The Fate Weaver

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

"I command you to sit down comfortably," I said. 

If I were to be tied down by the facade I had to keep up and the limitations and duty of being a princess, I might as well as make full use of the perks I had. Brody's jaw tightened, but he could protest. Magnus was full of hesitations, torn between obeying and ignoring my command, his fingers curled into a weak fist. 

"I said, sit."

That did the work. Immediately, Magnus sat down with crossed legs, but his head was bowed, his white hair falling to his forehead. 

"C'mon, drop this formality. Brody here can't be not with me anywhere because he's attached as my bodyguard," I said, not bothering whether it offended him or not. "So pretend he doesn't exist. I don't give a dang about this."

Magnus did not respond. 

"It's unfair!" I blurted out like a child, and would've considered stomping my foot if not for the fact that I had taken a seat as well. "Do you have a morbid hobby of taunting people, hurting their feelings, going for their weaknesses? You know my weakess is you. You're my best friend."

"I am," he began, his dry and cracked lips shifting ever so slightly, "extremely honored by your kindness-"

That moment, something just snapped right inside me, and torrents of words tumbled out one after another from my mouth. 

"Did I never mean anything to you? Were you merely my friend just because you were there to make sure I didn't die so that I can come here and be a hero for Senalia? I do care about Senalia, but to be honest, I care about you as much as you do." 

I didn't know I was crying until I heard choked gasps and cries that I realized were coming from me. 

"Just once, Magnus. Just- before Anna, Marie or Joyce comes- call my name by that accent of yours, give me that smile- the one that I loved all my existence- like when I thought you were just...the nephew of the best pizza maker in town, and the son of lawyer Terrence."

I didn't bother to wipe the tears, letting them run down my face, a horrible ache tearing at my chest, clawing and eating me inside, the pain nearly physical. 

Magnus lifted his eyes, and his Adam's apple bobed up and down. His lips opened. "Athena."

I hadn't known how much I'd taken my best friend for granted, how I took my name prounounced upon his lips for granted, till that moment, when a burst of pure euphoria ripped out from its stuffy confines, and uplifted my lips. 

I neared him closer, as close to him as possible, gripping the bars and leaning my face against the cold metal. 

"You don't know how much I missed that," I laughed, cried and choked at the same time, running the extravagant silk sleeves across my wet face carelessly.

"I'll give you some privacy, princess," I heard Brody say quietly with his footsteps, "but I'm not leaving this dungeon."

The words came out in a rush of sigh. "Thank you. That's the best thing you can ever do for me."

As soon as I knew that his back was on us, I reached out, slipping my wrist through the bars, and touched the side of his face. The hotness of his skin against my own took me by surprise, but the pleasure was enough to overcome it.

Magnus stiffened. "Athena, I don't think it's a good idea-"

"Shh. Shut up for a moment." I ran my shaking fingers down from his silky white waves, to his temple, and to his chiselled jaw. "No, just...call me. I like the sound of my name on your tongue."