Loving the enemy

11. Let me leave

"Good Morning." He says, his voice still husky from sleeping.

Did he spend all night sleeping at his desk?

I choose not to answer him, as I try to wrap myself into the cloak further. It was the only thing that gave me comfort.

The man sighs, and gets up from his chair, making his way to another chest at the end of the room before pulling out a long white tunic with a v-line with buttons and a brown leather belt from it.

As he paces over to me he extends his hands with the tunic and belt. "For you to change," he explains.

I don't fight him on this because my dress isn't doing it's job of covering me anymore. I wanted my privacy back.

I hide under the cloak completely while changing into the tunic. It's a thick but soft fabric, which isn't see through. I peel out of my dress making sure that I can't be seen and quickly pull the tunic over my head. Even though it's just a normal sized tunic for the man it's long enough to reach to my knees. For once I'm happy about being short. I pull the cloak off of myself and come to a stance.

I ignore Lord Asher who's seems to be staring at me from the desk he's sat back down at.

I straighten the fabric and reach for the belt which is still somewhere under the cloak. I tie it around my waist, because the tunic is way to loose around my body.

This had got to be the finest I'd ever been dressed even though it was a make shift version of a dress.

What now?

I pull at the fabric by my knees wanting the 'dress' to be longer than it was.

As I turn my gaze up towards Lord Asher he seems almost mesmerized by me. I've been told that your mated would always want the best for you and that just looking at them would cause them pure joy, but all of that was bullshit in my eyes.

I felt nothing but fear and hate as I looked at my captor.

Seemingly snapping out of it, Lord Asher spoke, "Bella,"

He shuffles in his seat.

"I wish to apologize, for the things I've done."

Anger starts growing in my chest at his words.

"I don't accept," I say coldly. Apologizing isn't going to undo anything.

He lets his head hang. "Listen, Let's try starting anew."

"No." I don't want to start anything. I just want to go home and forget any of this ever happened.

He sighs and gets up from his chair. "Let me aid your wounds." His eyes hold sorrow but I ignore him.

"Lord Ash-"

"Zayden."

"What?"

"Please call me Zayden."

What a weird name. Zayden Asher?

"Fine. Zayden, we're soulmates, right?"

He stroked through his hair contemplating on where I'm going with this.

"Yes."

I ponder on how to formulate my next sentence.

"Since were bonded, you can trust me. If you let me go I won't tell anyone about your whereabouts, I swear it."

"I can't let you go, Bella."

"But I really wont tell anyone! I swear it! I just want to take my brothers and leave the village."

"Bella," there's a threatening undertone in his pronunciation.

I don't answer as we seem to be holding up a never ending stare contest.

"You're. Not. Leaving. End of discussion."

"I don't have any purpose here!" I ball my hands into a fist.

"Yes you do! There is a reason why we met! I just found you and I'm not going to let you walk away!"

"I'm not a toy! I'm a person and all I want is to save my brothers from this war!" I shout back, before adding, "A war which you're a part of!"

"I swear to god," he takes a step towards me making all of my alarm bells ring.

He opens his mouth but is interrupted. "My Lord?"

Jonathan was standing in the entrance of the tent.

"What?" Lord A- Zayden hisses.

"A falcon has brought news."

He sighs, "I'll be right out."

Jonathan nods and leaves us alone again after glaring at me. "Bella, if you leave this tent I won't be saving you again. It's either here or out there, you understand?" His eyes grow a shade darker.

Fuck you. I evil eye him, as he leaves the tent.

argh! The anger and frustration is unbearable and if I could I'd throw everything in my his damn tent around. I groan as I pull at my hair. I need to get out of here. I'll convince him somehow.

Zaydens voice outside catches my attention. He sounds angry. I walk over to the entrance of the tent and eavesdrop on what's going on.

"She's the enemy." Jonathan argues loudly.

"She's my mated!" Zayden replies.

"She's going to wrap you around her fingers and get us all killed, Zayden."

"Jonathan! No matter how long you've been at my side, it's still Lord Asher to you. And I will not let myself be told how to handle my bonded!"

"I apologize for my bad manners, Lord Asher. But you cannot forget why we're here. We have a war to win! Do you really think King Theodore will simply let it slide if we fail?!"

"We won't fail! Now is this the only reason you'd wanted me to come outside or did a Falcon actually bring news of the King?"

I can almost hear Jonathan's glare as he says, "No, news have come."

Their voices fade as they walk away. Having Jonathan hate me like this will probably get me killed. I bet I'd he could he'd have me dead already.

I stare at my bare feet in thought. I have to get out of here. I look around the tent, finally being free of chains or ties. The boxes and chest seem to be personal belongings of Lord Ashers. I look through a few of them to find books and clothes and a to my surprise - a dagger!