Mercy & Fire

41. Fairies and Secretaries

Roselena 

"You okay?"

I pushed up off of him – well, at least I tried to, but I met some resistance.

"I should be asking you that, really... " I trailed off as I felt myself being pulled closer and closer to his body.

Our eyes met, swimming in confusion as the plants wrapped tighter and tighter each time we struggled. The thick vines curled around us, over and under, drawing us closer than we'd ever been. If it wasn't for the uncomfortable way our bones were jabbing, I wouldn't know where he ended and I began.

As we continued to struggle with no success, it was clear there was nothing we could do to remedy the situation.

Like magnets, our faces began to grow closer against our will. I was sure the vines were burning against his neck with the resistance we both applied to avoid what felt to be the most intimate position.

As I silently pleaded with a face full of embarrassment, my heart relaxed with relief as the vines slowed to a stop. Even then, it felt like a cruel and unusual punishment to be left in this position, eye to eye, bosom to bosom, pelvis to abdomen

Awkwardly, I avoided eye contact and tried to focus on anything other than our proximity. I felt my heart beating harshly against my chest, hoping he wouldn't notice it. There was one small error in my flustered dilemma: my heart wasn't in the right of my chest.

My eyes returned to King Rovan's face, and sure enough, his skin was growing pale, maybe even slightly green. I could see the damp sheen of sweat beginning to gather at his upper lip, and it was evident that it wasn't my heart thumping in great exertion – it was his.

"King Rovan?"

He didn't respond. He merely avoided my eyes and started to focus on his breathing, but whatever he was trying to do wasn't working. His breaths picked up in speed, and each time, it felt as if he was trying to force his expanding chest into mine, as if every inhale was not enough.

"Is it happening again?" I referred to the last time he panicked and lost his breath at the dark memory I dreamed.

Rovan nodded subtly, and I grit my teeth, trying to remember what I did to help him last time.

"Okay, slow down." I said, trying to think of a way to distract him. "Try to match my breathing, okay?"

I inhaled just as slowly as I exhaled, "Feel the way my chest rises and falls and match it."

His eyes met mine as I offered a comforting smile. "Inhale, exhale."

But it wasn't enough. I gulped as I impulsively leaned down, pressing my left cheek to his right. Relief ran down the strained muscles of my neck as I rested against him.

"Keep trying to match my breathing." I instructed. "Close your eyes and imagine we're back on Blue, soaring through the sky. Remember the snow on the mountains?"

His breath began to level with mine after a moment's silence.

"That's the first thing we'll do when we get back home." I told him fancifully.

His breathing was regular, and I successfully evaded having a blacked out man under me. Relief and genuine concern ran through my veins as I prepared myself to move away, but then he opened his mouth, causing me to freeze up.

In the smallest, most pathetic voice I didn't think he could manage, he mumbled next to my ear. "I wish your empty words actually meant something."

He knew I heard him. How could I not when I could feel his breath fanning against the shell of my ear.