everywhere. I can't feel anything. I can't move. I'm stuck in a floating sensation that seems to be going on and on without any chance of stopping.I can't even breathe properly.There seems to be something big blocking my throat, stopping me from breathing.I try to gasp for air and I can almost feel it entering my windpipe but not quite making it. It’s more than just driving me crazy. It feels like prison. It feels like death.With every passing second, I struggle with it more and more, to the point where I can feel myself giving way. I can feel my body getting weaker and weaker, and I don’t know how long I can keep fighting this. . . .But then I feel warm air blowing on my face, and soft lips pressing on mine, breathing some air into me.And surprisingly, my body responds.The blockage in my throat vanishes as thought it’s never been there. I gasp and sit up, clasping my neck, taking deep hard breaths as I blink rapidly and try to make sense of my situation.Okay.
Levi“Dad.” I hold out an arm. “Please, let’s all be rational about this. There’s no need to make declarations like that.”“Like what, exactly?” He turns to me and scowls. “She tried to get you locked up without looking at the facts, Levi.” With that, he turns back to Arya. “I know my son has done bad things to you in the past and we made him pay for that. It’s out of place for you to do what you did.”I wait with bated breath for Arya to lash out at that, but she just steps back and holds her hands up. “I agree, Alpha. I was irrational and angry and I didn’t think twice about what I did. Please, take him home and take whatever action you need.”“But Arya, this is beyond us,” I insist. “That attacker is still out there and we need to cooperate.”“You may be right but your parents have all the right to decide,” Arya says without looking at me. “You should go.”“Arya,” I try to reason out, but Mom grabs my arm and leads me away. Dad puts a firm hand on my back as a clear signal: we need
LeviI shake my head rapidly, trying to get rid of the thought. That was really out of place, and I have to remember the reasons why I shot it down in the beginning.I clear my throat and let out an awkward laugh. “I’m sorry. I think I’m just in shock, still.”“That’s okay,” Lauren says, and this time she pats me on the shoulder. “How about I make you some tea? Would that help you relax?”I nod. “That would be wonderful.”She smiles, and my heart gives a little flutter. “I’ll go make something to eat too.”“Okay,” I say, and with that, she heads to the kitchen and starts to fuss with pots and pans.I watch her in silence as she starts to whip up a full meal right in front of me, not even taking that long. Soon after, she’s already beckoning me to the dining table, laying out a bowl of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches in front of me.The smell makes my stomach rumble, and with no hesitation, I start to dig in. As expected, everything tastes amazing. I wolf everything down in a
AryaLong after Levi and his parents left, I still don't know what to say or do. I find myself sitting on my throne, trying hard not to think about what they said.Perhaps it's true that bad situations really bring out the worst in people, and I would be lying if I said that the events surrounding Arthur didn't bring out the worst in me.But Levi's parents are still right. What I did to their son is inexcusable, and the thing they decided on is no surprise to me.Perhaps it's only right that they don't want anything to do with me or my kingdom.I sigh, trying not to let my emotions come through. The doors suddenly open and I immediately thought it's Levi coming back, but then it's my parents who come in."Arya," Mom instantly says, and her voice is so full of raw emotion and heartbreak that my own tears start to drum behind my eyes. She comes over to me and hugs me, and I get up to meet her and hug her back. "Oh, my baby. We got you, don't worry. . . ."I sob, trying really hard not t
Arya“Arthur, no!” I yell, but it’s too late.Arthur barrels towards me with his hands outstretched, his face contorted with anger and confusion. I try to back away close enough to the door to escape, but he blocks me with his body.I want to scream for help and alert the people who are waiting outside, but my throat is all closed up now. All I can do is raise my arms to try to stop Arthur, but he grabs my wrists and yanks me forward.“Who are you?” he spits out. “Who the hell are you and what have you done to me?”I open my mouth to say something but my heart breaks at his questions. “What . . . what do you mean who am I?”He scowls and looks away as though he can’t bear how stupid I’m being. “How on earth are you going to interpret that question in a different way? I don’t know who the hell you are and those people outside.”My hands are shaking in his grip. But more than that, my whole body is getting weak.Arthur doesn’t remember me. At all.He doesn’t know all the people outside,