The Commander Trilogy #1 Shadow and Gold

Chapter Eight

In the beat of sunshine the air is warm. A particularly pleasantness with the invigorating freshness of September morning wind. Valerian's words from last night, replayed repeatedly in the front and back of her mind. Tearing her from the sweetness of sleep, as with heavy breaths of fresh, beaten, air, the warmth behind him brought a smile to her distressed face. As she stared off into space, she couldn't help but take in the rising and falling of his chest. He'd stayed there all night long, all night long because of her. Protectioning her. She noticed him in the corner, nuzzled into himself, knees pressed into his chest. Slow and steady she stood from the bed, eager to start the day, till a piece of warmth and pleasure wavered through her wrist. She stopped with her gaze glued to Valerian as with both eyes open, he made his way to where she was, slowly at first from what she saw as sore muscles. Valerian came to sit to be beside her, slowly pulling her back down to the softness of the mattress before them. ''Don't look at me like that,'' She whispered. ''Like what?'' Valerian replied, studying her as if he had no idea what she was about to say next. ''LIke I'm some captive, who was in need of rescuing?'' ''I can take care of myself.''

''Why does someone helping you scare you so much, Faith? I've noticed you rarely ask for help, and when you do, everything seems to end up in chaos?'' Valerian mumbled softly though Faith could barely hear him, for her thoughts were so much louder than his voice. Flashes of the last previous hours came flooding back, separating her mind from time for a second, as she thought of herself, then Alias. Everything was coming back all too quickly, she could've swore it was a headache that was causing her the most pain, but she'd be lying to herself if she tried. She wasn't meant to be commander, to be the leader. She knew it to be the truth, just like everybody thought every time they stared at her. And she was sure they were all right. Maybe she should've given Cardin the position, before she agreed over confidently.

''Faith? Faith, do you hear me?'' Valerian's words returned her to reality, where she was left staring into him, with nothing to say. She searched herself for answers, but noting that sounded like herself, could form in time. Valerian's eyes twinkled even though for the silence, Faith felt awareness running up and down her arms, as his voice held a touch of warmth and protection in every symbol. ''I guess if I had to answer in your place, I guess what scares me the most is the thought that I won't be able to protect you.'' He blushed. There was a small touch of hesitation in his voice only she seemed to have picked up on. ''I guess what I'm avoiding saying is, would you stay here with me - for the rest of the time we have left on this planet?''

Faith was quick to shallow the dryness forming in her throat, clearing it, as a gust of power covered her next words, carefully. ''I guess I could.'' Her hands felt rough and calloused from all the time spent in the forest, but Valerian's touch was light, comforting even. Almost like it was able to open a powerful, and strong flow of energy between them. Suddenly, he held his hand upon hers, and pulled her close, close enough for their bodies to touch, as his lips brushed hers, brushed hers until she felt something within herself starting to melt from the simple, gentle, touch. Their history and time spent together, made him want to touch her, to feel the softness of her skin before waking up to gaze into those huge earthly, brown colored eyes that had always had the same effect on him, even now. The stare that could stop him in his very tracks. As seconds turned into minutes, time ran by, and as much as she hated herself for feeling something more for Valerian, she knew she needed to put an end to whatever this was. She couldn't play with his feelings like this, with his emotions. it wasn't right for her as his friend, or has his commanding leader.

She was lost in a haze of heat and dark spices, sweet nectar of honey and passionfruit covered the air between them. She'd been lost in his hot kisses, and solid strength as he pressed himself against her fragile body, until his touch dissipated from her skin the moment she leaned away. The part of him that broke her the most, was the sheer confusion and sadness carved on his face, the moment she did that. Valerian got to his feet without a single reply or stance back, as she watched him, surrounded by the comfort of white sheets, and decorative paintings strung up with string, all around the walls of sticks, string, and twine, that made up her bedroom chamber.

''I dreamt we walked together along the shore. There we made satisfying small talk and laughed for hours. But this morning I found sand in my shoe and a seashell in my pocket. Was a part of me trying to tell me something? Could a part of me be trying to tell me something? Perhaps there's room in this broken heart, to love you as something more than a friend?''

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If I try really hard I am able to close my eyes and see the hustle and bustle of the village. Of my village. The children playing, the pack of mules and miners, the ladies decked out in long dressed, and fur jackets covering their bare shoulders. But most important, I can see my mother's face. Mother and father. I can see mother sat down in front of her favorite tree, the shade from the branches keeping the top of her head cooled. Warding away the damage caused by the sun's rays, from her beautiful reddish, ruby hair. She had a new book in her hand, from earlier that afternoon, when she'd visited the book store for the second time that week. Alina Collins. She was like the spring giving everything it had to the Summer, balmy air that smelled of roses, hot skin meeting the cold shock of ocean, every time she touched you with her gental touch. She was like starry nights and warm kisses. Sugar, curiosity and rainfall all mixed together to create the beauty that was my mother. Sometimes, when mother was not around, I'd sneak off into the forest behind our house, and gather up as many delicious grapes as I could carry.

I was her little helper, and I think doing that just made the moments spent together, even more precious. That day, when i returned home with the most grapes I'd ever carried, she offered to tell me a story. She told me a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did meet, but who found out they were the only two people in the world who was able to understand each other most. I remember it took me a couple days to fully put the puzzle together in my mind, from mom's story. She'd been telling me the story of her and my father. How they hated each other at first, then realized they were the only two people in the world, who found they were able to understand better than anyone else in their lives. Strangers wanting nothing to do with one another, destined to get together, settle down, and loved each other so much, they decided to have a child......

''i vow to love you without reservation or conditions, my dearest. I vow to always do my best to give you more than you've received. When I am with you, I am the best version of myself because I am utterly and unapologetically myself, inside and out. i vow to continuously work on myself, and to be the best husband you want, need, and deserve.'' Vowed my father.

''I will take your love to give me hope, give me joy, and make me a better woman because of it. I promise to listen, to hear you, and only you. I promise to consider your feelings and thoughts as we travel together on this beautiful journey. I vow to love, honour, and cherish you, forsaking all others, as a faithful wife as long as you shall have me. And as long as we both shall live.'' Vowed my mother.

Snow white wings attached to her back, a silver ring carved from platinum on her finger, bells swimming out past the crowd of guests gathered, she was destined to have music playing where ever she went. However all that swam by, shattering their perfect new life, was the piercing screams of Alina, as she was struck down, swiftly, by a traveling monster in search of the blood of the past.