Wolf-Shifter

Dancing among the Stars part 6

Namid stared at Rakab for a moment and thought about his life now. Did he really love her or was it just a ruse? After all he was a thief.

"Rakab?" Namid asked, seeing his violet eyes turn to her and feeling her heart skip a beat.

"Yes?"

She took a deep breath, "Do you travel alone nowadays?"

"No." he laughed lightly, "There are others."

Namid smiled tightly, "Can I meet them?"

Rak took her hand, "Gladly." He led her through the forest and soon came upon the destroyed camp. Namid gasped and turned on Rakab, "This is your work?" she gestured to the ruins and met Rak's gaze with her own infuriated one.

"Partly," he admitted, "T'was mine."

Namid clenched her fists, "You killed innocents for me."

"Listen Namid..." Rak brushed her arm and Namid growled, eyes flashing.

"Don't you 'Listen Namid' me, stranger. You're not the Rakab I once knew..." Namid could feel tears at her eyes as her friend's gaze penetrated her.

"Look, I'm a thief now, you are a noble, a princess even! Do you think I'd kill you if I were your best friend?" Rak challenged.

"No." Namid whispered, seeing the battle of emotions in his eyes, "You wouldn't."

"Please my LeonNamid, accept my fidelity... the fidelity of a thief."

"I'm not sure I can." Namid replied, turning away from his haunting gaze, "After all--"

"After all what?" "I was going to come back, I was dreaming of this day, Namid..." "Dreaming of coming back to a free world."

"A free world...a free clan?" Namid sighed softly, "Rak...everyone has their own battles to fight...I have my duty and you have yours."

"What does this all mean for us?" the thief asked, gently.

The younger princess looked at her friend and quickly looked away, ashamed of her next reply, "I'm sorry, Rakab...I'm betrothed to the Cobriana royal house, to the prince, Salem."

Rakab's look of shock and betrayal was almost too much for her. She had found him only to lose him again? What game was this? What sea waves were drowning him now? The waves of anger, betrayal and guilt? Or was he happy for her?

"Rak...do understand, I never knew you were coming back...I had no choice in the matter!"

Rakab turned to her, "I understand...You need to marry for an alliance..."—he swallowed hard—"I know..."

He seemed so broken at this news that it hurt her to explain the circumstances. "It's not like I chose to be a princess!" she argued.

Rakab sighed, "You've got the manner of one." He turned away from her, scowling.

Namid crossed her arms over her chest, "So we turn from friends to enemies just because of this?"

Rakab remained silent and climbed up to the branch of a tree, staring out to the distance…

Later that night, Rakab watched Namid sleep under a rough blanket and sighed as she struggled through nightmares, her forehead slick with sweat and her white shirt stretching taut across her chest with each heavy, ragged breath. He longed to comfort her and to let her sleep peacefully, but with their argument that afternoon, he doubted things would ever be the same. Rak climbed down and studied her more closely as she tossed and turned in sleep.

Suddenly, Namid cried out and unconsciously took hold of his arm. Rakab's eyes widened as his face came close—too close for his liking—to Namid's. His eyes took in the firm grace of her beauty, he outlined a finger along her cheek and felt her stir slightly in sleep. He leaned in closer, nose to nose, there he froze, watching as her eyes remained closed, her warm breath stroking his cheek. leaning in even closer until his eyelashes tickled her cheek, he kissed it in a brotherly way. Drawing back, he sighed and turned back to the wilderness around them. Seeing a shooting star, raced across the sky he thought a wish had been granted.

And he hoped his wish for love had been granted…