Having lost the man she loved to the cold clutches of suicide, Amara's impulsive decision to join him leads her to accept the marriage proposal of a mysterious stranger she shares a drink with at a bar.
Xelan's weddings were an awful affair, with ea...
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Xelan had still been asleep by the time Damien left. Even though it had taken over an hour for Ida to acquire the ingredients they needed from the city, and another two for Amara to actually put together, after three tries, what she could grudgingly accept as a near replica of her mother's signature drink.
"It looks like I'll have to leave without even getting to see who I came for," Damien said as she walked him to the door with her stomach warmed from the beverage yet still quite unsatisfied. She had been the only one displeased with the results, as both Damien and Ida found it to be absolutely delightful.
"I'll tell him you stopped by," she assured as he opened the door to let himself out.
"That would be great, thank you," he replied, then added with a serious tone, "Do let him know about Lyle's visit."
She didn't really think it was something she could hide anyways, but she nodded all the same.
"Well, then, thank you so much for having me," he said, about to close the door behind but paused and stuck his head back in to add with a boyish grin, "By the way, the beverage was exquisite."
She smiled at the compliment. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Goodbye."
When the door was firmly shut behind him, she headed upstairs to Xelan's room. She knocked on the door, listening for his voice. In the absence of a reply, she let herself in, treading softly to avoid waking him. He was still the same way she had left him earlier, laid on his back with his chest rising and falling in a steady beat. She tilted her head, utterly curious at how he could be comfortable sleeping like that. But before she could get carried away with thoughts about sleeping positions, he groaned softly, his brows furrowed.
"No, please," he muttered, taking her by surprise.
"Xelan?" she said. He was still asleep, though his eyelids fluttered. She moved closer just as he spoke up again.
"Why are you doing this?" This time, the anguish was clear in his tone. It pulled at the part of her that was tied to him, making her kneel besides the bed.
"Don't leave. Don't leave me alone," he pleaded to no one in particular, his head turning this way and that. Against her better judgement, her hand reached for his.
"Xelan, Xelan wake up. You're dreaming."
He couldn't hear her, still begging to not be abandoned by whoever it was he could see in his dreams. While holding his hand, her other hand shook him gently, trying to wake him. Then he sat up straight, startling her at how sudden it was. It was silent in the room, silent enough to hear the soft groan of the breeze outside. His eyes had a glistening glow, tears sliding down his cheeks. In short time she had gotten to know him, his emotions were rather stifled, only peeking out through the barricades that he held up for the entire world. To see him moved to tears and feel the sadness flow in waves over him was unbearable, breaking her heart.
