The Imprinted Maiden (18+)

Chapter Eight

The old man cleared his throat before saying, "Lyra, you've committed fornication and god knows what else, and we simply can't have people like that around here. I never want to see any of you in this village again. If seen, you will be hunted down and killed."

Connor rolled his eyes and said, "We won't bother."

Not a moment later and he shifted, jumping over the crowd and taking off into the woods.

Xain slung me over his shoulder and took off. I screamed and tried to pry myself from his grasp, screaming out my brother's name over and over. Eventually, I stopped screaming and fighting, and just cried.

'He let me go... Just like that... Brother, why..?'

I sobbed on Xain's shoulder as he kept moving, feeling exhausted but somehow comforted.

My tears eventually stopped falling down, and I just went quiet, thinking and remembering every time I said that I loved my brother. Every time that I hugged him, I meant it, every time I took blame for his actions; it was all out of love. I thought those things would mean everything to us, even in the darkest of times.

I was wrong.

I gripped Xain's back gently and said, "I feel sick... I can't breathe leaning like this..."

After a moment, Xain landed on a boulder and slid me down in his arms.

We ended up making eye contact, and for a moment, I almost relaxed.

Images of Mathew swarmed my mind and I started to cry again. Xain held me tight and I took it as a sign of trying to comfort me. I couldn't help but to smile at him, even though he wasn't looking directly up at me.

It wasn't long until we made it back to the cave I had seen a month ago. Connor shifted and walked inside, lighting up a candle. Xain gently set me down and nudged me towards the cave. I reluctantly walked inside and made my way towards the candle.

I stepped on the sheep's hide and couldn't help but to smile.

It was as comfy to step on as the last time.

My smile slowly dropped though, and I turned around to look at the both of them.

Xain had shifted, and he wasn't smiling like I thought he would've.

I felt like crying again as I said, "You both got what you want. I hope you're happy." Xain sighed and said, "I'm sorry. It wasn't our intention to tell them of what you've done. But we had to make sure they wouldn't come looking for you."

"Right."

I turned around and hugged myself in a weak effort to comfort myself.

It wasn't working.

I felt Connor's hands on me as he said, "Whether you like it or not, you will end up forgiving us. It is inevitable."

I turned and slapped his cheek, completely furious. "Forgive you?! Why would I ever?! You turned me into a fool out there!!! You said something that didn't need to be said!! I'll never forgive either of you!!"

Moments later, Connor backhanded me, causing me to fall.

I whimpered and held my cheek, looking up at him in irritation. He was angry, but he quickly calmed himself down and knelt next to me, caressing where he hit. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

I simply sniffed and looked elsewhere, not wanting to reply.

As angry as I was, I was indeed starting to forgive him.