Truly Me

|| Cassidy Sinclair ||

I woke up in the middle of the night. I blinked a few times when I heard pants coming from beside me. I turned around and looked at Mateo. His eyes were snapped close. Sweat covered his forehead. He moved anxiously, his mouth moving unspoken words. He was having a nightmare. A frown appeared on my forehead when I felt some kind of pity for him. I didn't hate Mateo. I didn't fear him. I liked him in my own special way. But I never felt something like pity or remorse for someone after my parents had died. 

I moved my hand towards Mateo's cheek, patting him slightly. "Wake up Sinclair. It's just a dream." I said gently. His eyes remained close. I tapped his cheek harder. "Mateo, wake up," He shot upright, his eyes wild, his breathing ragged. "Calm down, it was just a bad dream." I rubbed his back comfortingly. His gaze went to mine, panicked. I took his hand, placing it over my heart. "Follow my breathing, it's okay," I whispered. 

His breathing slowed to a normal pace. "That's it." A smile tugged on my lips. "Thank you." He said hoarsely. "Of course, anytime." I studied his face. "Want to talk about it?" I questioned, my hand still on his back. Mateo shook his head. "It's fine, just go back to sleep." He forced a smile. I nodded and laid back down. He followed my lead, laying stiffly beside me. "It was just a dream, Mateo." I paused for a second. "Above all, I'm here. No one can hurt you." He chuckled and I saw his body relaxing. "Of course, how could I forget," Mateo said teasingly. I smiled and with that, I dozed off.

When I woke again, the bright morning light burned in my eyes. I felt heavy arms around me and felt hot breath tickling my neck. I bit the inside of my cheek. I was oddly comfortable around him. What had happened to me? "Goodmorning to you too sunshine." Mateo's voice was sleepy. "Morning," I said, jumping out of bed. I smoothed my suit, straightening the collar. "You are a morning person I see." He groaned. "We have to leave now if we want to reach the capital before dusk. I don't want to waste any more time." A sigh escaped my lips. "Alright, I'm coming, calm your ass down Missy." He smirked, sitting up. I threw a pillow in his face, hard. "Okay, sorry." Mateo's smirk grew bigger when he too rose from the bed.

We made our way out of the inn and readied our horses. Mateo grabbed a pastry Holly made for us and threw one at me. I caught it and stuffed it into my mouth. I heard my companion chuckle beside me. "Hungry?" He said teasingly. "Shut up Sinclair," I said with my mouth full. This time, Mateo laughed. "My apologies Missy." He smirked. I couldn't suppress a smile. I grew to like this stranger.

I wore my own face while we rode. We held a calm pace, switching between trotting and an easy canter. We talked about what our gifts did for us, and how they could destroy us. Mateo had a different experience than mine. He always felt the emotions of others, he couldn't keep them under control. It influenced his life. My gift, on the other hand, influenced me in another way. My gift gave me the ability never to show myself. To never show truly me. That destroyed me too. 

We almost reached the capital; the walls surrounding the capital and almost all of the kingdom were already visible. Long story short, Leith has a lot of walls. Suddenly, Matteo stopped his horse. The white mare moved her ears and nervously looked around. I gently halted my horse too, the stallion dancing beneath me. "What's wrong?" I asked, raising my eyebrow. My companion's gaze hardened while he glanced around. A muscle was ticking in his jaw. "We are not alone." Mateo's voice was low, his shoulders tense. I looked around while dismounting Phoenix. "Hold him for me please." I gave Mateo my reins, but he stubbornly dismounted too. 

"What are you doing." I hissed. "I'm going with you." He replied calmly, tying the horse with a loose knot to a tree. "No, you're not." My gaze found his, his blue eyes piercing into mine. I licked my dry lips, frowning. Thinking. Mateo could feel it when there were any creatures around. He could feel the presence of whatever was lurking in the trees surrounding us. He could feel when they were coming closer. But Mateo also felt what everyone else felt. I swallowed, my shoulder was still tinging from the last attack. He felt that too. And where I used to be careless for others' wellbeing, as long as I could save my own ass, something pulled inside of me. I wanted him to be safe. I needed him to be safe. What has he done to me?

"You can't." The words escaped my mouth sharper than I expected.  He frowned, confusion crossing over his beautiful features. "You feel everything others feel. If this creature, human or not, does mean us harm, I'm going to have to kill it." I hated myself for caring so much. I hated how pathetic this made me sound. I hated that he felt what I felt. Something flashed in his eyes. Within two strides, Matteo stood in front of me. I felt his breath on my cheeks. "There is no need to be worried about me." He spoke, his voice soft, gentle. 

Blood rushed to my face, and my mouth opened to argue, but the words died in my throat when his hand settled on my cheek. "You cannot hide your feelings for me, Missy. I'm skilled in my gift too, a little too much sometimes." Sadness crossed his face and I couldn't help to feel bad for him. But his eyes went back to their normal, warm selves. His hand remained on my cheek. "We are in this together now, Cassidy Miller." My name rolled off his tongue like music and I had to swallow to keep it together. Warmth spread through my chest and Mateo smiled. He tapped my nose playfully. 

Suddenly he turned on his heels, his eyes scanning the trees. He took his bow and arrows, which were attached to his mare's saddle. His hands found the horse's nose for a second. "Good girl Sapphire don't be scared." Mateo gently said. Sapphire made a quiet sound and stretched her neck. My companion turned to me again. "Someone, or something, is there." He pointed to the left side of the road. My hand closed around the hilt of my sword. I raised the hood of my cloak, hiding my face, blending into the shadows of the trees.

I narrowed my eyes, looking around. I heard Matteo right behind me, his footsteps louder than mine, but surprisingly quiet for a male that tall. "I feel it left." He whispered. "How can you even feel presences when your gift is emotions," I whispered back. A chuckle escaped his lips, the sound relieved tension from my shoulders. "It comes with the gift, sweetheart." Mateo's rich, deep voice said. I grinned. "Good to know." 

A branch snapped. My head snapped towards the sound, my slipped out of its sheath. "Who's there?" I called out. Multiple footsteps surrounded us, coming from behind and in front of us. "There are two of them," Mateo stated. "Two of what." My voice was close to a growl. "That I cannot answer Missy." He replied, an arrow stringed on his bow. His gloved hands didn't shake a bit, they were steady and precise. 

"Show yourself," I called out again. The footsteps came closer. Two figures emerged from the shadows. My eyes darted between them both, one behind us, one standing more near in front of us. A woman and a man. I studied them closely. They both had fierce blue eyes and brown, wavy hair. The same nose. The same jaw. The two looked exactly alike. "You guys are twins," I stated. The male clenched his jaw and stepped closer. The woman joined her brother's side silently. Mateo's arrow never left its string. 

"Who are you?" He grounded out. "Lower your weapons." The man said sternly. "Who are you?" Mateo repeated, his voice just as harsh. He held eye contact with the male. A muscle ticked in his jaw and suddenly surprise flashed in his eyes. His bow lowered. "That can't be." His voice had lowered. The two strangers looked at each other with confusion. "What is it, Sinclair," I said, my sword still raised in front of me. Mateo looked at me. "They are gifted too."