Chapter 8

Hey y'all, back with another chapter. Don't worry, I haven't abandoned the story. Full time university, and working weekends takes up most of my time. Did you guys seen the first Arcane Season 2 drop today? No spoilers, but it was just awesome. Anyways, enjoy!

As the small hut came into view, Irelia started to get worried. It had been nearly two weeks since Connor was shoved in there. She had spent hours every single day since then trying to get permission to visit him from her mother. Connor still didn't know that her mother was the queen. Not one person had been allowed to visit Connor, and the only interaction that he had was whenever food was brought to him, even then the guard didn't stay long.

As she stood in front of the door, she steeled herself. Why was she so nervous? Maybe she felt guilty about it taking so long to get to him. Whatever.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door before entering the key and opening the door. The inside of the hut was the bare minimum, a bed and a chair, neither comfortable looking, and a small bathroom with no shower or bath. There were no windows in the hut, along with no lighting other than a single werelight in the middle of the room. Connor sat on the floor leaning against the far wall, his eyes closed. "Connor?" His eyes fluttered open, his red eyes glassy. He looked at her, seemingly seeing through her, before closing his eyes and leaning back against the wall.

She stepped inside and shut the door behind her, "Connor, it's me, Irelia." Was he seeing things? "Connor?" She crouched down in front of him. She slowly reached out a hand to touch his shoulder. The instant her hand made contact, his own hand bolted out to grab her arm in a powerful grip. She started to panic before he opened his eyes. They were no longer glassed over, and as he looked at her his grip loosened, before tightening once more and pulling her down to the floor with him.

She more than willingly followed his pull, sitting down and straddling his lap. She leaned forward and locked lips with him, her hands moving down to his chest. He felt even more lean than usual. She pushed her lips against his harder, seeking entry into his mouth with her tongue. He immediately complied.

When she finally pulled away, his eyes closed again and he leaned back against the wall. She reached down and cupped his cheek, pulling him away from the wall. "Connor. I'm real, okay?" He nodded, still not speaking. "Are you okay Connor? What did they do to you? I'm so sorry I took so long, please forgive me."

He finally locked eyes with her, "Irelia."

"Yes, I'm here." She stood, reaching her hand down, which he grabbed and allowed himself to be pulled up to stand. He tentatively took her hand in his, then wrapped his arms around her.

"You came quicker than I expected you to." He stepped back and sat down on the bed, patting the bed next to him to offer her to sit. She sat down beside him, leaning on him slightly. "It has only been twelve days."

"How can you even tell the time here?"

"Three meals a day, five hundred push-ups a day. I just reached six thousand total." He grabbed onto her hand, holding on tight. "How much longer until I am freed from this place?" He didn't even look angry at his imprisonment.

"I'm going to try to get you out by tomorrow. I'm so sorry that you have to suffer through this, it's cruel what they're doing."

"This is nowhere near cruel, Irelia. I've spent months at a time in a real dungeon, no bed like this, nothing to do except exist. Three meals a week there, sometimes less. I have had plenty of time to meditate, sorting out all of the spirits that possessed Durza."

Irelia sat further onto the bed, and laid down fully beside his sitting form. "Would you lay down, Connor?" He obliged, laying down right beside her. Her hands were immediately all over him, grabbing under his shirt, feeling his freshly toned abs. He looked at her, tentative to touch her in any way. She paused, and grabbed one of his hands, guiding it to her thigh.

"Irelia, I've missed you. After a few days of complete isolation, I kind of defaulted back to being alone." He gently squeezed her thigh.

"I'm going to stay here as long as I can, and tomorrow I will get you out." She promised him.

The next day, when she opened the door to Connor's 'jail' he stood up almost immediately this time. She had succeeded in convincing her mother to free him, on the condition that he couldn't leave her sight for the entire span of their visit. She didn't mind that at all.

"Come Connor, you must meet someone." She held his hand on the entire hour walk up to the Crags of Tel'naeir. As they walked into the clearing, both of them looked up as a massive golden dragon raised up out of the trees, landing at the edge of the cliff beside a small hut built into the wall of a hill.

As the elf jumped off the magnificent beast, Connor stepped forward and drew his returned sword. He slowly walked to the elf, who seemed comfortable despite his threatening presence. Once there were only a few feet between the two, Connor raised his sword and stabbed it deep into the ground, before walking to the elf.

As Irelia walked over to the two conversing, she heard them introduce themselves to each other. Oromis, the elf, gestured for the two to come inside his hut with them, the massive golden dragon, Glaedr, watching Connor closely as he entered the hut.

"Irelia, it is great to see you back in the forest." Oromis sat back in his chair. "I have heard a lot about you Connor, mainly about how much of a demonic monster you are. I understand you, my friend. I understand how you feel, you've lost everyone and everything, nothing left to lose, nothing wanted to gain." Connor just nodded.

"Irelia, I'm going to keep Connor here today, would you mind leaving? You may come back for him tomorrow morning."

"I'm supposed to never let him out of my sight." Irelia crossed her arms, frowning. "What is so important that I can't hear about?"

"There are some things that only a dragon could tell. I also need his absolute focus for the next few hours, and although it is hard to see he is very distracted by you." He pointed at Connor, who was currently staring at Irelia, a fire behind his red eyes.

"I am sorry Irelia, we shall spend the entire day together tomorrow if you would like to." Connor apologized.

Eventually, Irelia obliged. As she walked out of the small hut, she glanced back to see Connor pull out his necklace from under his shirt, the dark purple stone still attached.

Short chapter, I'm sorry blah blah. Next chapter anyone? TY for reading!