Cloak and Scalpel

ABERLEEN ARC: Enchanted

"How was it?"

Amy was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet with excitement as Aamon maneuvered Tyrasos back through the cavern's entrance.  She watched impatiently as the dragon landed and folded her wings.  Everett and Jim immediately approached, murmuring soothing words to the dragon as they did so.

Aamon leapt off Tyrasos, before turning to me.  "Jump," he said, holding out his arms as though to catch me.

I wish he'd stop being so nice.  "I can do it," I said as I swung my legs over Tyrasos' saddle.  It was a good seven feet to the ground.  I hesitated, wondering exactly where to place my feet.  I ignored Aamon's outstretched arms.

"Stop being stubborn, Diana," he said.

"I can do it," I insisted.

Tyrasos didn't seem to think so.  I swear, I heard the dragon let out a huff of impatience before she bucked her back, effectively nudging me off her.

I gasped as I fell.  Aamon caught me, arms going around my waist and drawing me close to him.  I placed both hands instinctively on his shoulders to keep my balance, looking up at him with a blush on my cheeks as he drew me flush against him. 

As I looked into his arctic blue eyes, and he looked into mine, the realization that I loved this man slapped me again in the face.

I loved Aamon Paxley.

It was stupid.  We had a fake engagement.  I was pretty sure that involved fake emotions.  It was irrational.  He didn't exist on Earth-he was just a fictional man, in a fictional game, in a fictional world.  He was a character that thousands of women-and men-ogled on their phone screens.  He wasn't real at all.

So why did these emotions feel so...real?

Someone cleared their throat loudly, and I pulled away from Aamon.

Amy crossed her arms, smirking at us in amusement.  "Judging from your very disheveled state," she said, eyeing my messed-up hair and haggard expression.  "I take it Tyrasos took you for a little free fall?"

"You can tell?" I asked as I self-consciously smoothed out my hair.

"We've all been there," Amy said knowingly.  "Well, except me.  The worst was Gusion.  Aamon was probably a good fifty feet from the ground before Tyrasos pulled out of her dive.  Nearly gave Gus a heart attack."

"My soul left my body," I said, rolling my eyes at Aamon.

"You enjoyed it," he said with a small smirk.

"I'd enjoy throttling you more," I threatened.

"Okay, okay," Amy said, holding up her hands.  "Stop flirting.  There's a child present."

Sitri grinned innocently up at us.

"We weren't flirting!" I snapped, cheeks reddening.

Everett let out a loud laugh as he and Jim tended to Tyrasos. "Your Grace certainly likes them fiery."

Aamon slung an arm across my shoulders, drawing me tightly against him.  "I am quite fortunate in that regard," he said.

I blushed.  Dammit.  Did he have to be such a good actor?

"I'd hate to break up this little love fest," Amy said, clearing her throat loudly.  I shrugged Aamon's arm off me with an apologetic grin at her.  "But if I remember correctly, Robert will be dropping by today with all that jewelry you bought, brother."

"I see," Aamon said.  He turned to me and held out his hand.  "Come, Diana."

I hesitated.  I know I love him.  Maybe I'd slowly come to accept it over these past few days and allowing that realization to dawn on me today only cemented that fact.  I didn't know if he would love me back, or if any of the care he showed me was real or an act.  But...