Heartbound

Heart 31: Distract the King

"Then do you accept me as your Mate?"

AVERY

It's already dusk and we already take our positions on the palace. We sneak inside without notice - with our cloaks and knives and swords. Kasama nina Zach sina Lianna at Leo para pigilan ang mga kawal na puntahan ang kanilang hari. Hindi namin sila maaaring isama papasok sa palasyo dahil tiyak na babagal ang kilos namin. Mabuti na lang at pumayag sila.

I'm heading to the throne room with Zirrius through a secret passage. I'm sure we'll find the king there. Sina Damon at Shin naman ay pumunta muna sa mga tore upang sirain ang koneksiyon ng magic circle sa ibang kaharian.

Verone is communicating with them. The other rulers of the Elven Kingdom, Rigel and Zion, already reach the other affected human kingdoms. Plano rin nilang pabagsakin ang mga tore. Hindi madali ang kanilang gagawin dahil tiyak na maraming kawal ang nag-aabang at makikipaglaban sa kanila. Alam naming hindi papayag si Seth na masira ang lahat ng kanyang pinaghirapan. I'm sure he has his own plans to stop us.

Through the secret doors, we managed to reach the throne room. We opened the door and we are now behind the huge curtains hanging on the wall. "I'll distract the King. You stay here," sabi ko kay Zirrius.

Umiling siya. "I will do that. Ikaw ang maghintay rito," sabi niya.

"Pero—"

"Ikaw ang kailangan nila, Avery," putol ni Zirrius. Nag-aalalang tumingin ako kay Zirrius. Tama siya pero natatakot ako na mapahamak siya. "Trust me on this, Avery. Don't cause trouble for both of us now. If you see an opening, you may strike right away. Hindi kita pipigilang lumaban. Pero sa ngayon, ako muna."

I look at him with worry but I nod firmly. I don't want to be weak now. He's my mate but we have our responsibility. Our responsibility comes first.

He smiles softly at me. Marahan niyang hinaplos ang mukha ko. Mariin akong napapikit. "Promise me you will not die. Elfania needs you. And I need you." I hate how my heart races at a time like this. Wala ako sa lugar para kiligin pero hindi ko mapigilan.

"Mukhang hindi ako mamamatay sa digmaan. Mukhang mamamatay ako sa kilig, Zirrius," mahinang pagbibiro ko. Nang magtama ang mga mata naming dalawa, nakakalokong nakangisi siya. I hate the glint of mischief in his eyes. I hate how perfect he looks in his elf form. And I hate that I can't love what I'm seeing right now. That I can't appreciate everything about him now.

He moved closer, pulling me in a long, tight hug. And I just let him be. I'm not being negative but what if this will be our last hug? I want to at least cherish this moment without any regrets. "Avery, listen to me. You're my mate. We're mates. At kung meron mang mamamatay sa 'tin, tiyak na sobrang masasaktan ang maiiwan."

"Mas pipiliin ko na lang sumunod sa 'yo," putol ko sa sinasabi niya.

He chuckles softly. "Sshhh. I'm not telling you this to follow the dead ones. If I die, promise me you'll find me on my next life. Pero hindi 'yan ang gusto kong sabihin. No one dies. Not you. Not me. Not anyone on our side. We will end this and we will live anew. We will be happy. I trust you and you have to trust me now. I will distract the king and you don't have to worry about me. We need to carry out this mission without our feelings getting in the way. Do you understand?" there's finality in his voice. I can't disagree. Niyakap ko siya pabalik.

"No one dies," I answered. I decided to trust him and not worry about him anymore. Whatever may happen, I'll accept it. I pulled away from the hug and look at him with firm resolve. "Kung ganoon, hangga't hindi pa napapabagsak nina Damon ang mga tore, kailangan nating pigilan na makumpleto ang ritwal. Distract King Aulius and I will look for openings."