Destiny Island

Chapter 66

Before the elf leading Royce and Jade to their rooms left, Jade knew she had to ask the question that troubled her since their arrival. She had avoided asking, trying to convince herself that she didn't care, that it didn't matter, didn't work.

"Wait. What will happen to Ci Nada now?" Jade asked the elf.

"I am not sure. She will stand trial, but after that, it depends on her crimes." He said.

"Will she go to prison?" Royce asked.

"No, not the way it works in your world. Unlike the focus your society puts on punishment, our main focus is rehabilitation.

The most likely outcome is that she would be stripped of some or all of her magic for the time being and put under Avo Jana's custody since she is the closest family that the dark fairy has. It will be her duty to guide the stray fairy to the right path." The elf said.

"I see, thank you, "Jade said, dismissing the elf.

She moved towards her room, but Royce stopped her by gently grasping her hand.

"Can we talk?" He asked.

"Of course, come on in." She said, gesturing for him to follow her.

Once they entered her room, Royce was hesitant, it was as if entering her territory, drained him of all the courage he possessed.

"Have a seat," Jade said, motioning towards the only chair in the room.

It was clear that he needed some time to gather his thoughts, to arrange his sentences, and Jade was ready to give him all the time he needed.

"So..."He started to say, then stopped.

"So?" Jade questioned.

"I wanted to thank you for rescuing me." He said.

It was plain he wanted to say more, but he made such a long pause that Jade felt as if it was expected of her to say something, anything.

"You're welcome," She said.

"Why did you do it, though? From what I understood, it was a dangerous task to undertake. Why risk your life for me?" He asked, hesitantly.

It wasn't the question Jade expected, so for a second, she wasn't sure how to answer it.

For such a long time, she did her best to keep people away, she had no idea how to let them in.

"Well, I guess part of it was because I felt I owed you since I was so unfair towards you," Jade said.

"You don't owe me anything. I hope you didn't do it because you thought you had to." Royce said.

"No, it's not only that. I wanted to help you. I NEEDED to help you. I..." Jade started to say but suddenly stopped.

She wasn't sure how to say what she had to say, how much she should tell him. After all, she wasn't sure what exactly was happening in her heart and her mind.

"What is it? You can tell me anything." Royce said.

As he said that, he moved to sit beside her on the bed, carefully taking her hand in his.

He was being very cautious, and Jade felt bad that she had scared him so much with her behavior that he was hesitant to even take her hand in his.

"I know I've been terrible towards you when all you wanted to do is help, but the truth is that I've been scared. I am starting to develop emotions that I haven't felt in a long time, and it terrifies me." Jade admitted.

Looking deep into her eyes, Royce brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

"You know that I would never hurt you. I am not like the guy who broke your heart." Royce said.

"I know that. Well, I know that now, and I am sorry for ever thinking differently." Jade said.

"That's okay. You've been hurt, and when that happens, we tend to see the worst in other people. I understand." Royce said.

"Yes, I guess that was true for me, but not anymore.

Now, I am afraid that I might hurt you. That I am carrying too many bad memories, and that they have changed me. That they have turned me into a person who can harm others.

I was listening to Ci Nada's story, and it made me realize that it was my story, as well. Maybe not on such a grand and terrifying scale but eerily similar.

I have blamed all men for the mistakes of one man. My goal was to make all of them pay for what he did to me, by being mean and cruel.

I wanted to punish you for being nice to me, for making me realize that all the men weren't the same." Jade said.

As she said that, tears started running down her face, which came as a shock to her. She couldn't remember the last time she cried, it was both unnerving and liberating.

She brushed away a tear looking at it with wonder as more came to take its place.

Before she knew it, she was sobbing, letting it all out.

Royce hugged her tightly and let her cry in his arms.

"Shh, it'll be okay." He said, stroking her hair soothingly.

"I got you. You were there when I needed you the most, and I am here for you.

It's okay. You can allow yourself to grieve. You are safe." He murmured soothingly.

And she did.

It felt like she had spent hours crying in Royce's arms, but she didn't care.

He saw her at her weakest, and yet, she didn't feel bad about it, which was a huge step forward for her.

"I am sorry. I got your shirt all wet." She said.

"That's okay. You can always cry on my shoulder." He said.

Jade started laughing through her tears at that statement.

"Too corny?" He asked, smiling.

"Maybe just a bit," Jade answered.

Then they were both laughing, and somehow sharing all those emotions with Royce made everything much better. It was as if in that one, perfect moment, she had finally learned what it meant to live in the now, to cherish every second of life.

When they finally stopped laughing, Jade gently brushed away a tear that ran down Royce's face from laughter.

Then, she slowly cupped his face with her hands and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips.

At least that was what she intended to do, but the moment their lips connected sparks were flying, and before she knew it, they were kissing passionately.

His hands were in her hair, and his mouth was on hers warming up her whole body, exploring the new territory with so much fervor that Jade never wanted the kiss to end.

"I just wanted to say thank you," Jade said as she broke the kiss.

"Well, I guess we have both said much more than that," Royce said, grinning happily.

"We sure did," Jade said, smiling back at him.