Chapter 56

~Kamari~

Something about Mael pulls me in, and I don't understand why. He's just a human, yet he says things that make me feel like he somehow understands something deep inside me. My heart quickens as I look into his jade-green eyes. I swallow hard, "How far is it?"

Mael smirks, "Not far at all. You could pick the fruit you'd like yourself." I haven't done anything alone for a long time, mainly because my husbands didn't like it. I look back at my Husbands, "I think Aneth wouldn't let me go alone…"

Mael chuckles playfully, "Have you not broken rules before? I thought you were bolder than that, Kamari." He crosses his arms over his chest. I raise my brow, "I'm a known rule breaker, Mael." I look down at Ignis, pondering if I could take a tiny risk to see a little garden. I shake my head, "Sure. Why not? I'll bring a couple of bags. Can you help me carry them back?"

"It would be rude if I didn't. You will be my guest, after all." I know Mael means well; I hope Aneth will let me go without demanding he come with me. "When is a good time for you?"

"Tomorrow evening. Is that a good time for you?"

I nod, "Yeah, I'll meet you at the vendor stand." Ignis starts to fuss, "Oh, I have to go; she's quite feisty when she doesn't eat. I'll see you later." I start to walk towards the Castle, and notice Calea isn't with me, I look over at her with Ryuu, a genuine smile on her face. My heart swells with happiness. I was happy things were going well for once, even though Calea hasn't been entirely accepted by Nye or Koa yet. But I was determined not to let anything happen to her, even if I had to fight Koa or Nye. Before I return to my chambers and feed Ignis, something Mael sticks in my head—the land's heartbeat. I kneel and place a hand on the ground, and not a moment later, I feel a strong heartbeat; it doesn't feel as painful as before. I close my head and indulge in it.

Mael had a way with plants and never ran out of stock either; it amazed me that he was so invested. It made me more determined to be ever more engrossed in my Kingdom. With a relaxed breath, I entered my chambers and fed Ignis in private. I peeked out of the window and saw Mael heading out of the Kingdom with a bag of fruit. My door opened, and thankfully, I had Ignis covered in a blanket, but it was only Aneth. "Oh, hi, you."

Aneth doesn't say anything at first and closes the door, then says, "You aren't going."

I turn my head towards him, sometimes I forget how good their hearing is, damn. "It's just a garden, Aneth. He's a simple human trying to share his craft; he's one of my people. It would be rude of me not to go. Don't you think?"

"The garden doesn't bother me. He does." Aneth comes to stand in front of me. I can't help but chuckle, "Aneth, you can't be serious." But by the stern look on his face, I knew he was serious. I sigh, "What bothers you about him, Aneth?"

Aneth looks at Ignis. He places his finger in her hands, and she grips it. "Ryuu, he sensed something." I shake my head, "Ryuu is still young; what if he misread him? Mael cannot harm me. Aneth, I could kill him." Aneth's lips twitch into a smile, "That's a tempting thought." He locks eyes with me, and I can't help but feel a warmth in my chest. "She grows stronger. Her grip is powerful." He says.

I gaze adoringly at Ignis, "She's going to be like Ryuu before I know it." My voice is bittersweet. "I should be happy that they grow so fast, but I wish for them to stay like this longer than they do."

"They would be weak." Aneth's hand touches my cheek. "I won't allow that." I lean my cheek against his hand. I knew Aneth meant it in a good way. To him, he was protecting them because if they were at their most vulnerable, they wouldn't survive the forest world. "So, do you forbid me to go to the harmless garden still?" Aneth's jaw clenches, and his eyes lock on mine. "Yes."

"Then, why don't you come with me? You can stand outside the tiny gate?" I say playfully, but Aneth leers at me. "That's not funny."

"A little bit." I purse my lips. Aneth kneels before me, his hands sliding under my dress and lying upon my inner thighs; I subtly bit my lip, looking down at him. "You won't be able to," he leans into me, being careful Ignis, and whispers against my lips, "You will be preoccupied with me."

My breath catches in my throat, as he kisses my lips, as he pulls back, my eyes glitch. And Aneth wears a smug grin before standing. "You plan to drain me?" I smirk at him.

He tilts my chin to meet his gaze, "Every last drop. I plan to consume your soul," The gruffness in his voice elicits a slight whimper from my lips. I turn from him, "That's not fair, " I try to fight the smile that pulled at my lips. "Since when have I played fair, little one?" Now that I think about it, Aneth had never played fair; he waited for the right moment to strike and thought about every move beforehand. Rather than act rashly like Nye. No matter how much Aneth dislikes Koa's element, they share things in common, but he'd never admit it. 

"Fine. No garden." I say aloud, but in the back my mind I was still tempted, like I needed to see it for some reason, and then unsettling thought comes to mind, what if it wasn't the garden but Mael, I wanted to see. I shake my head, trying to push back the thought because why would I even think that? I couldn't lie and say Mael wasn't attractive; he was beautiful. I probably would have fallen for someone like him if not for my Dragon Husbands. This is where I got in trouble, the Shade part of me is fighting against , daring me to do things I shouldn't, poking at the rush for a thrill. I swallow hard. I fight it. 

Shut up! I scream in my head, trying to push it away, but I knew It wouldn't stay down for long, like an ember to dry hay, it would come back with a vengeance.