The Slowest Kiss (On Hold)

The Special Bind

   We walked to the tiny garden bench close to the castle. I was reluctant to go but I knew how badly this conversation had to be had. Even if I really, really didn’t want to. I sat down as far away from Luke as possible which he seemed fine with since he sat even farther from me. Good.

   He sighed and tilted his head back. I glanced at him and took in his defined jaw. As angry as I am I can’t deny how hot this boy is. And I couldn’t deny the fact that I wanted to touch that very jaw and pretend all that happened didn’t.  

 “Aria..” He said softly. I almost closed my eyes my heart desperately trying to fall under the spell of his voice. But the past hit me hard and I shook my head. “What?” I snapped.  

 “Did I ever tell you what happened to my family?”

  I thought about it before responding, “Briefly. You just told me you worked in the castle as a servant and her family were werewolves’. Which was pretty much bad for the castle around that time.”  

 He nodded. “That’s true. But my family did something worst in the past, the castle only blamed werewolves for their poor choice.” He looked at me with such intensity it made me shiver. “They were working for Skelos.”  

 My jaw dropped. “What?!” I can’t believe Luke’s parents, even if I didn’t know them, would do something like that. That must have been terrible to find out as a kid.  

 “Luke when were you turned into a wolf?”

  “I was twelve. But I was younger when I heard about my parents. The castle disowned me because of the past mistakes. And I left the castle but I had no where to go. And because I was torn between basically being raised by the people and the beliefs of the castle members I didn’t want anything to do with werewolves. I spent the majority of my life hating myself and my parents.”

   I sucked in a breath. “I am so sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” He said with a forced smile. “Your mother was the one that changed my life.”

  “What did she do?”

  He leaned back into the park bench and continued to look into my eyes. “I got into the usual rebel kid stuff, I did a lot of stupid things Aria. And one day I tried to sneak back into the castle and fight my way back I guess and surprisingly your mother was the one to see me first thank god. I would have been killed without a second thought.” The image of a barely starving boy being shot so carelessly made me want to fight. That should happen to no one!

  “She took me back outside and pretty much sensed the truth out of me. She told me she would help me get into everyones good graces and would get people to train me as long as I did two things. One being to embrace myself as a new person and two being to protect her daughter no matter what happens.”  

 I looked away from him and at the gravel below. My mother sent Luke to protect only me? “What about my brother?”  

 He gave me a goofy grin. “We all know your brother can protect his self. And she figured you should get more protection because of your personality. And being with you two for as short as I have I can clearly tell that the myths and predictions are correct.”

  I shot him a look and he chuckled lightly.  

 “They say the one who bears the control of water and air is a lot more calmer and level-headed. Nathan may not seem like it to you but when the time comes he is capable of protecting his self greatly. You on the other hand are a lot more reckless and stubborn while those traits can be considered great ones they can also get you in a lot of trouble. Not to mention those powers, according to a lot of people are the bad side of the par. Water and air is purity and fire and earth are the opposite. But both have a capability of both being good. I was here to make sure you weren’t swayed by any other outside force.”   Like Skelos? I refused to mention anything about him, the last thing I needed was another person to be worried about me. I obviously handled myself well. Even though I knew he was right I had to defend myself regardless. “I’m not that stubborn and reckless.”