Test of Faith

Chapter 17

~~~~Five months later

Today feels like it's going to be a lazy day. It had grown considerably colder as the months dragged on, which persuaded her to stay inside most days. She was also unconsciously wandering away from the Brotherhood, and many were outraged - some dared to even call her a traitor.

"Let us not forget what has happened to us! What has been stolen from us! Taken - by the enemy! I swore I would get my revenge for my parents' demise, and it has led us here! I will not rest until they have been avenged!" she had declared.

Those words echoed in her thoughts every second of every day. Her quarrel with her parents' murder had been resolved once her sword was removed from the last Borgia soldier. Her lie weighed heavy on her shoulders, accompanied by guilt and regret, which fueled the gradual separation.

Sudden movement out of the corner of her eye caught Mirabella's attention. Haytham had unconsciously shifted closer to her, his eyes still shut and his breathing still even.

She smiled gently as she watched him rest, his arm twitching and tightening for a moment around her waist. Instinctively, she inched closer as well, the feeling of her bare skin on his intoxicating. It had been a strange few months, indeed, as they were all spent with Haytham.

She was enthralled by him, by his past and his upbringing, to his skills and abilities. From the tale of his father, Edward Kenway, to the kidnapping of his sister, Jennifer, to his decision of becoming a Templar.

"I was driven mad, fueled by revenge and yearning for justice for my father...and Master Birch was there to aid me," he had told her once. She remembered his unwillingness to accept her pity, and instead the rest of that day was spent indoors.

She was enthralled, yes, and surprised as well - never did she see herself in a situation as delicate as this one, yet there she was. A hum distracted her from her thoughts, and she turned to see Haytham begin to stir.

His eyes fluttered open slowly, making Mirabella smile. "Good morning, caro," she greeted softly. He smiled sleepily as she turned on her side to face him. "Good morning," he replied huskily.

He leaned down, tilting her head up with a finger under her chin, and kissed her delicately. Even then, six months later, his touch, his warmth, his kindness left her dazed, blissful.

He pulled away, his hand resting on her cheek while her hand rested on his side. "How long have you been awake?" he asked. Mirabella shook her head. "Just a few moments."

She then curled up again in his arms, tucking her head under his chin. She sighed with a smile as he chuckled. "We cannot stay in bed all day," he said.

His arms held her anyway, holding her close. "It wouldn't be the first time, love," she mumbled, pressing a soft kiss to his chest. Mirabella smiled when that rewarded her with a sigh, but reluctantly she pulled away. "But I suppose you are right."

She sat up, her messy hair tumbling down her back as she stretched her stiff and sore muscles. She ran her hands through her hair, detangling whatever knot she came in contact with, then combed her hair with her fingers.

Her hand was suddenly pulled away from her hair, and she fell back against the bed with a quiet "oof!" Haytham then hovered over her, a new dark look in his eyes as he attacked her neck. Her gasp was mixed with a moan, her eyes fluttering shut.

"What are you doing? We need to go...!" she protested, but she did not move. Haytham grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. "The others can wait."