Find Your Fire - The Angulus Chronicles #1

Chapter Thirteen

The sound of chattering birds and the soft light of the morning sun woke me up the next day. Lorem had pulled me against his chest during the night and now I laid curled up against his stomach, his left arm draped around my waist. On my other side, Fletch had laid down during the night, sandwiching me between him and Lorem. I had a feeling they both had wanted to make sure I was safe even if they did not realize it. Lorem was snoring softly behind me. I peered over my shoulder to look at him, careful not to wake him. When was the last time he had had a good night sleep? Probably not for at least a week.

He seemed so young when he was sleeping, so relaxed and happy. I caught myself almost touching his stubble but dropped my hand in time. Not appropriate, Cat, not appropriate.

Instead, I rolled back to face the window and sighed. My feelings for him were growing stronger and stronger through time and I didn't really know what to do with it. Telling him was not an option, I was too pussy for that. Besides, there was no evidence of him feeling the same for me. Yes, he cared about me, maybe more than just a normal friend, but the way he wanted to protect me, he would do the same for Oahn. And probably Orin, even though they didn't know each other that well. So maybe I was more than just a friend, but maybe I wasn't more than a good friend.

Lorem heaved a sigh behind me and pulled me against his torso. He was slowly waking up and groaned softly as he stretched the arm I had slept on, trying to stretch out the soreness. I did not feel guilty whatsoever since I had gotten the best sleep of my life.

"Are you smiling?" His husky, sleepy voice came from behind and I shuddered at the sound.

"No." I tried to say as poker-faced as I could, but the grin still crept out of my grip.

"I can see it, you know." He mumbled, not ready to properly wake.

I turned around and faced him. The small smile on his lips faltered immediately and his eyes darted over my face as he put on a poker face of his own. Gosh, we were more alike than we realized.

From this close, I noticed a small, vertical scar on his bottom lip.

"How'd you get that?" I asked, no louder than a whisper.

He thought about it before answering. "A little girl knocked me right in the face with a doll. It-... No, stop laughing, you little sadistic woman." I couldn't stop my smile. Lorem had been hit. By a little girl. "You're not even trying to cover it up, are you?" His eyes crinkled in amusement.

"C'mon, you have to admit this is a story that should be whispered among campfires. The legendary, all-powerful, lethal warrior Lorem has been hit by a girl nothing more than just a kid. Oh gosh, the reactions that would earn, I can almost hear the laughter." I let out a chuckle of my own. "This is just too perfect."

Lorem rolled on his back and eyed the ceiling as he laughed as well. "Just try and make it seem like the girl was really strong so I don't sound like such a pussy."

"Oh, no. You are getting the full load, my dear. The whole load." I rolled on my stomach and leaned my head on my hands. When I looked at him, my tone turned softer and I asked: "How'd you sleep?"

He yawned before answering, the sound slithering through my bones. "Really good, actually." He smirked and said: "Must have been the company."

I huffed a laugh. "Oh, definitely the company."

Lorem sat up against the headboard. "Are you ready for today? It'll be a rollercoaster of events from now on."

I bit my lip. "I'm nervous but nothing I can't handle. It'll be weird seeing Miuh again after all those weeks and it'll be even weirder to finally see one of the famous kingdoms for the first time since I got here. I don't really know what to expect, but seeing the nature around here, it'll probably be even more spectacular than jaw-dropping beautiful."