The Beginning of The End
Chapter 93

Maddox kept his word, he held me the entire time that I was asleep, I didn't know if he slept too, but when I finally opened my eyes, he was staring at me with a smile on his face. Like I meant the world to him.

Maybe I did, maybe he was telling the truth when he told me all of the things a girl loves to hear.

I don't even know if he means the world to me, sure, I like him, and our bond grows stronger each time we are together, but do I love him the way that he loves me? I can't say yes or no with absolute certainty. I'm trapped between what could have been and what is.

This isn't supposed to be what my life is like, I'm not even in the right world anymore, my family and all the friends I made are dead. I'll never see them again. And that is because of Maddox and Ryker. They are responsible for the death of my world.

But can I truly place all of the blame with them? My mother was a part of it, and Darax ordered them to do it. It isn't as simple as black and white. And it never will be.

Sure, I could hold a grudge for the rest of my life and live in misery trapped in a place I hate, or I could make the most of it and try to be happy. Once upon a time I thought I'd never be happy again, but there has been moments, small passes of time where I see the old me again. I used to be Carefree. I used to live in the moment and care more about having fun than being serious.

I roll over, pressing myself into Maddox and wrapping his arms around me, I might not exactly know how I feel and maybe I never will, but he cares about me, and that's more than I have ever wanted.

I just wanted someone to love me. Care about me. Take care of me.

I wanted to mean something to someone, and I do, I mean something to Maddox. I'm not sure about Ryker, every time I think we get closer, we drift further apart. In the beginning I sort of cling to him, but now I see that he isn't all he made himself out to be. He's angry, maybe not with me, but he directs his anger at anyone around him. "What are you thinking about?" Maddox asks me, pressing his nose into my neck and breathing deeply.

"Everything I guess." I say quietly, "I'm so confused, about all of this, about our bond and what it means."

He hums a response, "Our bond means that you will always have a place to call home, and people who will take care of you, whether you realise you need it or not." He grabs my chin and turns me around to face him, "it also means that you will always have someone who will love you."

I stare into his dark eyes, "do you love me Maddox?" I ask.

He nods, slowly pressing his lips against mine before he pulls back, "you are the only person in this world or the next who I feel I can be myself around."

I smile, "that's a high compliment."

"It's the truth." He says, "long ago I thought I was in love with someone, but it was a lie, I never really knew what love was, not until now."

My heart practically skips a beat, thudding madly in my chest, "you really feel that way?"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't." He says, frowning at me.

Of course, sometimes I forget that he isn't from my world, he doesn't understand the same things that I do, just as some of the things that he does confuse me.

"Can we go check on Miya?" I ask, slowly pushing his arm away.

He nods, climbing out of the bed and putting his clothes back on, and suddenly, I regret my choice to leave. If only I could call him back, but he was already going into the bathroom to clean himself up.

Fuck. Maybe pushing him away and making him leave was a mistake. I could have done with something stimulating happening between us.

It shouldn't matter, especially seen as we have the rest of our lives to spend with each other, but tomorrow isn't promised. Today is all we have.

He comes back out of the bathroom and notices that I am still on the bed, "I thought you wanted to see Miya?" He asks, frowning again.

I sigh, pushing myself to get off the bed. "Sorry I was thinking again." I say, hoping that he doesn't ask what I was thinking about.

He takes my hand in his, and then looks down at our entwined fingers, "did humans really used to show affection this way?"

I nod, smiling at him, "Yeah, they did."

It is amazing to me how hard he is trying. He hates my world and the people there,

and yet, he is willing to try new things to make me happy.

"Let's go see Miya." I say, pulling him by his hand.

"Lead the way, my queen." He says, bowing.

I smile wider, "does that make you, my king?" I ask.

He smirks down at me, "I will be anything that you want me to be, little fae, all you have to do is ask." He pulls me into his chest, looking down at me with dark eyes, "anything you ask for, I shall give you."

I stare into his eyes, feeling a strange fluttering feeling deep in my belly, he can be so amazing, even when he isn't trying. But then, when he does try, he takes my breath

away.

When I don't reply he laughs a little, "come on, let's go before we both replace reasons to stay."

I nod my head, a little dizzy, "Yeah, good idea."

If it wasn't for the fact that I needed to make sure that Miya was ok, I would have kept him right here, in the bedroom, where we could explore each others bodies a little better.

We haven't had nearly enough time to explore each others likes and dislikes. And I haven't had a chance to properly thank him for saving my only friend.