Chapter 73

~Kamari~

I was quick to catch up to Nye, on his heels. "Stop! Nye!" Just as I get in reach of him, he snags Calea. "Ah!" Calea screams. My heart spikes, then in blur, I see Ryuu damn near tackle Nye. Ryuu's eyes blaze, he puts himself in front in Calea and lets out a nasty roar. I breathe a breath of relief, but when I see Nye start to circle Ryuu, I know it's not over. I couldn't summon my powers again; it would wipe me out. I place my hands on my knees, then I see the crimson droplets on the ground. Shit, he scratched her. I look up at Calea, a sick feeling my gut, hoping her wound wasn't serious. 

Ryuu leers at Nye, "She is mine. Accept it." He growls out. Nye jaw clenches, "Don't demand things from me young one. You won't like my response." Calea comes to side of Ryuu, "I just came to tell you the magic barrier is down, Mael is gone."

My pales, "What?" Where could he have gone? Did he stay or go back to his Eden. There so many questions whirling around in my head. "When did you find out?" I walk towards her, Calea comes out from behind Ryuu, "I went down there to offer him something, he wasn't there."

"The barrier went down, because Aneth lost the affinity of magic." I realize. 

"No need to send search party," Nye says bitterly, "Let him grovel." I give Nye I sideways glance, "You're being a royal ass."

Nye smirks, "Stop flirting with me, Kamari." My cheeks flush. This man made me what to slap him and screw his brains out all at once. I clear my throat and try to ignore the complex feelings that flood me. I turn my attention to Calea, "Are you hurt?" Calea shakes her head, "No, I don't think so, unless I didn't feel it at first." Ryuu comes to my side now a concerned look on his face, he takes upon himself to run his hands over her body. Calea gasps, "Ryuu!" Ryuu covers her mouth with his hand. I wear a pressed smile. Calea's breath comes quick, as Ryuu's hands roam her body, respectfully of course, turning her, lifting the back of shirt, raising her arms, her legs, turning her away from us, check her abdomen. 

Awe! My Ryuu is so modest!

"Nothing." Ryuu says with relief.

"Good." I place a hand on my chest, relived. "I'll have someone clean the halls. For now Calea, I need to speak with you." Calea nods, making sure she's a good distance from Nye, who surprisingly doesn't interfere. Calea and I walk down the halls, a moment goes by before I speak, "I'm sorry about Nye."

Calea sighs, then I hear her chuckle, "It's sad that I'm used to it at this point. I just didn't know Nye was lead now. If I had known, I would have never would gotten so close." She stops, turns to me, "How is he doing?" I wear a meek smile, "I feel like he'll be alright, but right now, he seems to want space." Calea bites her lip, "You know Kamari, it was hard for me to heal him, just because of the fact that he hurt Ryuu so bad. I didn't want to."

I couldn't blame her, but Aneth was sick with the hex, I couldn't just let him go. I nod, "I know." Calea doesn't say anything for moment, then sighs, "So what did you want to speak about?" 

"I need to be better prepared for things like this, Javall won't stop, and I have no knowledge of Magic. I need to learn what I could do against it. Will you teach me?" Calea's eyes brighten at my request, "Of course Kamari, I will teach you." I pull her into a tight embrace, "Oh thank you!"

"Although I would suggest you find Mael. He is part of the pride now, isn't he?" Calea's smile warms my heart, she had always been a gift to my life, and I don't know what I'd do without her, I suppose I'd make do but, it just wouldn't be the same. I shake the thought out of my head. "Yes. I should probably take my leave now that Nye is preoccupied." I grab Calea's hands, "Thank you again, you have no Idea how much this means to me." Calea gives me an acknowledging nod, then I leave to find Mael. I roam through the halls, trying to think where he must have gone, and in mid-stride, I think I see him. I turn to one of the balconies that overlooked the Kingdom, and see him, at his fruit stand! "What?" I chuckle half in disbelief the other in amusement.

I hurry out of the Castle, my heels clicking on the cobblestone path as I speed walk towards him. Mael looks up over his eyelashes at me, and I can't help but smile. I come to a halt, my hands on the fruit stand. "Were you not going to tell me you escaped?" A smile pulls at my lips. Mael leans towards me, "Would it have made it more fun for you to give chase?" I couldn't stop smiling, I felt like a young girl with her crush, so giddy. "Maybe. But I'm curious, why did you come back to your fruit stand?"

I take a sideways step to let a person buy fruit from him, then he sighs, "I'd rather not stay in a confinement or deal with the other three. At least for now." My eyes look him over, remembering his wounds, as my eyes wonder back to his, he wears a cocky grin. "Do we need to go somewhere private Kamari?" He teases. I roll my eyes playfully, "No. I was just wondering if you healed from the fight." The mentioning of it seems to make Mael's Jaw twitch but he keeps a calm demeanor, "Dragons heal fast. I assure you I'm fine. Although, my Ego may I taken a hit." He pouts feigning hurt.

"Did you go back to your Eden?" I gently pick up a black fruit and caress its glossy skin with my thumb. "I would never leave it. Aneth may have torn it open, but I have made adjusts." 

My mind drifts to the thought of his Eden, but I know it's a touchy topic. "Mael, I know you said making an Eden of my own would be against your wishes but, couldn't give my Kingdom some kind of safety net?" Mael's face becomes tense, his neck veins show from the pressure of his jaw. "May I ask why this would be your only option?" I pick at the skin of the fruit, "It could be the best one. I need to do something Mael. Right now, anyone can waltz in or out willingly," another customer coms and buys from him, after a friendly smile and wave, he turns his attention back to me with the same expression on his face. "No." The grit in his voice triggers a rebellious side of me.

I stick my tongue into my cheek, "Uh-huh," I bite into the fruit, and lick my lips, "So, what if I choose to go against your wishes?" 

"Don't" The bass in his voice makes my worst parts of me. "Oh, Mael, you know I'm not one to follow rules." I smirk, purposefully adding fuel to an already burning fire. I watch as he thrums his fingers on the counter, the electric atmosphere in the air between us is thick and makes my spine shiver. In the midst the of unspoken barrage, Ryuu comes out of nowhere and says, "She already has."

Simultaneously, Mael and I turn to Ryuu, "What?" Mael was around to him, and urgency in his steps, "What makes you say this?" Ryuu looks up and down, he doesn't move from where he stands, and locks eyes with Mael.

"Because I've seen it."