Basilisk (Dark Ominis Gaunt x OC gothic romance)

Chapter 98: Soft Words

~~Veela~~

Sebastian had insisted she lay down after the fiasco with her father, and she frankly didn't have the energy to argue with him. She could see the concern in his eyes, and she wondered if she really did look that worn if he was that worried.

So here she was lying in his bed, feeling awkward with him bustling around in the kitchen trying to cook something for her. Shouldn't she be the one cooking? This was odd, it felt so strange to feel the mixture of tension and something else between them. She still didn't trust him entirely, but... helping her with her father had shown how much he truly did care about her. After he'd gotten that letter he'd come fast, and she was grateful he'd been here when he was.

She looked out the window of the room with a soft sigh, wondering just what her father was thinking trying to drag her off like that. Was he going to try and force her to be obedient like she was some child? Surely he wouldn't go that far... but after his reactions to her denial she really wasn't sure anymore.

One thing was for sure, her father hated Sebastian, and Sebastian wasn't keen on her father either... not that she blamed him.

"What a mess." Veela whispered to herself with a moan. Everything was tangled... her relationship with Sebastian, the situation with his friends, her own past decisions, this strange illness she was dealing with... it was all so frustrating. Why couldn't anything ever be straightforward?

She looked up as the door opened and Sebastian walked in with a steaming bowl with a towel beneath it so it wouldn't burn her. She sat up in bed and sighed happily at the smell of the soup he'd made, her stomach still hungry despite being unable to keep any food down.

He grabbed a chair once she'd taken the soup and held it in her hands with a little smile, letting it warm her hands for a moment.

"Be careful, it's still hot." He said, sitting down a short ways from her beside the bed. He still looked uneasy and tense, and she could understand why. Things were awkward between them, even after he had hugged her earlier. The soft way he'd moved her hair from her face, and he'd been calling her sunshine this whole time... it was such a sweet and endearing gesture, she hardly knew what to do with herself. She glanced over to him as her heart fluttered a bit in her chest, and he caught her looking at him, a little smile coming to his lips. She quickly looked away, hating how her cheeks flushed a bit with embarrassment.

She was still mad at him for lying to her and using her like that... but damnit he was charming and sweet. He did really care about her, too. Why else would he stand off against her father like that? He'd been fully prepared to duel him in the house, he'd even cast confringo to try and battle him! It had been a rather powerful cast too... he must be a very strong wizard if that was any indication.

She glanced over to him again, unable to help herself and he caught her gaze again, his smile widening a bit. She looked away again and her blush deepened when he gave a soft chuckle.

"What are you thinking about so intently, a'ghrain?" He asked gently with that killer crooked smile he had.

She turned pink as her blush turned deeper again, the knowledge of what that word meant and how sweet it was flustering her.

"Thank you for helping me with my father." She said quietly, glancing back to him.

"My pleasure, Veela." His smile brightened considerably. "I'm here to help if you need it."

Veela watched him for a moment as she searched for what he might mean by that, looking into his dark eyes for a moment and her breath catching at how deep they were. How had she never noticed that before? There were layers and layers of emotions to those eyes, showing he'd been through far more than he let on with his carefree attitude.