Chapter 9

Her words felt like needles piercing my heart. I looked at Masiol and he looked concerned. But he tried to say things that could have eased me. Only, it didn't.

"The readings aren't exactly what Syrilla says. Don't think about them too much. Syrilla can you do my reading now? I think she needs to calm down."

Syrilla agreed . She arranged her deck of cards for him and he picked his cards. Syrrila then started his reading

"You have been hurt. By someone you admired or were really attracted to and you are hurting right now too maybe. But everything is going to be fine. You seek love and admiration Masiol. But you don't need to look far. You know this person already. You have known them for a long time now . But you need to be aware of a few obstacles. It's not someone who you think it is. I see a mystery around this person. A long kept secret. Avoid the obstacles and distractions and you'll find happiness ."

This made his face light up. I was happy for him. He deserved happiness. But who could this mystery woman be? He looked at me and we both smiled.

"She was creepy. I mean I am happy for you but I really don't want to believe her" I said as we came out of the tent and started walking in the bazaar. I was annoyed and definitely never doing this again.

"Me neither. I want the best things for you Verina. And don't worry. Whatever happens we'll face it together." He said as he grabbed my hand and made us halt.

He then hugged me and said "you'll always have me Verina. You'll never lose me and I won't let you lose anyone. " This was getting awkward. He had never done this. He broke the awkward hug as if maybe he realised it too.

"Let's go to the tavern and get a drink?" I said as I tried to break the awkwardness between us . He agreed and we went inside and sat at a far corner.

That's when I spotted Lycargos with his group entering the tavern. He looked at me after he sat down at his regular table and then looked away. I told Masiol that they were the guys who I fought yesterday and being here could be trouble. That's when we heard the men on the table near us talk about Raven. That Alviron, the one who organised the illegal fights had men looking for her everywhere. In Astmath as well as in Nydalidia. And that he was going to take her, by force if necessary.

That made my heart pound in my chest and that reflected on my face. Masiol saw that and said "let's get out of here. I'll just go pay them and then let's leave." He stood up and after a few steps he came back and said "I forgot my bag at Syrilla's I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't go anywhere and wear your cloak."

With that he left and as I put on my cloak I saw outside the window. A guy was talking to someone and pointing directly at me. Shit. I had to run.

As I started to leave and go to Masiol I was stopped by a familiar figure. Lycargos stood directly in front of me blocking my path. Was he the one who told them? Afterall he knew exactly where I was seated before he came in. He read my expression and almost smelled my fear. I could see his eyebrows tense as he studied me. And then his smirk was back.

"It's funny. The girl who spontaneously defeats four men is scared."

"Really? Men? You should ask yourself that specially after you were defeated by a girl almost half your size."

"But you're not just any girl are you? You are different. You-" a loud bang of the door opening startled everyone.

The man who opened the door pointed at me and said "there she is" and with that 4 men started coming in my direction. This scared me but I was prepared. I always was.

Suddenly Lycargos stood in front of me like a shield. That surprised me. I could protect myself. I didn't need his help. I especially did not need the help of an Astmathian.

"Sorry folks. She isn't going anywhere." He said in a calm but assertive tone.

"We'll see about that" said one of them.

And then they attacked him. My body moved immediately to the incoming threats and I started fighting two men at the same time. They were strong. But they weren't a match for my speed and flexibility. Within minutes one of them lay unconscious and the other had an injured leg because of which he couldn't get up. I turned to see if Lycargos needed help. He didn't.

"We need to go outside. There could be more of them coming." he said as he grabbed my hand and started dragging me out.

"We? Oh no no no. I can handle this myself. Thank you for your help but I don't need any. " I said and he turned around.

"Really? Are you that stubborn? Or do you not trust me?" He asked

"Trust you? I don't even know you." I tried debating but he dragged me out anyway.

"Here, wear this cloak instead. "He said as he handed me his cloak. It had the symbol of Astmath and wasn't as ragged as mine. Normally I wouldn't have worn it but he had a point. Those men had seen me wearing this cloak . So I changed. We went behind the tavern between there were a few tents of the traders who came to trade only for the season. The tents were almost like small houses with facilities provided as a good-will gesture by Nydalidia and Astmath. That's when we heard footsteps at a distance. My heart started beating faster and faster. That's when it happened.

Lycargos turned me towards him, cupped my face with one hand and grabbed me by my waist with the other to pull me close as his lips met mine.

I resisted at first but heard the footsteps come closer so I did not move.

"Have you seen a girl around here somewhere? Brown hair and wearing a long dusty cloak?" Said the man who had stood close enough to recognize it was me had my back not been facing him. That's when I realized that Lycargos deliberately kept me in this position so that my back faced anyone who came. Lycargos broke the kiss and signaled somewhere with his hand and the man went in that direction. When I thought that the man had gone I pushed back and looked around. Lycargos didn't. His eyes were fixed on me and so were his hands. We still stood close, very close. I looked back at Lycargos only to see his blue eyes staring me and an expression that made my heart leap. He then looked at my lips which sent shivers throughout my body. We moved slowly towards each other and he kissed me. Again!

But this time I did not resist. Unlike before (when the kiss was almost nothing but a peck), this kiss started off as soft but then the heat started to grow as I kissed him back. With the increasing intensity of the kiss and also my heartbeat I felt his hand slide above my neck and hold the back of my head gently while the other grabbed my waist and pulled it closer , as if it wasn't close enough. I put my hand on his upper back and drew him closer. Then I moved my hand slowly from back of his neck to the back of his head with my fingers gradually increasing the pressure. I spread my fingers at the back of his head and grabbed his hair gently. This made him go crazy as he started kissing me faster.I wanted him. No, my body wanted him. And then it suddenly hit me. What was I doing? He was an Astmathian. I quickly broke the kiss and stepped back.

"Don't do that EVER AGAIN." My voice was loud. At least I thought it was. He smirked

"Why? Are you afraid you'll like it again Raven?" that smirking annoyed me even more than his words did.

"I didn't even like it the first time." I was lying.

"I don't think so." He said as he stepped closer with a smirk. I so wanted to punch him but I turned to move towards the tavern to leave and that's when I saw him. Masiol.

And he looked hurt.