Heart of a rogue

Chapter 30 -

Okay, steamy chapter ahead. I'm too curious as to what everyone thinks. Which team are you rooting for right now? Team Declan or Team Leo?  I even saw Team Abel in the comments! I'm loving the interacion! :)
Obviously both have made mistakes, but who can truly redeem themselves? Can Declan even redeem himself?! I wouldn't forgive my man of he did something like this...

And you think it can't all get worse right? Oh I will make it worse, sorry not sorry lol. Keep the comments going, it's making me more motivated too :)

...

I sat at the small wooden table, fingers curled around my cup of steaming tea. The familiar scent of herbs filled the air, mingling with the gentle hum of Leo's voice as he recounted some funny story from the past. The little folk were scattered about, buzzing softly, their curious eyes watching us. Despite the whirlwind of recent days—the chaos, the pain—Leo's presence and the comforting company of the little folk provided a strange sense of calm, a reminder of simpler times.

Leo's laughter rang out, warm and infectious, as he described me fumbling through the forest. "Remember when you tried to hunt that deer? You were so determined, but you kept tripping like a pup chasing its own tail."

I couldn't help but laugh, the sound bubbling up unbidden. "I'll never forget that. I was so embarrassed, I wanted the ground to swallow me whole."

Leo grinned, leaning back in his chair, eyes sparkling. "But you never gave up. You were relentless. And when you finally caught your first deer, the look on your face was priceless."

I took a sip of tea, the warmth spreading through me, mingling with the nostalgia. "I think I was more relieved than anything. But I owe you for teaching me. I wouldn't have lasted a week on my own."

Leo's smile softened, a shadow of old memories in his gaze. "Teaching you was one of my greatest joys. You were always so eager to learn. It's one of the things I've missed most."

Silence fell between us, not awkward but full of unspoken memories. The little folk, sensing the change, flitted around us, their soft, melodic chatter filling the air. I let my mind drift, savoring the rare moment of peace.

But my thoughts soon turned back to the forest, to the images the tree had shown me. My laughter faded, replaced by the heavy weight of regret and confusion. I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd seen—Declan, the betrayal, the twisted vision that haunted me. Leo noticed my shift in mood, his eyes softening.

"You're still thinking about it, aren't you?" he asked, voice gentle.

I nodded, looking down at my tea. "I can't get it out of my head. It feels like everything is unraveling, and I don't know why."

Leo's hand found my shoulder, his touch warm and steady. "Sometimes we don't get answers. Nature has a way of testing us, pushing us to our limits. You've been through so much, and it's okay to feel lost."

I sighed, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. "I thought I was stronger. But now... I'm not so sure."

"You are strong," Leo insisted, his voice firm yet kind. "Stronger than you think. You've been dealt a hard hand, but you're still here, still fighting. That's not weakness—that's resilience."

The warmth of his words eased some of the burden weighing on my heart. We talked more, drifting into lighter topics, Leo's stories pulling me back to happier times. I found myself laughing again, the sound mingling with the gentle whispers of the little folk.

As the night wore on, our tea turned to wine, and Leo's tales grew more animated. He leaned forward, a mischievous smile on his lips. "Remember when we got lost in the woods and ended up sleeping under the stars?"