10 Chapter 11

Iris

Later that night, when everyone had retired to their beds. I paced around my room, feeling restless and unable to sleep.

After a while, I decided to take a walk through the castle. I stayed out of the other floors, the ground floors were enough.

I walked to my favorite spot ; the garden. I sat on a swing, looking up at the bright stars, thinking about these past few weeks more like my life since I came to Zyen.

Maybe I can finally try to let go of those dark lonely days.

"Hmph", I sighed.

I saw something dark on the ground. I came down from the swing and walked over to it  to see what it was.

It was Ivar's jacket. I left it here when Ivar had given it to me.

In my defense it was kind of hard not to forget anything at that moment. I sighed as I picked up the jacket.

Maybe I'll just give it back to him. He's not asleep... Hopefully.

It won't hurt to check.

I trudged up to Ivar's room. I took deep breaths before knocking on the door.

"Who's there?"

Oh good, he's not asleep.

"It's me, Iris".

He didn't say anything after that. I guess he didn't want to see me. It was so foolish of me to come here.

I turned to go then I heard the door open.

"Iris, where are you going?"

I faced him.

"Uhm... well, I thought you were tired since you didn't say anything so I wanted to leave you to rest. Sorry for disturbing, I'll talk to you later, bye",I said quickly and turned to go.

He held my hand and said

"Wait, come inside".

He pulled me inside and closed the door behind us.

I looked at him, assessing him.

He was just wearing a light short and pajama trousers.

"I didn't know you wore anything apart from formal wears".

"We have only known each other for barely two weeks, you wouldn't know",he said.

That was the problem, we hadn't known each other for that long, so why was I having these feelings for him.

"Are you going to keep on thinking or are you going to tell me why you came", Ivar said interrupting my thoughts.

"Oh sorry, I just wanted to give you your jacket. You left it with me".

Laying on the garden.

I handed him his jacket which he collected.

"So you came up here just to give me my jacket?"

"Yes,so?"

"You climbed the stairs".

Oh.

I didn't realize, I climbed the stairs. I guess I was too absorbed in my thoughts to notice.

That's impossible.

"Oh, no no, I didn't climb the stairs. I teleported",I said lying through teeth.

He folded his arms and took a step closer to me.

"You teleported".

"Yes, totally".

"You know I can tell when someone is lying".

"Really? But why are you telling me that?", I said quickly.

"Because, you're lying", he said raising an eyebrow.

"I am, me. Pfft,no, I'm totally not lying",I said looking anywhere else but him.

He chuckled.

"I know you're not lying".

"You believe me?"

"No",he said flatly.

I sighed, sitting on his bed. It was no use lying and I didn't want tension to remain between us.

"Ivar, are we cool?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because after that moment in the garden, things would be awkward, so I wanted to clear the air".

"See, Iris. I'm sorry for kissing you,I shouldn't have".

"You should", I blurted out.

"What?"

I covered my mouth with my hands. Oh no! I just said that out loud.

To be honest, I was tired of holding on to these feelings. I already had a lot I was holding on to, I didn't need more. So I made a decision, to come clean.

I looked into his eyes.

"Yes, Ivar. You should have"

I paused, sighed then continued.

"I mean I'm not sorry you kissed me besides I did kiss you back. It's just that I have been having these strange feelings and they are new to me".

It was kind of hard to explain to him. How did I actually feel?

"What I am saying is that I think I like you, I guess. Look you don't have to feel the same way. I just wanted to let it out besides it's kinda obvious you don't like me. So it's okay, I understand-"

I stopped talking as soon as I felt his finger on my lips.

"Shh, you know you talk way too much".

"I do?"

"Yes you do and since you're being honest, I will do the same. I'm not sorry I kissed you and I wouldn't mind doing it again".

I smiled, moving closer to him. I placed my arms around his neck.

"Neither would I".

I reached up and placed my lips against his, tasting him and tormenting him for entry. His arms went round my waist, tightening his hold in me .

I sucked on his lower lip invading his mouth with my tongue. He moved his lips against my mouth swiftly as he took the lead. He left my lips trailing kisses down my neck.

He pulled away, moving his head back to look at me.

"I like your nightie".

I blushed looking down at my maroon night gown. It felt really comfortable so I wore it.

I guess it was really thoughtless of me to be walking around in just that.

Ivar put his hand under my chin and raised my head to look at him.

"You should wear this often".

I smirked.

"Really? I bet you wouldn't mind other guys checking me out".

His grey eyes flared up and his hold on me tightened.

"No one would dare look at you".

"Why?"

"You are my future wife".

"We are not married yet"

"But you are still betrothed to me".

I loved that he was getting jealous. I wanted to spite him more.

I put my hands on his chest, reached up and brushed my nose against his.

"So?"

"Meaning that you belong to me"

He kissed the end of my lips.

"Only me", he said again.

"you are mine, my experiment".

Why did I just think of that? Surely that's not what Ivar meant. Why would I compare Ivar to them.

He was nothing like them, the exact opposite.

"Iris, what's wrong?"

He must have noticed my expression.

I blinked repeatedly.

"Nothing".

I pulled away from his hold.

"I should go, it's late and you need the rest since you are going back to Lumeria tomorrow".

I started to walk away but Ivar held my hand and lulled me back to him.

"Not so fast".

He carried me up swiftly.

"Woah".

He put me on his bed, then he climbed unto the bed too and laid next to me.

"You're not going anywhere".

"Why?", I asked smiling.

My foul mood was long forgotten.

"As your punishment for lying, you are to spend the rest of the night with me".

Like that was a punishment.

I rested my head in his chest and he wrapped a hand round my waist pulling me closer.

"I guess I'll just have to accept my punishment".

He chuckled.

We were meant to marry each other. But no one ever asked Ivar before making him be my betrothed.

My case was different, it had to be done but Ivar was told to do it without any room for refusal.

"Ivar?"

"Yes?"

"Do you hate me?"

He hesitated. Did he actually hate me?

"No Iris, I don't think I could".

I smiled.

"Goodnight"

"Goodnight", he replied.

But I was already long gone. Thought of Ivar filling my dreams.

A/N

Ayyy🌌 what up guys! It's another update coming at you.

I have decided on my updating schedule. From now on, I update twice a week.

But bear in mind that the schedule can be violated at any time depending on events or my mood.

Now the grill. Please vote, comment and share.

Thank you and see you in the next update.

               Yours truly...

Who am I kidding? I ain't writing a letter😅. I'm just gonna zip it.

Bye.

Ana😘