"Let's stop here."
The voice echoed around her, disembodied and strange. Everything was hazy. Her brain was swimming. Sounds were opaque and warped like she was hearing them underwater. A myriad of colors danced along her closed eyelids. The smell of a burning fire filled her nostrils.
"Lay her down."
Gentle hands guided her limp body to the ground. She felt the soft threading of a blanket underneath the exposed skin of her bruised wrists and neck.
Gradually, Melia's senses came alive, each taking hold of her soul and pulling her from the darkness of unconsciousness. Though her mind did its best to stay cloaked in slumber, the sensations from her environment prickled at her unrelenting.
Her entire body ached, pain pulsating from every muscle. Whispers hovered in the air above her and the crunch of boots on brambles reverberated in her ears. But she was too exhausted to process it all or attempt to construct a narrative in her mind explaining her location and situation. She was simply too weak.
"That crystal…"
"Stand back."
"Wait! Are you gonna shoot that—"
A crackle hit the air above her. Melia winced, its harsh sound adding fuel to the fire of the pounding in her mind.
Then relief washed over her like a tidal wave; a blue surge of comfort replenishing her senses, saturating her flesh, easing the wounds all over her body.
Inhaling and exhaling, Melia opened her eyes. Vision blurry, she blinked repeatedly, waiting for her eyes to put the scene into focus. It was after dark and a healthy fire popped and snapped close by, illuminating the stone walls of the cave and the faces of those that stood a few feet away from her: Reyn, Shulk, Fiora, and Riki.
"You're safe, Melia." The warm voice poured over her like molasses, soothing her with its velvety sound. She turned to her right and saw Dunban kneeling beside her, his brown eyes filled with concern. He slipped his hand into hers, grounding her from her dream-like state.
The corners of her mouth tipped upward, and for a moment, everything faded away but the touch of his hand and the joyful relief in his gaze.
"You're a mess," Tyrea said, shaking Melia out of her reverie. Slightly annoyed — as annoyed she could muster given her lethargic slowness — Melia turned to her other side to see her sister also kneeling beside her. Tyrea was pale, paler than usual.
All annoyance washed away replaced with worry. Why was her sister distressed? Melia shut her eyes, trying to retrace her steps. How she had ended up in this cave with her friends surrounding her.
It all flooded back in an instant: her capture, her torture, her rescue.
Most of all the dead eyes of her tormenter.
Her stomach turned and she became queasy. With her free hand, she gingerly touched her face, feeling the clots of blood where the gashes were, the swelling of her lips and eyes, the raw bruises on her cheeks. Her fingertips drifted lower to her neck. She could feel his hand's imprint still on her skin, bruises where his fingertips attempted to crush her larynx.
She jerked and gasped, recalling the feeling of her throat being crushed by his hand. Her throat was being crushed, she couldn't breathe—
"You're safe. You're alright." Dunban murmured to her, his voice tender.
Her body stilled, then sagged, the tension releasing from her as quickly as it had come. Dunban's thumb brushed her knuckles, reassuring her with his presence. Melia faced him and saw his expression was concerned. "You're safe," he repeated.
She almost believed it.
"How are you feeling?" Fiora asked, crouching down next to her brother.
Melia opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was dry. Too dry for her to form words without it hurting. Shulk grabbed a canteen from his pack and Tyrea snatched it from him. As Tyrea opened it, Dunban gently wrapped his arm around Melia's back and helped her up.
Her bones shuddered in protest, but she managed to sit upright. When she was stable, Dunban retracted his arm, and she immediately felt bereft of his strong touch. But she didn't say anything, and simply accepted the canteen that Tyrea held out for her.
The cold water rushed down her throat and she drank greedily. She didn't know how much she needed water until now. If she had been rejuvenated before, she was invigorated now. She drained half of the canteen before handing it back to Tyrea, wiping her mouth with her reddened wrist and immediately regretting it as the cuts began to sting from her touch. Undignified behavior she engaged in, but at the moment, it did not matter. Her entire appearance was unsightly, but she had survived death. Appearances were the last thing on her mind.
All eyes were on her, waiting for her to speak. Shifting, Melia felt a sharp pang shoot through her spine and her muscles spasmed and squeezed tightly. She hissed.
"We need to get you to a doctor," Tyrea said. "We need to go to Alcamoth."
"No. We must go to Oblivia." Melia responded, her voice hoarse. Her vocal cords were strained from both her screaming and the crushing by the Prone's smothering grip.
Again she felt her body twitch at the memory. She could feel his hot breath on the side of her neck...
"You have to go home and get help." Tyrea insisted, the edge in her voice replaced by a shred of urgency.
Tyrea hardly ever displayed her emotions, and it made Melia's heart bend and coil in on itself because her sister would do so now, much less in front of an audience.
Yet the display would not change Melia's mind. "The minute I set foot in Alcamoth, I will be forced to bed rest. And that is not an option. We must go to Oblivia. The Ganglion are attempting to retrieve an...item of some sort. We must get to it first."
"Melia, Tyrea's right. You have serious injuries." Fiora pleaded. "That can't be as important as your life is."
"I understand your concern, Fiora. And it is appreciated, but it is not necessary." Melia redirected her attention to Tyrea. "You have more ether crystals?"
"Yes." She flattened her lips into a thin line.
"Then use those. And I can use my healing as a hold until I can seek medical attention." Her lips burned when forming words, the swelling made it difficult to enunciate.
"What if it doesn't work?"
"It will. My magic will give me a few days, which is all I need."
"And what if we use too much?"
This time, Melia faltered, feeling the weight of Tyrea's underlying message linger in the air between them. She licked her already dry lips as she considered her response. Then, in a low voice, she answered, "I'm not Ellison. That's not in our blood."
Tyrea shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not doing this. If you want to cause yourself pain, then fine, but I won't help you."
"Tyrea…"
"You almost died, Melia. DIED. And now you want to go head first into who-knows-what? A battle? We don't know what's in Oblivia! It could be an entire army!" She snapped. Her eyes blazed with fury and frustration.
A chill ran up Melia's spine and she grimaced. The thought had occurred to her in the midst of the conversation, but what choice did they have? Whatever the VITA was, they could not allow it to fall into the hands of the Ganglion. For if it was a weapon, their chances of survival would plummet.
"Our efforts with the Ganglion had been completely reactionary. Now is the time to be proactive."
"It's always about what's best for everyone else." Tyrea threw her hands up and moved to stand.
But not before Melia grasped Tyrea's arm, despite the stretch being painful for her. Her sister narrowed her eyes but did not pull away. "Tyrea. I'm sorry."
A long silence stretched between the two, and though they both knew the humans were watching, neither looked away or attempted to downplay the argument.
"Please." Melia appealed in Ancient High Entian. "I would not do this if I didn't believe it was important. And I can only do this with you at my side."
Tyrea clenched her jaw and Melia waited with bated breath for her response. If Tyrea disagreed, Melia was uncertain if she could convince the others either.
"You do not keep me in the dark ever again. Promise me." Tyrea growled.
"I won't."
"That is not a promise."
Her sister was too clever. Tyrea knew that if Meliamade a promise, she felt bound to it. These were uncertain times and Melia hardly made promises these days. With the chaos her world was in, she couldn't ensure if she would be able to honor them.
"Tyrea—"
"I won't help you unless you promise."
Shoulders sagging, Melia sighed. "I promise."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Tyrea stared at her sister for a long moment before speaking. "Fine. We'll do this your stupid way," she answered, switching back to the common tongue.
"What's happening?" Dunban asked.
Melia shot him a sympathetic look. If she disclosed to him the truth of the matter, no doubt he would try to persuade her to stop. There was no time for that.
"We'll be back in a little bit." Tyrea held her hand out to Melia. She took it and her sister hauled her to her feet. Needles shot like fire through her limbs and a strangled wheeze escaped her mouth.
"I'm fine." She stated, preempting the question evident from the stares of her companions.
"Melia?" Dunban stood and gently tugged on her hand.
"I'll be using ether to fix the outer injuries and slightly repair the internal ones as well." She explained factually. "It...will be a little painful."
Tyrea snorted. They both knew that little was an understatement. But the pain did not matter as much to Melia now that she had recently withstood torture.
"I'll be much better after it." Melia gave him a weak smile. She would. Physically, that is.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. This is the only way."
"Let's get this over with." Tyrea sniffed. "Reyn, carry Melia." She waved at the burly soldier.
"I don't need that." Melia countered although she could feel her knees weakening each second she stood.
"Yes, you do. Don't argue."
Mutely, Reyn stepped up to Melia. She sighed and hooked her arms around his neck. Carefully, he hoisted her in his arms.
"Hope this is okay." Reyn grimaced.
"Don't worry, Reyn," Melia replied.
The closeness of their bodies was slightly disconcerting and would have been much more before the incident at the Ganglion base. But now...it seemed trivial to what she'd just experienced. Though there still lingered a discomfort at the close proximity.
The three exited the cave, moving into the darkness of the forest. They walked in silence for the next ten minutes, and Melia was thankful for it. She was too tired for words, and the arguments had depleted what energy she had when she awoke. All Melia wanted was for the nightmare to be over.
Finally, they came to a clearing in the trees.
"You can put me down now," Melia lightly tapped Reyn's shoulder.
"Oh yeah, sure." Reyn gently set her down. "What now?"
"You go back to camp." Tyrea shooed him away.
"Thank you, Reyn. I appreciate the help." Melia interjected with a thankful nod.
"'Course." He hesitated and put an arm behind his head and stretched. "You sure you're gonna be alright?"
"I will."
Reyn shrugged and headed back in the direction he came from. When he was out of sight, Tyrea put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. "Last chance. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes."
"It's going to hurt."
"I've already withstood a large amount of pain in the past day, Tyrea. A little more will make little difference."
A softness invaded Tyrea's eyes and Melia held out her hand to her sister. "I apologize, Tyrea. From the bottom of my heart. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted this to happen."
"I know." The vulnerability in her tone was unmistakable.
Melia wrapped her arms around Tyrea, ignoring the screams from her arms at the motion. Tyrea stiffened, then relaxed, but never raised her arms to return the hug. She didn't need to. Melia knew that this was enough.
Finally, she let Tyrea go and stepped back.
"He's worried about you too," Tyrea said, her voice now at its normal intonation with its usual edge. "Must make you feel good."
"I don't wish for anyone to hurt over myself."
"Alright alright. But you know what I mean. It's...well you know. He's into you." Tyrea flipped her hair. "Anyway, let's get this over with, I'm hungry. I knew you'd drag this out. Such a drama queen. Lie down."
Melia smiled at Tyrea's effort to lighten the mood and obeyed, moving slowly in an attempt to ease the cramping from her muscles.
"Here." Tyrea gave her a soft branch as Melia lay back on the ground. Melia took it, eyeing it skeptically. "I'm improvising."
Conceding, Melia put it between her mouth and bit down. Her body froze, reminded of the rag that had been stuffed in her mouth only hours ago. She could feel the darkness press down on her. The hot hair felt like his breath against her neck—
"Breathe, Melia. I'm right here." A hand touched her forehead. Though the panic didn't immediately recede, she felt slightly better from the coolness of Tyrea's touch. Melia breathed.
After a moment, Tyrea removed her hand. She pulled out two crystals from the pouch at her side and unslung the rifle on her back. One by one she stuck the crystals into the cylinders on the rifle.
"We'll do two."
"Three." Melia shut her eyes, her nerves already bouncing around in her diaphragm.
"Two." Tyrea's tone suggested she would not be moved.
"As you wish."
"Good. I'm going to have to do them separately. Can you handle that?"
"I'll be fine." But there was a slight quiver in her voice, though only she could detect it. She was lying to herself. She thought she would be prepared for more pain but flashes of her torture materialized in her mind and she shuddered. Maybe this was a terrible idea. It was a horrific idea.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
There was no chance to back out now.
Click. Tyrea pulled the safety off the gun.
A crackle hit the air and the crystal shattered.
"We're not going back to NLA first?" Shulk asked, surprised, his shaggy blond hair shaking as he tended to the fire.
The team congregated in a circle around the flames, breaking out their rations and eating a small dinner, silently agreeing to avoid the subject of Melia and Tyrea.
"If we do, they may stop us from going to Oblivia," Dunban answered. That much was certain, and since Melia had no intention of returning to Alcamoth, he wasn't about to return to NLA either.
He was worried about Melia. There was something wrong, he could feel it and he wished he were with her now.
"But you are going to tell them about what Melia said?" Fiora inquired, forcing his attention once more.
"As soon as we are on the border between Primordia and Obliva, I will radio them." Tyrea was right. They would need reinforcements. They had no idea what awaited them in Oblivia: a squad, a battalion, a whole army of Ganglion troops to recover the VITA. It could be anything.
"Seems dicey." Reyn grimaced, then stuffed his sandwich into his mouth.
"We don't really have a choice though," Shulk leaned against the wall and looked up at the shadows that danced along the cave's roof.
A faint shout reached Dunban's ears and he snapped his head to stare into the darkness of the forest. But nothing appeared. Everything was still.
Slowly he turned back to his team. Quiet conversation buzzed between them, but he was no longer listening. The noise from the forest echoed in his ears.
Had it come from Melia? Was it whatever she and Tyrea were doing? He wished he knew. No doubt she was using more of those crystals on Melia. But the first one hadn't hurt Melia. Were the other two going to? The healing magic, would that hurt her as well?
His knuckles turned white as he clenched his hand around his canteen. Seeing Melia cradled in Tyrea's arms had shocked him. Slammed his heart through his chest. She had been taken by the Ganglion and beaten within an inch of her life. Her injuries were severe — more than he would've dared to imagine — and his stomach twisted into knots. The strings of his heart pulled tight and rage bubbled to the surface, fueled by the existing hatred he kept stored away.
"What do you think this artifact is?" Shulk pondered pulling Dunban from his thoughts. He knew that is was better not to dwell on his anger. Necessary. He could rely on his military training to compartmentalize, but this time was difficult.
"I bet it's a weapon," Reyn said and leaned back, propping himself up on his elbow. "Why else would they go after it so quickly?"
"I don't know. It could be not a weapon. Like a key to something?" Fiora reflected. "We don't know much about this planet. Maybe there's something hidden here. Do you know, Riki?"
Riki frowned and shook his entire body back and forth. "Samaarian leave many thing on Mira. But Riki don't know what. Lost to Nopon." He tilted his head to the side. "Chief may know."
"Perhaps we'll pay a visit to him after this," Dunban interjected. Assuming the BLADE council didn't throw him in jail. He had to make sure that he would be the only one to take the blame for this unsanctioned trip, not his team.
"What do you think they'll say when we get back?" Fiora put her canteen to the side, evading his eyes. An easy tell of hers when she was nervous.
"I'm not sure, but I'll take care of it. You don't need to worry."
The sounds of footsteps met his ears and he reached for the pistol at his side. Casting a glance over his shoulder, he saw the bushes rustle and narrowed his eyes. They parted and Melia and Tyrea emerged, but he only had eyes for the princess. Her outer injuries were gone: no swelling of the eyes, no puffed lips, no gash cut into her forehead, no bruises along her jaw or rounded on her neck. Just smooth porcelain skin and angular features.
Still Tyrea supported her, wrapping an arm under Melia's shoulders.
"You didn't eat everything, did you?" Tyrea growled as they neared the cave entrance. Dunban and Reyn scooted to the side, making room between them and gently Tyrea helped Melia sit so she was between Tyrea and Dunban.
"Noooo." Fiora pointedly responded, passing around a brown bag.
Tyrea snatched it from Reyn and plunged a hand in, pulling out two sandwiches. She handed one to Melia, unwrapped the other, and bit into it.
"Someone's hungry," Reyn commented.
"Flying requires extra effort." Tyrea shot back through her mouthful.
"It's rude to talk with your mouth full."
"It's rude to comment on someone's eating."
"And Reyn eat with mouth wide open all time," Riki interjected.
"Whaat?!"
The conversation devolved into a familiar, playful argument. Dunban refocused his attention on Melia, who simply held her sandwich. She hadn't taken a bite and just stared at it in her hands. But her eyes were unfocused.
Tentatively, he leaned over. "How are you doing?"
Startled, she jumped.
"Sorry," he murmured.
"No, please don't apologize. I'm just...readjusting."
"I'd like to talk later if you'd be interested."
"I would."
To his surprise, there was no hesitation from her. A quick answer although it was said with a neutral expression, which gave him no indication of her state of mind.
He nodded and they returned to the group conversation at hand, observing Tyrea and Fiora engage in a friendly debate with Shulk and Reyn.
Dinner passed quickly and the members of the group split off to pursue their own evening activities. Fiora and Riki played a few games, and Reyn and Shulk admired Tyrea's inventory of weapons, which was meticulously laid out by her sleeping bag. This left Dunban, Tyrea, and Melia alone.
Dunban flicked his eyes towards Melia, who was in deep conversation with Tyrea. Whatever they were discussing seemed to be grave given the severity of their expressions. Melia briefly met his eyes and gave him a slight nod before returning to her attention to her sister.
He meandered over to the entrance of the cave and waited. Looking out into the dark night, Dunban considered the upcoming conversation. He wasn't entirely sure what he was going to talk with her about, but he felt they needed to have a conversation. He wanted to have a conversation. To see how she was. And to selfishly spend time with her privately.
A few minutes passed and he felt the light tap of fingertips on his forearm.
"Would you still like to talk?" The delicate voice soothed his ears, and he turned to see Melia, her blue, somber eyes holding his hypnotically.
Nodding, he held out his right arm for her. "Shall we?"
Delicately, she took it, wrapping her arm around his. The touch sents jolts of electricity through his body. An urge to embrace her, hold her close, coursed in him but that was inappropriate. He didn't even know where they stood.
Silently, they ambled away from the cave and ascended a nearby hill, taking their time to climb the slope and take a seat at the top. Moonlight filtered through the canopy, providing just enough light for them to see one another.
"Are you alright?" He asked. It was a silly question. Of course, she wasn't. He just didn't know how to start the conversation. He was nervous, plain and simple.
"I am better now. I will need medical attention soon, but I will be fine for our journey." She placed her hands in her lap, one over the other. Was there ever a moment when she did not exhibit poise and grace?
Dunban doubted it. Or perhaps that was just how he saw her.
"That's good to hear. But not exactly comforting."
"I know," she sighed, her mouth curving downward into a frown. "I'm so sorry, Dunban."
Hesitating, he took her hand and cradled it in his own. "Why? You have nothing to be sorry for."
"This wouldn't have happened had I had any sense." She gazed up at the dark sky that peeked through the rainforest canopy.
"This wouldn't have happened if your father wasn't constantly putting you in dangerous situations for no good reason." He objected. The statement had more edge than he wanted, but he wasn't about to beat around the bush.
"He had a reason. It is not one I agree with, but he did. I was managing quite well actually. But I decided I was able enough to...well...I put myself in a perilous situation, which resulted in my capture." Melia grimaced. He could feel the shame radiating off of her, but remained silent, waiting for her to proceed. Finally, she continued, her voice low and full of emotion. "What I am about to share with you is known only to my family. No High Entian citizen is aware. They are under the impression that he has embarked on a mission. So I beg you to keep this to yourself."
His brow knit together. "Of course."
"The creature in the Roost is called a Telethia. It is a very powerful being. And...it is my brother."
His eyes widened.
"The High Entian DNA is a combination of Homs — your race — and Telethia. My forefathers have made it a point to marry Homs in order to make the Telethia gene a recessive trait. It is my generation of High Entians that is finally free of its danger. Being the child of my father and the first consort, Ellison was not part of this though. And neither is Kallian."
This was the last thing he'd expected to hear. Melia's brother had transformed into the creature that haunted the Roost? No, it wasn't a question, it was a fact. But was it that strange? Humans had evolved from apes, which was not dissimilar of High Entia — somehow — evolving from Telethia. But in no way would humans revert back to their ape ancestry.
Studying her, Dunban watched a myriad of emotions play over Melia's complexion. Sorrow, grief, frustration, and finally resignation.
A lightbulb clicked in his head. She had attempted to communicate with Ellison. And it had gone wrong.
"Can I ask...how it happened?"
"When we first arrived here on Mira, it was of the utmost importance to lead teams to discover the landscape. Much like yourselves. Ellison led such a team and happened upon the Roost. He went into the tree and...never came out. Or rather… the Telethia did. We speculate that it is a pocket of ether. And now High Entian without the necessary generational Homs blood are forbidden to go near it."
"I'm not sure how this relates to…"
"Of course, my thoughts are not organized." Melia chewed on her lip. "I apologize, I'm sure is very strange."
"You're fine, Melia. I just want to make sure I understand, that's all." He gave her hand a squeeze.
A slight blush colored her pale cheeks and she gave him a grateful smile. His heart flip-flopped in his chest.
Clearing her throat, she resumed, "I attempted to communicate with Ellison. It did not go well, to say the least, and I was forced to protect myself. I was still recovering from the…" she faltered, looked away and proceeded, "The battle with Goetia. What I did, well it took much of my strength and I still hadn't — haven't — fully recovered. And so...I gave the rest of my energy trying to protect myself when Ellison attacked me…"
She trailed off, and hung her head, bunching her shoulders up to her neck.
"I don't know how to save him, Dunban. My family has given up, but I cannot just sit by and let him suffer. I cannot give up on him."
"If I can help in any way, tell me."
"Thank you."
Silence misted the air between them, heavy with sorrow. Finally, she dropped her shoulders and met his eyes, the grief washed from them, replaced with her usual neutral calm.
"I apologize, Dunban. I usurped the conversation. Did you have something you specifically wished to discuss?"
"I did want to know how you were doing, Melia. That was my first priority." He took a breath and continued as a flock of butterflies took flight in his gut, "I haven't had a chance to properly apologize to you for what happened after the fight with Goetia."
"You already did, Dunban. Please."
"No, Melia. I'd like to explain myself if you'd be willing to listen."
"Of course."
"I lost my arm in the fight that shot the White Whale down to Mira. The Ganglion surprised us. My squad and I mobilized in our Skells, but they were too fast for us. All of my soldiers died except for myself."
"Oh, Dunban. I'm so sorry." She squeezed his hand.
The emotionally charged memories shoved through him, banging on the door of his heart. What would he think of her after he told her this story?
"Do not feel obligated to share the details, Dunban. I do not wish to distress you."
It was the empathy in her voice that convinced him to push forward.
"The Ganglion hit one of the Whale's engines, and the ship started to go down. I was able to stave off the remainder of the Ganglion fighters so the Whale could land on Mira without exploding on impact. My team didn't make it." He clenched his jaw, "When I tried to shield the last one of my squad — his name was Jason — I took the shot meant for him and it blew off my Skell's left arm, which shocked my arm and left it paralyzed. Jason died only seconds later. I tried to keep them safe, but I couldn't and they all lost their lives. My arm was amputated when we settled on Mira."
"I see." She murmured and ran her thumb pad along his knuckles, sending a shiver up his spine. "It's a reminder of what they took from you. Of the loved ones you've lost." Melia breathed. "Of the sins you believe you bear."
He nodded, his throat constricted with heartbreak. Jason's screams echoed in his mind still. Sometimes they woke him up at night. After all the death he'd witnessed, it was that last moment that had stuck with him, stained his soul forever.
"You hate it, don't you? The anger that's always there." Melia stared at him; he could feel her gaze all the way to his soul. "But you can't be rid of it because it keeps you going. And even if you wanted to erase it, it would come back, because you need to punish them for what they've done."
Quiet, he nodded again. She was reading his heart. It was...a relief. The knot in his stomach slowly untied itself, the tightness of his throat receded. She understood.
"You hate your weakness, but you forget that you've saved your people time and time again. I know you've heard it before — no doubt you have — but you are not weak. You cannot be weak when you put yourself in the line of fire to protect others." She smiled. "You saved me, Dunban. I know it firsthand. You are one of the strongest persons I know."
They stared at one another for what felt like an eternity, pulled together by an invisible string twisted with longing. He could hear the pounding of his heart and he wondered if she heard it too.
Melia parted her lips. She shined in the sparse moonlight that peeked through the canopy above, beautiful, alluring.
Dunban couldn't wait any longer. Earnestly, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, her body fitting snugly next to his. Gently, he lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes, which glowed in the slivers of moonlight.
Hesitant, he leaned down and touched his lips to hers.
"Dunban…" She murmured, breathless.
It was a shot straight to his core. Desire flared to life inside him. He couldn't hold back any longer. He kissed her again. Deeper this time, needier, his yearning pouring out through each second their lips connected. He was intoxicated by her taste and touch. All he wanted was more.
Melia kissed him back, slow, deep, and eager. Kissed him again, this time more intensely, fully capture his mouth with her own. She brought her hands up to his chest and leaned into him, desperate to eliminate any space between their bodies and mouths. To melt into one another.
Over and over again their lips met, colliding with one another, parting for the smallest second, then crashing into each other again. Even the tiniest moment apart was too much. Each kiss was more feverish than the last, passionate fire that set Dunban ablaze. Their connection inflamed his desire to feel, to know, to see every inch of her. Understand her fully. Surrender to her completely.
Finally, they reluctantly separated to catch their breath. The sounds of their panting hovered in the air between them, evidence of the fervor that had overtaken them. Dunban couldn't help but smile, and Melia returned it with one of her own.
"I've been wanting to do that since the first time."
"So have I." She traced a finger over his lips and he kissed its tip.
"I was afraid I wouldn't see you again after what happened with Goetia." He folded a stray curl behind her ear. "Or at least, we wouldn't ever talk again."
"I was afraid you would be left with only with my cold words. I'm thankful it was not the case."
"I am too." He leaned his forehead against hers.
Her eyes darted downward and he watched a blush pass over her cheeks. Then she met his eyes and confessed, "I...missed you."
His heart nearly burst in his chest and he cupped her cheek in his hand, brushing his thumb over her cheekbone delicately.
"So did I."
His heart stirred in his chest and Dunban wrapped her in his embrace, maneuvering her so that her back to his chest. He lay a kiss atop her head and she leaned back against him to look up into his eyes. "Are you really okay, Melia? I don't mean your injuries." He murmured.
"I am...shaken. But I will recover." She admitted.
"What you've been through, I can't fully understand. I've never been in that situation. But if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here." He gently squeezed her against him, tightening his arms protectively.
"Thank you."
"Always."
And he meant it. Because for the first time in years, something bloomed within him that dared to be stronger than his hatred.
