Havoc of Betrayal

CHAPTER 12 - Bond

CHAPTER 12

"Are you ready?" Mathias asked, looking down at his daughter, nearing three years. She bobbed her head, looking up at him with wide blue eyes, her wavy hair bouncing around as she held on to the edges of her dress, waiting in anticipation. "On the count of three." He said, seeing her grin widen made him laugh before he said, "one. Two. Three." And with that they started taking off their clothes in a rush, staying in their undergarments before they started racing to the river, Lona screaming as she tried to beat him while he did his best not to run too fast, so she'd get a chance to win.

He laughed when she was in the water before him, and a mere moment after he was on her, grabbing her under the arms and pulling her out of the river to twirl her around, making her laugh at the top of her lungs before he dropped her back in the river, where she jumped out spitting out water before starting to splash it at him for revenge. He laughed, holding his hands up to stop her, trying to splash her himself.

She stopped for a second, turning to the riverbank before she called, "Axie! Come play!"

"No, thank you." Axel said, even though he smiled as he watched them playing. It was something they did every other day, Mathias and Lona. Coming out to this one hidden spot near the river before they lost themselves as they played. It was always him having to tell them it was time to go before they whined about it together. He let them have fun, and before long he had to drag them both out, holding out towels for them to dry off, but not before Lona made sure to hug Axel's legs, making his pants wet.

"She is so much like you." Axel glared at Mathias as he knelt down to dry her while Mathias was putting his clothes back on.

"Well, she is my daughter." Mathias chuckled, grabbing Lona's clothes and taking it to where they were near the horses.

"That she is." Axel sighed, letting out a breath of a laugh when Lona wouldn't stand still, pushing out of the towel to wrap her arms around his neck, jumping up and down. "Lona, you have to act like a princess."

"I want to play."

"You just played."

"With Axie!" She insisted, stepping away before swinging her hands together, pretending to hold a sword, "With swords!"

"Didn't I tell you to stop?" Mathias deadpanned.

"Lona is very demanding." Axel shrugged, "Can't say no to her."

Mathias sighed, saying, "She is a princess. She shouldn't be using swords."

"The world is full of evil." Axil said, "As a girl she has more reason to know how to protect herself."

"You are very dramatic. She has us, she will be fine." Mathias said.

"I still will sleep better with the assurance that she knows how to use a dagger." Axel said.

"Come on, let's go." Mathias said, reaching for Lona who ran from him, going behind Axel, "Lona-..."

"Axie!" Lona said with a frown, reaching up for him, "I will go with Axie!"

Mathias pouted, looking at Axel as he said, "I don't like this. Not at all."

Axel laughed, saying, "You wanted her to love me, guess you didn't know how much she would."

"Not at all. I am her father. I should be loved more." Mathias then crouched down, demanding, "You should love me more, Angel."

Lona looked angry, saying, "Axie."

"Angel..." Mathias complained.

"Axie." She shook her head, smiling at Axel, saying, "I love Axie!"

"How about your poor father?" Mathias pointed at himself.