Chater 77. Resolve

"I already gave you my reasons. Sorry but I have to be there when he wakes up," Aurora said firmly. Her resolve not shaken at all. She hurriedly left to avoid further persuasion.

***

Alaric did not know how long it had been. Sarah was no longer cooperative. He was frustrated that all he could do was to think and hear. His rash decision this time seemed to have brought him no gain.

He had tried to sleep but had he not been asleep for two months? He just listened and schemed. One thing he knew for sure was the fact that Rey was in danger. He cursed his stupid body for its failure to oblige to his will.

In his mind, he was clenching his fists so tightly but in real life it was nothing. In the past few hours of listening, he could tell that after all that straining, his hearing capabilities had certainly improved.

Even his instinct had improved to reach 100 meter from him in every direction. He heard footsteps 100 meters away. He was keen and tried to make out the image of the incoming person.

He was wary that if Rey was in danger, he too was in danger too. The footseps were light and even. He somehow could recognize the footsteps. Also, he could tell by the pressure exerted from the person that she was Aurora.

The door opened and closed. She then came to take a seat on the bed next to him. He felt her take his right hand and clasped it in her's. There was silence and only her breath and beating heart he could hear.

"I finally get to be with you alone. My hope is that you forgive me for being useless. Had I been my real self, maybe you would not have had to save me. I also am ashamed that everytime you are around I always have my guard down.

" I hope you don't push me away after you wake up. Also if I am the reason you are refusing to wake up, then I am never going to take that to heart. I deserve to be punished for someone I cared about almost lost his life due to my incompetence." He heard her voice.

Her words were as clear as glass that she always blamed herself for his state. She had sighed after almost every sentence she uttered. His heart broke when he heard her ask if she was the reason he was refusing to wake up.

If only she knew that she was one of the reasons he wanted to really open his eyes. His mental image of her was getting blurry and he had to refresh it.

He wanted more than nothing to cover her lips and tell her nothing that happened to him was her fault. But he realized that that was not the only burden she carried. She then spoke again

" I think I am purely bad luck. I am the reason my mother died. Since then, my father grew distant from me and oftentimes went to closed cultivation for several weeks. He loved mother more than anything else and my incompetence and foolishness took her away from me..."

Her whimpers filled the room and also her tears hit the floor. Alaric clenched his hands tightly but nothing. He tried to open his eyes but not yet. What man was he if he could not even comfort her?

It was the second time she was taking about her mother and she was suddenly blaming herself for her death. He once again cursed his useless body.

She never spoke of her mother and here she was speaking of her past. Her whimpers were like needles being injected in his heart. What exactly had she endured when he had not yet met her.

He was sure she could never tell him of her past. He also could not bother her by forcing her to reminisce the past painful memories. From her reaction, whatever hapened to her past shook her to the core.

Now he wanted nothing more than to always be there for her. He regretted the fact he could not tell her that it was okay at the moment. Her guilt was almost million times especially when she had killed her mother whom she cherished.

"I know that the reason all this happened is because I am weak. I am royalty and its my duty to protect others not to be protected. Am going to start working hard and improve my cultivation level. I will be sure to never be a burden to you ever again in this life.

" I will protect you from your enemies and live up to your standards. I must also get stronger so that I never have to leave your side. I also will become a pillar you can always lean on.

"This is a promise I make under my mother's name. I will follow her will and follow the immortal king. So please, I need you to wake up, my king." She said.

Her words seemed to hit his weak points. How could she a burden? She was one of the most important people in his life. He also felt enraged that she was going to suffer getting stronger in order to protect him. Just how much had she been through.

He could tell that her resolve was final from her words. When she asked him to wake up, he felt guilty. He had failed her once again. He could not fulfil her wish.

But his body seemed to listen to her words. His left index finger twitched. He suddenly could feel some parts of his body though slowly. His eyelids twitched and opened slightly.

Aurora noticed. The last thing he heard was her calling his name out. How unlucky could he be? The little energy he had gained was wasted when he opened his eyes. Very useless. He was rendered unconcious.

Alaric could curse but that was for the best. With sleep, only two hour and he would be back at full strength.

Aurora realized that he had woken for a split second and her heart was filled with merry. She now had faith that he was going to wake up. She then climbed on his bed and slept on his side.

She did not even realize when she fell asleep. The one person bed appeared stuffed but she fit in perfectly.

***

Rey was having the moment of his life. If things proceeded at the same pace, he was going to get a kiss soon.

"Why do you keep staring at my lips?" She asked.

"Your lips appear as sweet as fresh fruits. My mouth waters whenever I see your lips. I have this great urge to devour your lips. If only I had the chance," he said and faked disappointment.

" Do not worry," she said as she clutched his chest tightly. " Before today ends, I must have the taste of your lips."

" Do you promise?" Rey asked like a small obedient kid.

" Yeah. Just wait patiently and we will have a moment of a lifetime," Claire said.

She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him on the cheeks. At the point her lips touched his cheek, it was turned crimson instantly.

" That was not the deal." Rey protested. He really wanted to have a taste of her lips.

" I said by the end of today, you will have your chance to have a taste of my lips. I hope that you are a good kisser. If you are bad, I will have to take action and savor your lips," Claire said.

She was biting her lower lip seductively that Rey fell in love once again. He raised his hand and pinched her chin. The lips separated and her pearl white teeth shone.

" Am very impatient. You know, what harm is there when we practice for the final dance kiss now?" Rey asked.

" I do not want you to get used to it. Once you get ised to it, it is no longer going to fun. I have three kisses in store for you," Claire said.

"I now understand." Rey said like someome who had received a revelation.

"Good. The next dance is almost starting. I hope that you are prepared. I don't want to miss another couple dance," Claire said.

"The first dance was beautiful and I wished you were here. I hope the second dance will also be beautiful. I can't wait to have you in my arms dancing," Rey said smiling.

Rey was really doing a good job being a good dog for her unaware. This was obviously the work of a love portion.