Love comes in many forms.
Speaking about it, imagining it, and melting at the mere prospect of it can leave you giddy with its richness.
But defining it, expressing or experiencing it - that's a different game.
Elijah - the heir to the throne of...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
A smile was smeared across my face, softly tickling my cheeks as I woke up.
I refused to open my eyes - wanting to stay in the darkness that felt peaceful for the first time - as the previous night's memories washed through my reveries.
She told me she'd stay.
She's going to stay.
Even if it only lasts until the coronation, her presence was going to be enough for my smile to not seem like a necessary facade but a genuine delight, at the royal ceremony.
I had kissed her.
It was soft with a frighteningly sensual featheriness to it; her lips surpassing the taste of a red velvet cream that I was always so sure no other dessert could replace with its aftertaste.
But, Zyanna brought a strong advantage on her side and that was the fact that she was someone that one couldn't decide whether to immediately devour for dessert or instead a sweet course that appeared simply too beautiful to be tainted with a touch.
I stretched my arms and legs - eyes still shut tight - and reigned in an inward chuckle at my thoughts.
She's right, I really am awfully dramatic.
I shrugged to myself because I knew she secretly adored it.
"Elijah, wake up. It's time you started to wake up."
I knowingly smiled, prepared to see Zya's face first thing in the morning without a complaint.
But who I greeted was someone that wouldn't have even been my second guess or the third.
"Rhea." I hesitantly uttered, slightly disappointed.
"Goodmorning, Elijah," She leaned down to cup the side of my face as she embraced me into a comforting hug, and returned to her seat at the edge of my bed - right near my legs. "Did you miss me?"
I cleared my throat and got up to a sitting position, dropping the silky cushion right behind my back.
"I haven't seen you for a full week, have I? Were you busy hiding away the pain and sudden fainting you refuse to explain or is it something else?" I groggily asked with a chuckle.
"It was one time, Elijah. It was just the fatigue from travelling here all the way from Raglezia but I'm happily stable now. You have nothing to worry about."
I breathed out a relieved sigh but still shook my head with disapproval. "You shouldn't have made the draining journey in the first place, princess. There was absolutely no need for it but you just never listen, do you?"
"Eli, just stop talking. We have so many things to do, so many things to prepare for today and tomorrow's celebrations plus rituals, so send me to the corner of your thoughts for now," She tucked her hair behind her ear with a shy pause before continuing. "How are you feeling about the pre-coronation ceremony tonight?"
