"As tempting as the offer was," Islinda began, her thoughts turning to Gabi’s living conditions. "I cannot ask Gabi to sacrifice her life and future for .
Unlike with no one to miss , Gabi has a family that would mourn her if anything were to happen, and I wouldn’t want that in my conscience." She paused, the weight of her words hanging in the air. "Not to ntion, her family relies on her for survival, and I could never pay her for her services."
"I’m the one paying for her service."
"What?"
Valerie’s words were firm yet empathetic. "I never expected you to pay her in the first place. With what money? One stolen from Aldric? I wouldn’t put you through such risk," he remarked, her tone tinged with concern. "Also, Gabi wouldn’t have agreed to this if she didn’t know the danger involved. Her family let her. Do give people the opportunity to make choices for themselves. Everything is not a responsibility you should shoulder, Islinda."
Islinda fell into a heavy silence, her thoughts swirling as she processed Valerie’s words. After a mont, she began to shake her head stubbornly, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "No, no, no, I don’t think I can bear the weight of having soone’s life in my hands! Neither can I be indebted to you too, Valerie—"
"I don’t care!" Valerie’s voice echoed with intensity, rendering Islinda montarily speechless. "I don’t need you to pay back. Just accept it, Islinda, please..." His eyes pleaded with her, filled with a mix of determination and compassion. "Just let help you. It’s not a cri."
Islinda opened her mouth to refute, her stubbornness urging her to protest. But as she t the pleading gaze of Valerie, sothing softened within her. The Fae were known for their prideful nature, and she understood just how much it must have taken for Valerie to beg her like this.
He continued, his voice filled with remorse. "I don’t care if you pay back or not. Think of it as my way of compensating for ruining your life. If you hadn’t saved ... No, if only I hadn’t left you back then and was truthful with you from the start, Aldric wouldn’t have deceived and kept you captive. Hence, in one way, it’s my fault. Allow to pay for my cri. Allow to worry about the safety of the humans in your care. I was the one who convinced Gabi anyway to look after you, so if anything, I should be the one worrying about my choices." Valerie’s words hung heavy in the air, laden with regret and a genuine desire to make ands.
"Fine, do whatever you want," Islinda eventually conceded, her resolve crumbling under Valerie’s persuasive words. There wasn’t much she could do anyway, not when faced with Valerie’s unwavering determination and heartfelt plea
With a pang of guilt, Islinda acknowledged her selfish desire for Gabi’s companionship too despite the looming dangers posed by Aldric. As she grappled with her conflicting emotions, a thought surfaced in Islinda’s mind – perhaps she could shift the bla onto Valerie if anything were to happen to Gabi, allowing herself to be free from the weight of guilt. Wasn’t that what Valerie wanted her to do anyway?
Before Islinda knew it, Valerie enveloped her in a tight embrace, catching her off guard and leaving her speechless. She instinctively tried to resist, but Valerie held her firmly, refusing to let go. Valerie whispered softly, "Don’t worry, I won’t do anything. Let’s just stay like this."
Islinda’s heart ached for the Sumr Prince, knowing that his longing for her was not healthy for either of them. Valerie needed to move on, to find happiness beyond their shared past. Gathering her resolve, she tried to protest, her voice barely a whisper, "Valerie..."
"Just for a minute, please," Valerie pleaded, his voice breaking at the end, revealing the depth of his longing and vulnerability.
Islinda reluctantly allowed herself to be held by Valerie, knowing deep down that this would be the last ti she would allow him to get close to her like this. In that fleeting mont with a bittersweet ache in her heart, Islinda silently conveyed her farewell. She hoped he would understand and find the strength to move on.
Valerie must have felt the ssage as well because his arms tightened around her so much Islinda feared for a mont he was never letting go. But he eventually stepped back with a smile that did not touch his eyes.
Valerie must have felt the ssage, the room was filled with a heavy silence. His arms wrapped around Islinda with a fierce grip, exuding a mixture of protectiveness and vulnerability. The fiery warmth of his touch contrasted with the subtle tension in the air, creating an atmosphere charged with unspoken emotions.
Islinda, caught in his embrace, felt a brief pang of apprehension as his hold seed almost possessive, hinting at a depth of feeling she had already gotten over. For a fleeting mont, Islinda feared he was not letting go.
However, as suddenly as Valerie had embraced her, he stepped back, his expression a mask of conflicting emotions. A smile played on his lips, but his eyes remained clouded, betraying the turmoil within. It was a mont of raw vulnerability, where words were unsaid yet emotions spoke volus, leaving the both of them suspended in a poignant silence that lingered in the room.
"Let’s go now," Valerie uttered, his gaze averted, before briskly heading back to the living room, leaving Islinda to watch his departing form with a tumult of emotions swirling within her.
Islinda watched his retreating figure with mixed feelings. Regret tinged with a touch of guilt washed over her; she hadn’t intended to wound him so deeply. Deep down in her heart, a lingering tenderness for Valerie remained, but it was overshadowed by the realization that their Chapter had concluded and her heart now belonged to another. Not that the damn fool deserves it.
Fate was quite funny though, Valerie loved her dearly and yet she couldn’t be together with him and she had to go fall for his ruthless brother who would probably never reciprocate her feelings. Hiding her heart was the best way Islinda could survive from Aldric.
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