Make Me Feel Again ♕ Geralt Of Rivia

fourteen .

G E R A L T

El's silent as she trails behind me. God only knows there's nothing in this world I wouldn't give to make sure she never hurts again or at the very least know what was going on inside that pretty little head of hers.

I slow down my gait, allowing her to catch up, slipping my fingers between hers when she does. The simple touch calms the raging storm that has always resided in me. One that only seems to go away when she's with me. I only hope it does for her what it does for me.

Neither one of us uttered a single word as we go on. This is my way of giving her what she always asks for when she's upset: space. And though, I don't always understand it- though, I reckon that has more to do with my need to be around her than the idea of it- I respect it nonetheless.

As much as I try to do right by El, I've never claimed to have admirable self-control and hearing her sniffle is what finally breaks me.

I tug at her hand, bringing us to a halt before turning her to face me. Tears swam in her devastating chocolate gaze.

"Hey," I say softly, brushing her hair out of her face with a gentleness that I didn't realise I possessed, proving once again how this woman never fails to lure out a side of myself that surprises me. "None of this is your fault."

El squeezes her eyes shut with a shake of her head, "No, I led it to him. That's on me."

Contrary to her appearance, El doesn't sound upset. She sounds angry.

"It doesn't matter if you had let it to him or not, El. Once a Ker sets its sight on a soul, it'll take it regardless of the circumstances."

"It probably wouldn't even have marked him if I hadn't brought it to him! I may as well have painted a target his back!" She yells, her voice echoing through the night.

The dam holding her tears finally breaks and they come running down her face. Seeing her like this hurts me in a way that I couldn't put into words.

Reaching out to her, I pull her into my chest. She melts into my arms, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck and burying her face in my neck.

Instead of sobbing harder as one would expect, El takes a deep breath, calming herself down and refusing to let her emotions get the better of her.

"None of this is on you, do you understand me?" I mutter into her hair, pressing a soft kiss to her temple before I could stop myself.

Angry voices carried through the night from the path that lead underground and El pulls away from me.

"Go on," She says, "I'll wait out here."

My brows knit together in a frown at her words. El has never been one to turn down an adventure.

"Years of attacks by this creature and the King does nothing," A voice echos through the night, "We must force his hand, lay down our picks and refuse to work!"

Cheers of agreement follow and El nods her head in the direction of the voice, "That doesn't sound good." She offers me a smile that doesn't quite meet her eyes. "Go, I'll be fine."

El must sense my hesitation as she gives me a light shove forward.

"I'll scream if I need you and I'll make sure you hear me." She says before quickly cutting me off when I open my mouth to speak, "And I won't wander too far. Promise."