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"I– I can wash myself." Samantha quietly protested when Ivan grabbed the towel and moved to the edge of the tent where the basin was kept. Lucy had been thoughtful enough to place the wide basin at the farthest corner of the do structure, away from the thick, wide cotton fabric spread she assud was going to be their temporary sleeping bag.
"Co here." Ivan extended both his hands, his voice a soothing lody that she couldn’t bring herself to resist. She approached where he stood, receiving his hand and allowing him pull her effortlessly into his embrace. Just that one simple, affectionate gesture nearly brought tears to her eyes again, and it wasn’t because he was hugging her– she was afraid of what would happen to her ntal health if she suddenly woke up and realized his presence was nothing more than a dream again.
"I’m here now, allow to take care of you from here onwards." He murmured, and Samantha said nothing against it.
Helping her undress, Samantha knelt on the rug and gazed at the basin in front of her. The water inside shimred in the lantern light, and she could vividly see the blood that stained her face, including her hands. She wasn’t oblivious to the dried blood on her skin, but seeing her own unrecognizable reflection, mories of how she had killed those n flooded her mind, but she gave herself a ntal shake, refusing to let the scene traumatize her as it did in her past life.
Her heart sped when she looked at her bloody hands, and images of how she had used them to attack Ivan resurfaced vividly, but the traumatizing event was cut short when Ivan wiped off the bloodstain from her hands. For a mont, she felt a surge of relief having gazed at the natural glow of her skin beneath, but it didn’t last long as more devastating monts kept filling her head, and she couldn’t stop herself from saying.
"I wish you hadn’t co."
Those words slipped out of her mouth before she could decide to bite her tongue, and she felt Ivan pause in his cleaning, as if her statent had shocked him to the bones, but then again, Samantha knew she was speaking her mind. When she lifted her head to look into the crimson eyes of Ivan, there was a surge of guilt that took over, as if convincing herself that she was the reason behind the hidden sadness in his eyes.
"You shouldn’t have co for ." She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes, "look at , all I do is bring harm to everything and everyone around . Alistair is no more because of , Alain’s life was in danger because of . Viney is in a deep coma because of . You had to leave GreenHollow to co find , risking the lives of your people and I... I don’t want to put anyone’s life in danger anymore. It’s too much for to deal with and I don’t know how much of it I can bear!"
"The tables are shaking." Ivan switched tactics, and Samantha’s eyes darted to the wooden tables that shook due to the quivering earth.
Did she do that??
"Relax," Ivan lifted the damp towel to her face, thodically wiping off the bloodstain painting his little lamb’s skin. "You shouldn’t bla yourself for things that are beyond your control, there was nothing you could do even if you wanted. The more you worry yourself by falling into guilt, your powers will beco more difficult to control. I’m speaking from experience."
"But I knew I could have prevented this sohow, I almost hurt you."
"Almost," his hand pald her right cheek, and his thumb caressed her wet skin, "I’m in front of you, am I not? It’s okay. Now I need you to turn so I can wash your back."
Nodding politely, Samantha slowly turned her back to Ivan. On a normal day, she would feel flustered having to sit naked and allow Ivan to wash her up, but right now, she neither had the strength or ti for it– not to ntion but she enjoyed the feeling of him washing her up so ticulously. She closed her eyes, relishing each stroke as he washed away the dirt and blood of her skin.
Suddenly, Samantha flinched subconsciously, and her back tensed when Ivan rubbed the towel on a certain spot in her back. He stopped cleaning at the sound of her wince, and from what she felt, it appeared she had a wound on her back.
"How bad is it?"
"Don’t think too much about it." And she felt a warm sensation after his response.
Did he just kiss her wound?
"What are you doing?"
"Counting your scars."
Samantha’s eyebrows creased, and she couldn’t tell if he was serious or just ssing with her. His voice didn’t sound like soone who was joking, and that worried her.
Once satisfied, Samantha got cleaned up with a different towel, and after putting on the dress Ivan had given her, she laid on the sleeping bag and waited for him to return. She had insisted on washing him up herself, but he refused, practically ordering her to go lay down and wait for him, but he knew she wouldn’t listen to him unless he sounded serious about it.
Samantha’s green eyes lit-up when she saw him heading for the space she had left for him, and once he got settled, she was back in his arms again. They did nothing asides holding one another to their heart’s content, and Samantha pulled back from his chest so she could look at his face. His eyes were on her, as if he had been watching her intently, and that sent her heart increasing its pace.
"You’re not going to get so rest?"
"I’m too afraid to do that." He answered, to Samantha’s astonishnt. Hearing him say he was afraid only made Samantha want to sit up so they could discuss the issue together, but he pulled her down into his arms again.
"What are you scared about?"
"I have to keep my eyes on you, so you won’t disappear from my line of sight again." He let her know, and Samantha had almost forgotten about how she left the palace without anyone knowing. Was he afraid she would leave his side the sa way again??
Rather than responding, Samantha let him hold her as much as he wanted. She threw one of her legs around him, but to her surprise, he grabbed her thigh and carefully pulled her in till there was no space between their bodies. The night was cold, and Samantha was grateful for his body heat.
"Get so sleep." He stroked her hair, his voice a lullaby to her ears, and Samantha bit her bottom lip. She could hardly think straight due to their intimate position, but being aware of the gravity concerning things that had happened, she decided to get so sleep and speak to Ivan tomorrow.
The next day, Samantha stepped out of her tent with a yawn. Although the blood moon hadn’t made its appearance yet, Samantha could feel its presence, and it won’t be long before she sees the sky painted in red. Unlike last ti when she anticipated the sight of the blood moon, for so reason, she dreaded its second approach.
"Herbert?"
"Good morning, your Highness." Herbert couldn’t deny that he was pleased to see her again. He walked up to her with a polite bow, "the morning weather here isn’t as harsh compared to the ones in GreenHollow, but I still insist you put on sothing warm. His Majesty won’t be happy if you catch a cold."
"I’m honestly fine." Samantha smiled at Herbert, and her heart eased knowing that she was surrounded by those who cared for her. She felt safe, and at ho with all of them.
"Where is Ivan?"
"He is speaking with the royal soldiers. I’ll take you to him if you want." Herbert suggested, and Samantha gladly let him lead the way.
anwhile, in one of the do structured tents that appeared bigger in size, Ivan’s n had taken Carla’s knights hostage.
The grotesque guards were part of them, and Ivan had kept their helts on, already repulsed by the sight of their faces. According to what Cassian had told him, there was a secret chamber that appeared to be covered in blood, and when they asked Alain about it, he had told them the children who go in there never co out.
"Are these all of them?" Ivan turned to Caddel who shook his head.
"These are the ones we could find, we’re still looking. The situation out there is a little rough, the earthquake from yesterday did more damage than we expected, so it’s going to take ti to find the ones hiding. There has been no sign of their Queen as well, do you think she’s dead?"
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