Blood of Elven

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Khionia could not remember a time in her life when she felt as completely relaxed and at ease as she did when falling asleep cradled in Bash's arms. There were no questions, no thoughts, no worries racing and twisting through her mind, no muscles tensing as she fought to keep her ice at bay, no flicker of fear for what was to come. The aftermath of what had transpired between them left her in a hazy bliss, her limbs lax and her skin maintaining a faint glow as her magic remained thrumming lazily through her veins.

Just as she felt the heady pull from the gentle fingers of sleep begin to claim her, Khionia turned her head to look back at Bash who was watching her with the same reverence as before. "Do it again," was all she whispered, low and huskily, but Bash knew what she wanted.

Slipping back into her mind, Bash sent the thought brushing through her like a caress, "I love you, Khionia."

She knew she would never get tired of that feeling; that feeling of harmony, of peace, of warmth when he spoke privately to her in such a way. Only a few moments ago, he had briefly explained to her how he had been attempting that type of communication for the last few days, seeing how far he could tunnel along the tether that connected their souls.

Khionia closed her eyes as she listened to his deep voice softly reverberating through, not just her mind, but her whole body, before searching for the tether that would lead her back to him. She followed the white and gray light until she knew she had entered into Bash's mind and willed the words to find him, but when she opened her eyes, Bash shook his head softly letting her know she had not yet succeeded.

In a low hoarse voice, Bash said, "It's alright. I enjoy hearing those words spoken out loud from these beautiful lips." He began tracing her bottom lip once again.

Turning completely so that she faced him, resting her head on her hand, she searched his face. The strong lines and thick muscles of his jawline stood out starkly in the dimmed lighting, ending in a slightly dimpled chin. His storm cloud eyes were set beneath arched and thick eyebrows, tendrils of his wavy hair curling around his forehead. She still was in shock that this handsome male wanted her; chose her; loved her.

There was so much more behind the features, so much more within the mind that seemed to be in a constant state of churning, puzzling, processing. And she wanted to know all of it, and then some. She wanted to know him. It had only been a week, and the connection she felt toward him was so strong, there was a part of her that realized she should be scared, she should be afraid, she should take a step back and consider all that this meant and was going to mean. But that tether between them pulsed steadily within her, comforting and warm just as her gut told her to stay with this male, be with this male, live alongside this male.

She reached out with her free hand to stroke the scar running down his cheek once again. "Tell me how you got this," she said quietly.

Bash tensed, dropping his hand from her face but did not turn away. His eyes became frozen swirls of gray and green as a deep sadness lined his features. He whispered, "I don't want you to regret what happened between us; I don't want you to regret this," he swept his hand down her torso underneath the blanket, his fingers circling her hip bone softly and with gentle veneration.

"Bash," Khionia spoke softly but with strength behind her words, willing him to hear the truth within them, "I will never regret this. I will never regret you and me," then she softened her tone, coaxing him. "Tell me. Let me in."

He searched her face as she spoke, his eyes beginning to soften with slow swirls once again, before lowering his lids and dropping his head. Quietly, he said, "There are things I have not told you about myself. Things that I am not proud of, Khi."