Forbidden Enchantment

Chapter 26

Alara and Blake walked silently towards the dormitories, their fingers intertwined as if letting go would mean losing each other all over again. The tension from Carmy's unexpected outburst still hung in the air, but Alara tried to push it to the back of her mind. She needed to focus on the fact that Blake was here, with her, and that he was safe.

As they reached the door to Blake's dorm room, he fumbled with the key for a moment before pushing the door open. The room was dark, with shadows dancing in the corners as the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the faint, musty aroma of old books. It brought back a flood of memories—memories of their early days at the academy when they didn't like each other very much, yet his scent always lingered, comforting in its familiarity.

Blake turned on the bedside lamp, casting a warm, golden glow over the room that softened the harsh edges of their surroundings. He sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, his shoulders sagging with visible exhaustion. The mattress creaked under his weight. Alara stood for a moment, watching him, the soft light reflecting in her eyes, before crossing the room to sit beside him. She placed a hand on his knee, feeling the warmth of his skin through the fabric, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze .

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. She searched his face for any sign of lingering pain or distress, her heart aching at the sight of his weariness. She wanted to take away his pain, to shoulder his burdens, but all she could do was be there for him, hoping her presence brought him some measure of comfort.

Blake sighed deeply, running a hand through his messy hair. "I'm better now," he said, looking at her with tired eyes. "Being here with you... it helps. I just... I need some time to process everything."

Alara nodded, feeling a deep empathy for his struggle. She reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead, her fingers lingering to convey her unwavering support. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, her voice filled with love and determination.

Blake's lips curved into a small smile. "I know," he whispered, leaning in to rest his forehead against hers. They stayed like that for a moment, breathing in sync, drawing strength from each other's presence.

Eventually, Blake pulled back and lay down on the bed, patting the space beside him. Alara hesitated for a moment before lying down next to him, their bodies fitting together naturally. Blake wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the rhythmic beating of his heart.

They lay there in the quiet, holding each other close, finding solace in their shared warmth and love. The outside world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble of peace and security.

After a while, Blake began to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "The hospital in the Underworld was... horrible," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "The staff there, they were efficient but cold. My father... he was furious. He didn't want me to leave the Underworld. He thought it was safer for me to stay there."

Blake continued, his voice growing steadier as he spoke. "The pain was unbearable, Alara. It felt like my insides were on fire. They had to keep me sedated for days just to manage the pain. And my father... he blamed me. He said if I had just stayed in the Underworld, none of this would have happened."

Blake took a deep breath, his eyes distant as he recalled the events. "But I couldn't stay there. I needed to come back. I wanted to be here, with you, with my friends. I wanted my life back. So, I fought. I argued with him every day until he finally agreed to let me return to school. But there were conditions. I have to check in with him and the doctor daily to monitor my health. I'm not allowed to do any strenuous activities, no sports. But that's a small price to pay for being here."