Chapter 14:Vaughan
I woke up with Sandre in my arms her head resting against my chest. My heart was full of love and yet long after Sandre had gone to sleep I had sat looking out over the sea thinking about Lisora. How unfair life was that I had found my mate and she was locked away fighting the valg inside of her. Sandre stirred then and I grinned down at her as she sleepily opened her eyes, she returned the grin instantly the smile lighting everything up inside me. Making me believe I could face whatever came our way.
"No early training this morning then?" I teased. Sandre's answering shove just made me laugh instead.
"Shut up Vaughan. Get your lazy ass out of bed I'm hungry."
I kissed her quickly before saying "I know exactly what you need" and I returned hurriedly a plate piled high with as much food as it would hold.
Sandre's eyes widen with delight, which I noticed was very similar to the look she had given me as she had gazed at my hardness last night, and I couldn't help but laugh as she pounced on the plate as soon as I had set it down. I ate very little that meal, I couldn't stop staring at my mate. Every few minutes I had to myself to remind myself this was real. Sandre was really mine and as cheesy as that sounded she completed me.
When we finally emerged from our room and onto deck reality hit us as well as the humidity of the late afternoon. We had slept a lot longer than I thought, we would arrive at Wendlyn the day after tomorrow. Sandre squeezed me hand in reassurance as if she sensed the despair radiating off of me. The task of finding Lisora was only going to get harder from here on and I wasn't sure if I was ready to face what I would find when I found her.
The rest of the day comprised of pushing myself through a series of drills while Sandre sat mediating trying to see Lisora through one of her visions. At one point she gasped so violently I felt sure she'd had another vision but alas she was just excited to see the land form of Wendlyn on the horizon. It sent shivers down my spine rather than the delight I normally experienced when seeing my home. Wow that word felt so foreign now, as if it had suddenly changed and not me. In all of my years I never thought that the day would come where I'd dread stepping ashore. The dread was not only for myself but for Sandre and my sister Lisora, who I had left unprotected. I cursed colourfully out loud for my stupidity making Sandre jump in surprise.
"Sorry" I mumbled.
"What's on your mind?" Sandre asked.
"The usual" was my short reply and a quick look from Sandre showed me that she understood. A moment later and her arms wrapped around me, I curved inwards towards her and hugged her back craving the warmth and comfort she provided. Not for the first time I wondered how I had ever managed to function before her. The thought should have scared me that I now relied on another but instead I felt at ease as if it was always meant to be this way. We stayed in that position long after the sun had started setting.