Guys, I don't know why, but the song above just reminds me of this story so much! I literally love it and it hurts my heart! Tell me what you think!

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-&-

Chapter 33

       "Close your eyes."

       I tried not to frown as I gazed over at the behemoth of a man. I didn't trust the sneaky glint in his ruby red eyes, or the smirk pulling at his full lips. "Why?" I narrowed my gaze at the laughter dancing through his.

       "Just close your eyes. Trust me."

       I hated when he said that. It always made me feel so guilty. But despite the small unease settling in my stomach, I did as he asked. I did trust him, with everything in me. His low chuckle rolled slowly in the air around us. I was surprised when the soft touch of his lips brushed against my own, but I kept my eyes closed and leaned into the gentle kiss.

       "What was that for?" My voice came out as an airy whisper when he pulled away, my eyes still closed against the bright light of his.

       "Because I wanted to. Now, 'sh'. Do not look yet."

       My head was still reeling from his kiss, but I didn't miss the way his strong arms wrapped carefully around my waist, his lips brushing along my cheek. I was too distracted by his touch, by him, to notice the air around us falling away, then whipping completely in the opposite direction.

       "Hold your breath, my little star." Adie murmured against my lips, before his own were pressing against mine once again. I did as he said as the wind continued to drastically change directions.

       His kisses were fogging my mind, his arms pinning me tight against him. I didn't even notice when the floor beneath us disappeared, and light flashed behind closed eyelids. I gasped when my feet touched ground again and my legs shook. Adranus's hold was the only thing keeping me steady.

       He chuckled as I tore my lips from his and suck in a deep breath of air, his arm as strong as steel as I fell into him. "You could have warned me." I grumbled against the warmth of his chest as his embrace turned into a warm hug and he tucked my head under his chin.

       "I told you to hold your breath."

       I wanted to lift my head and glare at the amusement I knew was shining in his eyes, but I was just too comfortably warm held against him. I even had to keep a disgruntled pout from my lips when he eased me away from his chest and held me at arms-length.

       "You can look now, Emrie."

       My heart fluttered at the nickname that past his lips, at the warm feeling of gold that settled in my stomach. No other god, nor star, called me such endearing terms. It only made my love for him grow.

       I blinked slowly up at the dark expanse around us, my eyes lingering on the shadowed trees and river winking up at us from below. My chest clenched at the sight, at the cool air surrounding the Mountain, at the other stars gleaming in the sky. He had taken me to the mortal plane.

       "It's wonderful..." My eyes were wide as I gazed over the beautiful landscape, my soul flashing in erratic spurts in my chest. We stood atop a waterfall, one with water as clear as crystal as it cascaded over its edge.

       "It is the place I come whenever I travel to this realm. A sacred place." The amusement from his voice had faded as his hand reached for my own. I let him entwine our fingers, his so large and warm it felt as if I was grasping at the sun.

       "I thought you would like to see it."

       "I do. Oh, Adie, it's amazing." And it truly was. I had forgotten how beautiful the mortal plane could be, how untouched nature held miraculous wonders. I had forgotten being mortal. But this place, his place, was beautiful.

       "Not as amazing as you."

       I laughed at the ridiculous statement, which only brought that snide amusement back into his eyes. His hand tugged me back against his chest when I tried to step away. "Oh, my sweet Emerense, how you mock me so. And all I ever do is pour my heart out at your feet."

       "And continue to do so no matter how many times I gather it up and return the mess to you."

       He lifted his head from my shoulder, his bright eyes flashing black in the light from the stars, and sent his laughter rolling down the waterfall. I couldn't contain my smile, or gasp of laughter, as his hand suddenly let go of mine so his arm could wrap tightly around me.

       "You will pay for that comment, my love." But there was no malice in his voice, no threat in his bright eyes, only that warm, arrogant amusement that always turned my knees weak.

       "I am trembling with fear."

       His eyes flashed, and his lips pulled into a smirk before leaning down and tracing them slowly along my cheek.

       "Yes, that is why."

       "Adranus!" I practically squealed as his hands gripped tightly onto my waist and he nipped at my jaw. He only laughed, and shook his head at my protest before brushing another kiss against my lips.

       "Let us stay here a while, and enjoy the Mountain. I am not ready to give you back just yet." He murmured between soft kisses, his arms strong as they wrapped around my waist. I wasn't ready to go back just yet, to leave him. Not when I enjoyed his touches so much, enjoyed his love, enjoyed loving him. The others would not miss me too much.

       "You shine down here as brightly as in the Heavens." He whispered against my lips, his touch soft as he cradled me to him. My soul fluttered in my chest.

       "If I asked," He added uneasily, his bright eyes turning serious as his lips paused just barely from my own. "Would you stay with me? Stay with me in the palace, live away from the others?" His voice was hesitant, and the restlessness in his gaze only worsened as I took a small step away from him, my brow furrowing at the question.

       "Why would you want that?" And just like that, the unease in his eyes vanished and amusement pulled his lips into a smile once again.

       "What could I possibly want from that? You, with me, always."

       My eyes widened at that, at the look darkening his handsome face. My chest felt as if it were caving in around me, my gaze locked on his. "Always..." The word sounded surreal rolling off my tongue.

       "Always. With me, always."

       We both knew the answer without me having to say anything, it was in my heart, in his eyes. I let him wrap his arm around my waist again, his free hand warm as it reached up and gently stroked my cheek.

       "I love you, Emerense." His lips brushed against mine once again, stealing the words from my tongue. I practically sagged against him as his arms curled me into his hard chest, and his kisses sent my heart to mush.

-&-

       There were tears falling down my cheeks when I woke, tears that clogged my throat and burned my eyes. There was a soft red light glowing from my chest, and a warm heat pulsing from the very stone. I didn't move as I watched the light fade, as the warmth slowly ebbed away with it.

       Movement to the side caught my attention, and my eyes snapped over to the blue pair blinking down at me through the darkness. "Why are you crying?" Eirik asked softly, his touch warm as he reached down and rubbed his thumb across my wet cheek.

       I could only shake my head and wipe at my other cheek. "Just a dream." My voice seemed to come out as a choked croak, but he didn't seem to mind as he sat slowly on the empty space beside my waist. His hand left my cheek to stroke gently down my hair.

       "Would you like to tell me about it?"

       Yes, more than anything. But I didn't think it would make anything better. I doubted North would be pleased to hear me dreaming of kissing other men, of watching me drive myself over and over again into madness. I placed my hand over the ruby and pressed its hard edges into the skin of my chest.

       I shook my head and forced my eyes from his, despite the worried frown pulling at his lips. "I do not like to see you so upset." His voice was soft in the quiet night air, the sound gentle and caring as his hand left my hair to slowly trace along my still wet jaw.

       "I do not like to be so upset." I grumbled, which earned a small chuckle from him. It almost made me smile. My eyes flickered back to his and watched the handsome lines of his face as his hand continued to slowly stroke my skin.

       "Where have you been?" I asked softly as his concerned frown slowly faded away, his blue eyes shining brightly in the darkness of the room.

       "A meeting."

       "So late?" I murmured around a yawn, my hand reaching up to press against my lips. His pulled into a small smile as my yawn finished, and he reached up to pull my hand away.

       My heart raced rapidly against my chest as his fingers slowly entwined with my own. I wasn't sure what had changed his mind, but ever since that embrace by the Cliffs, he has been a lot more lenient on touching me.

       We had arrived at the castle nearly two days before, but he refused to let me sleep in my own room. I had a strange inkling that it was mainly to keep an eye on me, but I didn't necessarily mind. Especially since he practically cradled me in his arms every night.

       His thumb stroked the back of my hand slowly, his eyes intense as they blinked down at me. "Yes, I did not like it either." He grumbled in response, his hand gently squeezing mine. I gazed up at him a moment, my cheeks sticky from dried tears.

       "Should I even bother asking what it was about?" His small, almost apologetic smile gave me my answer, and made my lips purse, but I kept the indignation to myself. "Can I ask you something else?"

       "Depends on what it is." He grumbled down at me, his hand raising mine to his lips. My heart rose to my throat as he pressed a warm kiss to the back of my hand.

       "It's about Terif."

       His eyes snapped to mine, and the blue in them darkened as he pulled my hand from his lips. I didn't like the sudden serious look crossing his chiseled face. "What about him?"

       I wanted to ask about his past, about the mate he no longer had, but Eirik wasn't one to discuss his Generals, even to his own mate- if that was actually what we were. "Do you remember when we were attacked in the Lower Kingdom, and I hurt my head?"

       His eyes flashed black, and a growl started deep in his chest, one that made my own eyes widen in surprise. "It is not something I will ever forget." The dark rumble in his voice actually frightened me, but his hand in my own remained gentle.

       "How did... How did he save me? And don't say you will tell me in time. It's been time, eons of time."

       He ignored the exasperation in my tone, and rubbed the pad of his thumb along the soft skin on my knuckles. "I guess it cannot hurt now..." He murmured before raising my hand to his lips once again. His other hand gently eased around my waist and helped slowly pull me into a sitting position.

       It was hard not to lose myself in his soft touches, and gentle lips as they brushed along my skin. This was so foreign for him, for us, and I never wanted it to end.

       "You have seen some of the magic I hold in my soul." He started softly, his lips just barely from my skin as he let them trail over the palm of my hand. "Although it trumps that of any other wolf-borne, power thrives through all wolf's blood."

       My heart beat widely in my chest as his teeth started to gently nip its way down to the soft skin of my wrist. "Terif has power? Is that how he healed me?"

        Bright blue eyes flashed in the darkness of the room before he tilted his head further against my arm. "There is power in everything." I gasped when teeth sharper than knifes pierced my skin, and pain shot straight through my arm.

       But that one sharp sting disappeared as quickly as it came. A warmth, more stranger and strong than any I had ever felt before, surged from the grip his teeth hade in my skin up my arm and traveled to every single part of my body.

       The ache in my throat from crying had disappeared, the cramp in my legs from traveling dissipated as if it were never there, and my always brewing headache subsided away. The completely pleased, content, and happy smile that pulled on my lips was automatic, and I found myself swaying dazedly towards him as that warm feeling swept into the deepest parts of my soul.

       The heat suddenly streaming and pulsing from the ruby against my chest was nothing compared to the essence coursing through me from North. His mouth pulled away from my wrist all too soon, those teeth of his once again shrinking back to their normal size.

       I whimpered as his tongue slipped past those beautiful lips and licked at the few droplets of blood that escaped the bite, the wound closing almost immediately. "It is a healing method." He murmured softly against my wrist, his mouth still just a hairsbreadth away from my skin.

       "One that should only be performed by mates, for it is the most intimate and soul bonding experience two beings could share. Besides bedding their other half."

       That horrible heat raced to my cheeks in a bright blush as his last sentence reached my ears, one I tried to hide even though my wide eyes and choked breathing hid nothing. His dark chuckle filled the room before his mouth pressed a soft kiss to my no longer wounded skin, and raised his head.

       "Terif, he- he bit me?"

       The blue of his eyes vanished as the black of his wolf immediately took over. My heart hammered in my chest as his hand around mine tightened and low growl filled the air around. "Yes." The look on his handsome face was one so hard and furious and caused the pale hair on my arms to rise.

       "In order to save your life." His growl grew, even though his thumb went back to rubbing soft circles against my hand. "That is the only reason I allowed him to go unpunished, to live."

       My gaze narrowed, and I curled the hand he held into a fist as I glared over at his dark eyes. "Do not give me that look. Biting another male's mate, especially the King's, is a betrayal of the highest order. Death is a more merciful way I have seen used as a consequence for such a crime."

       "He saved my life-"

       "Yes, and he is not only alive, but also remains my General."

       My protests died on my tongue, and I felt that heat stain my cheeks for a whole new reason. "You're right, I'm sorry." I murmured down to our joined hands, my gaze dropping to the blankets laying rumpled beside us.

       Terif had bitten me, had risked betraying his King and all that mattered to him to save me. I shouldn't have been so surprised, or flattered. I'm sure when he weighed the options, biting me and ensuring North's wrath, or letting me die and sufficiently killing himself, the former was definitely more agreeable.

       I could practically feel the smug smile pulling on Eirik's lips as those bright eyes watched my unease with amusement. My stomach clenched as he leaned slowly forward, that warm, soft mouth of his brushing just barely over my ear.

       "I find your flushed expressions incredibly captivating." He murmured against the heat of my skin, his lips lingering above the soft spot just below my ear.

       My heart sped in my chest, the blood pumping rapidly through my veins. We were sitting so close together my chin nearly rested on his shoulder, and my free hand reached out to curl into the soft fabric of his shirt.

       "Perhaps I should make you blush more often." His lips pressed a soft, lingering kiss just beside my ear before trailing slowly along my jaw. My breathing caught in my throat, as he always made it do.

       "I think you do that enough already." I managed to grumble as he pressed a soft kiss on the tip of my chin before pulling away, a bright, amused glint shining from his once-again blue eyes.

       "Can I ask you something else?" I spoke softly, and as gently as I possibly dared. If he was willing to open about one matter, maybe I could persuade him to on another.

       "Ask all you like, but I cannot promise I will answer them."

       I wanted to frown, and pout, at his comment, but I refrained as my fingers curled and uncurled into his black shirt. If keeping my disgruntles to myself would keep him talking, then I would suffer.

       "Liberius, I have not seen him in quite some time. Did you- did you...?" I let the question hang in the air, but he didn't need me to elaborate. The implication was there in my eyes, and reflecting off his. His gaze darkened.

       "I told you I would."

       I gulped and blinked up at him as his free hand reached up to play with the ends of my hair, his eyes staring a dark, restless stare into my own. But then the hard look in his gaze fell away, and they flickered away from me uneasily.

       "And I will, but the demon has not been seen since your last encounter together."

       My stomach clenched at his words, at the sickening feeling washing over me. His hand squeezed mine tighter as my face paled. "You do not know where he is?" My voice was shaky, my teeth biting at my bottom lip in worry as his eyes watched my every move.

       "His magic is dark, and he knows much. What little spells he uses to hide will soon wear off, and then I will destroy him. Do not worry."

       "You tell me that often." I grumbled down at his shirt as his hand left my hair to rub softly up my neck and along my jaw.

       "Because I truly do not want you to worry, over anything. You will only fry that little mind of yours, and I would desperately miss it." His lips pulled into a small, amused smirk, one I had not seen from him before. It made my insides erupt into a fluttery mess.

       "What has got into you?" I heard my voice whisper between us as his smirking lips dropped to my cheek and pressed a soft kiss there.

       "You." He murmured just as softly, his eyes flashing as he pulled away again. "I fear you ever leaving me again, of you disappearing and I cannot find you." The smirk on his lips slowly disappeared, and the look in his bright eyes grew so sad it tore at my heart.

       "That is what I fear the most, my little Emrie." His hand stroked my cheek softly, those blue eyes tender for once as he gazed down at me. "That you will be taken from me, and I will never be able to find you."

       The story of Adranus and his star shot through my mind like a lightning bolt. The story of a god and- and me. A story of a life I did not remember or know. Eirik's fear tore at my heart, and only added onto my own. Was it simply the part of his soul that belonged to Adie's that made him feel in such a way?

       "I will not leave like that again, Eirik. I promise."

       The sadness in his eyes did not ease, even though a small smile pulled at his lips. "No, no you will not."

       I started to roll my eyes, but thought better of it as his narrowed. "I wanted to ask you this earlier, but there never seemed to be the time." I started instead, my fingers unclenching from his shirt to smooth out the wrinkles there.

       He raised a dark eyebrow at me, and his hand dropped from my face to grip at my waist. I could feel the heat of his skin through my nightgown, and I had to force down the blush at the lucid thoughts swamping through my brain. My stone surged with heat against my chest.

       "I know Mae is an Underling, but she does not have anywhere to go. Would it be too much to ask for her to live here? With us?"

       His face darkened and his blue eyes flashed as he pulled away from me, a frown tugging at his soft lips. "I do not like the feline-shifter. She has caused nothing but trouble."

       "She is my friend, and has been with me since I have been awake."

       "She is a part of the lie they forced you to believe." His voice snarled around us, that growl from before rising in his chest once again.

       "But it is not her fault. None of this is. She was thrown into the situation without a choice. You cannot blame her for that."

       "I can blame her for taking you to that cave. For taking you away from me."

       I sighed at the hard, icy look in his eyes, and shook my head as I gazed out at the darkened room. He was being unfair. "I asked her to. It wasn't like she forced me out of the castle at knifepoint. That was my choice."

       He didn't respond, but continued to glare down at me with dark eyes and a growl in his chest. His strong, chiseled jaw was clenched, and I wanted nothing more than to reach up and kiss away the tension there.

       "Please, Eirik. She has nowhere else to go." I begged softly, my hand leaving his shirt to stroke that clenched jaw gently. His eyes closed as my fingertips brushed along his skin, and he let out a long, tired sigh before resting his face in my hand.

       "I will... consider it. She may stay in the room she is occupying now until I have decided otherwise."

       It wasn't a definite 'yes or no', but I knew it wasn't going to be with him. I was just happy he was taking the time to think it over. His eyes blinked open, and that bright blue tore at my heart as it always did.

       "You know my real name, and yet you have never called me by it." There wasn't necessarily remorse in his voice, more like a confused curiosity. It made me bite at my lip.

       "Would it not be odd if I called you by the very name of the one who I supposedly loved once a long time ago?" I whispered softly, my eyes saddening as I dropped my hand dejectedly to my lap. A being who I was dreaming and having visions of? A man who, with a few simple words, had me crying in want and pain?

       The smile that pulled on his lips was sad, and the glint in his gaze tore at my chest, but he did not grow angry as I thought he would. "Yes, I suppose that would be problematic." He gave me that sad smile a moment more, his hand gripping my waist tightly before he eased away.

       "It is still late. You should go back to sleep." He spoke softly as he squeezed my hand one last time before rising from the bed.

       "And you?" I asked as I watched his large form step away from me.

       "I have a few more matters to handle, but I should be back before too long." His eyes were soft, his touch even more so as he bent down and pressed a warm, lingering kiss against my forehead. "Sleep well, my little Emrie. I will be here when you wake."

       "Make sure you are." I surprised myself by grumbling, but he only shot me a wide smile as he pulled away and turned towards the door.

       "Of course."

-&-

I hope you all enjoyed! :D