Chapter 7 - Z

I couldn't believe that he actually wanted to this time. I have to admit that I was pretty excited. I had been content with whatever contact we could have, but this was something that I desperately had wanted.

I stroked through his soft white hair. I had already taken out his braids. He rested with his head on my right shoulder and his right hand on my chest. We were curled up watching the stars underneath our jackets. This was certainly in the running for the best night of my life.

"Thank you," he whispered into my skin. I kissed his head.

"Anything for you." I meant those words. Those and the other three that I wish I said more. "I love you."

I could feel him smile. His breathing was steady, though his heart still raced like mine. I pointed to the sky. "That sequence sort of looks like Syrenne." He laughed.

"There's no way. She's not holding a beer bottle." I had to laugh at that. It was true. We rarely ever found her without one.

"I did say 'sort of'." I wondered how they were doing, Syrenne and Lowell. We had last seen them in the castle. I hoped they were alright.

I continued to rake through his hair. I felt him relax a little and I figured he had fallen asleep. "Goodnight, kiddo." I kissed his forehead again and followed suit.

"Wake up." I woke to Yurick. He was kneeling over me. "Dagran is going to be wondering where we are. We're almost at the docks."

I sat up quickly. I looked around a little, remembering what had happened. I found his eyes and smiled.

"Okay, sap, now is not the time for that. Get dressed." He was still smiling when he threw me my jacket. I put it on and tightened my pants and we both took off through the doors and out of the Captain's room. "We should probably go separately so he doesn't suspect anything. There are two different rooms in this hallway so if we need to make something up, it will have a good alibi.

I didn't like the idea of making something up, but then again it was Dagran we were talking about. I told him that he could go first but he said it would be more legitimate if I went first. So I did.

Dagran was waiting for us on the deck. Yurick had come out of another door and was following close behind me. "You two better be ready. We'll be arriving soon." I nodded.

It only took a few more minutes to reach the port. As soon as we docked, we left the ship. Mirania caught up to me about half way to the castle.

"Make sure you don't tell Dagran where you were last night."

"What do you mean? What did I do?" I asked.

"Calista almost saw you two. I knew you were back there so I distracted her. But if Dagron had tried to find you, I wouldn't have been able to stop him so you have to be careful. Don't get caught." She patted my shoulder and walked ahead of me.

How did she know? Were we that obvious? Well, fuck!

Either way, I guess it doesn't matter. I would never leave Yurick and, as far as I know, he would never leave me. I didn't even like Calista anyway so what did it matter?

"That's him!" I looked up from my thought. Jiral, Calista's fiancé, was standing on top of the hill pointing down at me. The guards behind him ran towards me. I didn't move. They grabbed my arms and shoved me towards the castle.

"What have I done?" I asked the guards that carried me to the dungeon.

"What- Like you don't know." One of the soldiers jabbed his elbow into my side. I winced.

"I really don't." They pushed me all the way down into the dungeon and into the cell where I found Syrenne and Lowell. "Why are you guys here?"

Lowell stared up at me from the back corner. He was sitting cross legged on the floor. "I have no idea. I was flirting with a noble lass one moment and I was in here the next. I don't know what for."

Syrenne nodded in agreement. "I was going back to the tavern to get a drink. I got pulled in here like I was some sort of animal. I don't like being man handled, you know." She stood as she spoke and placed her hand on her hip.

"I don't know what I did, but I feel as if this is all my fault." I leaned against the cold stone wall of the cell, folding my arms and looking down.

"Get your bloody hands off me!" Yurick's voice echoed in the giant, empty dungeon.

I hope to god he's okay.