Bloodied Strings Of Fate

Twenty: Stay

*AURORA'S POV

The stench in the bar was sour enough to curdle milk and the noise was unbearable, too loud to think. I gulped down half my drink and let my eyes wander over the diverse crowd. Numbness crept over me again like always, the past few days have been hell. My bond with Izzy was getting weaker every day, it was almost nonexistent. I could feel a small tug that let me know she was still alive but nothing else. When I found her on the floor of that church a crumpled heap of broken bones and burnt skin, the smell of ozone filled the room. The state of the wedding dress was ripped and so were her undergarments. My whole body still shook with anger at the thought. She was half-dead and my blood only did so much so I did the one thing left. I picked her up and ran, ran straight to the Van Byrne Manor as fast as I could. The words fell out of my mouth with great urgency when Aiden and Victoria Van Byrne saw their eldest child.
Soon I sat beside Lizabeth's bed with her family as we watched and prayed for the healer to be successful. They healed what they could but she was so....broken. Odd marks weaved up her arms in spirals, the doctors had said it looked like she was hit by lightning. She shouldn't be alive. And when I find the bastard who did this I am ripping his throat out with my teeth. Finnick was nowhere to be found. He had vanished from the wedding entirely.
I had known that today Lizabeth was getting married to the damn taint called Finnick. So I avoided her and everything to do with the absurd marriage. Now I was regretting not being there for her, Izzy was my responsibility and I continued to let her get hurt. What happened to her was unforgivable.
Feeling like I might burst from seeing Izzy all lifeless and wrapped in bandages I head here; where the scene is familiar and comforting in a way. And I was almost certain that Lizabeth's mother would slap the silly out of me if I kept acting aggressively with everyone. I couldn't help it though, it killed me to see her like this, and I felt useless for not being there. My mate was in pain and so was I.

I had screwed up Because I was scared of what was happening to me. I was not used to these emotions, years of turning them off had dulled them. Then she came along and they all hit me full force again. No matter how hard I tried to shove those pesky emotions back in the dark well I kept them in they always build back up when she came around. Her scent: that lovely bergamot scent, was the most alluring smell in the world. It drove me wild. I wanted her to be mine since I first laid eyes on her yet I stopped myself time and time again. Because I was afraid....not of what she might do to me- but what others would do to us if they found out. Most humans didn't approve of interracial couples. Very few Mythics and humans got along- and even fewer fell in love. Those that did kept it secret due to the judgment they'd face. Especially during this Civil War going on. I never wanted to put Lizabeth through that.
I sat in the same spot for an hour drinking and watching others get rowdy. It took 4 bottles to even get me buzzed thanks to my incredibly slow heartbeat. Heaving a sigh I fish a pack of cigarettes out of my leather jacket enjoying the harsh tobacco filling my lungs. She has me so screwed up I started smoking again. I shake my head at the thought and drink the rest of the liquor in my glass. Now that I sat here away from Izzy I couldn't help but think coming was a bad idea, the need to be by her side too strong. I wanted to protect my mate, keep her safe.
One more drink. I decide flagging down the bartender. I wait for my refill impatiently, taking long drags off of my smoke and bobbing my leg. One moment later I have a new drink and I knock it back in two large gulps. I'm about to get up to leave when a lightweight nymph slides onto my lap with a smile. She is being overly flirty and touchy, to be honest- she was nice looking. Her eyes are a nice brown that matched her short straight hair.
I don't say a word to the girl just raise a brow at her with arms out wide so I'm not touching her. Any other night I might have taken the distraction willingly but tonight wasn't going to be it. Cigarette between my lips I jump off my stool causing the flirting nymph to fall flat on her ass. Ignoring her glare I take a puff before throwing the still-lit cig at her. She scrambles to get it off while I throw a few bills on the countertop and walk out.
After a short walk back to the manor I stand on the front steps like a damn idiot. I wasn't sure what to do and it scared me. The first time in a long time I wasn't prepared for something: falling love so hard it hurt like hell. I was still trying to wrap my mind around having a mate. Before I can psyche myself out I open the door and walk up the stairs to Izzy's room. When I open the door I am not surprised to see Izzy's mother in the comfy chair placed by her bed. She looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes, she had been crying again which was understandable. I couldn't help but feel guilty, perhaps if I was there her daughter might be awake. The way Victoria looked at me too was unnerving as if she saw right through me and into my core.
I look down at my feet feeling uncomfortable. "Sorry, ma'am. I'll leave."

"No, it's alright. I suppose I should get some sleep. I know you will look after my baby." Her blue eyes so similar To Lizabeth's bore into me. "I trust you Aurora."

The Countess of London rises slowly from the chair pausing once to brush stray hairs from her daughter's face before walking past me and out of the room. Still standing there in the doorway I look over at my beautiful charge who was so so pale it broke my heart. I take the spot Izzy's mother just vacated and reach over to grab her hand. The ring on her finger was covered in grime, blood I wasn't sure was hers. As gently as I can I pull the ring off of Izzy's middle finger and tuck it in my pocket, rubbing circles on her palm I stare at her.
Lizabeth was beautiful, the first time I saw her I thought she was the goddess of spring; everything about her bright and colorful. And once I got to know her.....I knew I was screwed. Izzy was perfect-for me at least- all her flaws and cute quirks made it impossible to resist. The bond we shared was no help either, it pulled me toward her all the time, and without even knowing I went to her side. She was too....young to know what it was but I know she felt it too. That magnetic attraction, the way her face glows pink when I touch her, her smell.
It took everything in me not to make her mine. I didn't want to scare her or worse lose her because I pushed too hard. Lizabeth was my own personal paradise that I was forbidden to touch. The whole time I was avoiding her I was in pain, a white-hot poker in my chest from being away from her. I needed her to wake up to see those captivating blue eyes and tell her how much she meant to me. I plant a kiss on her scabbed knuckles and hold her hand against my cheek just to feel her warmth.
"Tayavuceytu eṉ aṉpai eḻuppuṅkaḷ." I beg her to wake up.

The only response I get is her soft breathing. With a heavy sigh, I let go of her hand to peel my shoes off and get into bed next to her. I drift off soon after staring at her sleep.

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A muffled noise wakes me, my eyes open quickly and search the room or whoever woke me. I was about to tear someone a new one for disturbing Lizabeth's sleep when I look down and see bright blue eyes glaring at me. My arms were wrapped tightly around her chest and I was practically on top of her suffocating her. Fast as can I let her go so she can breathe. When she can the first thing she does is scold me.
"Honestly Rory, you cannot choke me out when I am sleeping." Lizabeth groans." especially when I feel like shit."

There she is, my mean little girl. Gods, how I missed that mouth talking back to me.
Not being able to contain my joy at seeing her awake after weeks of her being unconscious I hug her. Lizabeth squeaks in surprise and I try not to hold her too tightly afraid to hurt her. My slow heartbeat was out of control; beating its uneven rhythm loudly in my chest. I pull back just enough to attach her lips to mine in a slow and soft kiss hoping Izzy can feel what I can't express with words. After a second I feel her relax against me and return my kiss. The heat from her spread to me and I felt like I was on drugged blood.
Lizabeth is the first to back away, catching her breath before smiling at me. She is so beautiful it hurts. "What was that for? As much as I liked being woken up like that it's new for you."

It takes all my willpower to not pull her back in for another kiss so I settle by pressing my head to hers. "I love you, Lizabeth Van Byrne."