Paralyzer

Chapter Nine

Mai was a witch. Luka hadn't wanted to believe it, even as he watched her rip Saveria apart. She had been cold, and calculating, and he now understood her unhappiness at his birthright. His family had upheld the law that most likely kept her to the woods, and earned the ire of those in the villages. When she had collapsed, he hadn't spared a second thought to the law and had instead run to her side. He convinced his father to have her treated rather than executed, and she had spent that time in a private room.

The next few days had been unbearable for him. He'd sat at her bedside and not moved; not when his mother asked or his father ordered. He wouldn't leave Mai alone, especially not now. She had nearly died protecting her king and queen, the kingdom...and him. He spent that time with his own thoughts; the idea that once she awoke she would leave him again, the fear she would feel if he revealed that he knew what she was, the distrust the people would feel if he kept her here. He didn't want her to disappear back to the forest, to spend the rest of her life alone. She deserved so much more, and he intended to give that to her.

The day Mai woke up, she took a deep gasping breath and her eyes glowed silver. He looked at her in shock and awe, watching as she relaxed back into the bed with small gasps. He reached for her hand, brushing his fingers along it gently and ignoring when she flinched.

"Mai. You're okay, you're safe." He kept his voice low, trying to be as soothing as possible. Her gaze darted to his own and began to fade back to grey; her eyes were filled with panic. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and moved his chair a bit closer. She moved to sit up slowly, looking around in confusion.

"Where am I?" Her voice was harsh after days unconscious, and he moved to get her a glass of water. She took it gratefully and took long pulls from the glass before clearing her throat.

"You're in the palace." He sat on the edge of the bed now, the relief at her being awake finally washing over his tired body. "We had our physicians care for you. It was the least we could do, since you saved us." She gave him a wary look, and it actually hurt him that she didn't trust him.

"Then you know what I am." Her voice was quiet, and she looked to her lap where she fiddled with the glass of water. "When am I due to be executed?" The question made him run cold; she expected after everything to be killed for what she was. Luka sat in shock, trying to process through her logic that he would kill her.

"Execute you? Mai, why would I do that?" He could hear the incredulity in his own voice, but it still didn't bring her gaze to his. He had to know what was going on in that mind of hers, and so pressed a hand to her cheek. She tried to pull away, but he wouldn't allow it. "Mai, look at me." Her eyes finally met his, and the gray had dulled considerably. She didn't appear sad, or angry...just resigned.

"How could you not? Being a witch is a crime, and I am not exempt from the laws of our kingdom." Her voice had gone flat, and it occurred to him that she had been preparing for her death since they met. She honestly expected him to kill her, and it shattered him inside. He pulled her to his chest, holding her there tightly and burying his face in her hair. He felt her tense, and he rubbed her back to calm her.

"God, Mai, I could never..." His voice shook, and he shut his eyes tightly. It was now or never; otherwise, he knew he would lose her forever. "Mai, I love you..."