Chapter 31

" What happened in there? " he asked and she wondered which reply she ought to give him. 

Because she could still feel that darkness. That raging blast of evil that seemed to hover in that place. And she could also feel its tendrils as they tried to reach her yet again. Like an octopus or an overgrown spider. And that made her feel like losing it all over again. 

" I don't know. " 

It was no lie. She was unaware of the reason behind whatever it was that had just occurred. And if she told him what she thought then he would probably just worry more than he already was. And she did not want him to be stressed. 

Nuriel felt as the hand clenching his heart began to loosen its grip. But not completely. He would not feel better until he made absolutely sure that Flame was okay. There was something she wasn't telling him and he could feel it. His intuition when it came to her was never wrong. 

" Let's go home, " he said and sighed. Then she realised that he meant to fly there and told him to stop. 

" Can't I go in the carriage? "

" No. I will take you home myself! "

" But I... I don't...I want to go in the carriage. "

" Why? "

" I just do. Please? " 

Nuriel looked at her and muttered a curse under his breath. There was no way he would be able to say no to her when she was looking at him like that. But if she went in the carriage then he would not be able to go with her. Drexel was standing a few feet away. He too had been in fear of what would have happened to Flame. Nuriel linked him the directions. Asking him to accompany her home. But he would closely follow that carriage just in case. He was still very disturbed by whatever it is that had just happened. 

He also decided that he would ask both Quillon and Victor to conduct the meeting. It could not be postponed now that everyone had been informed. And if those two were busy then Angel Rylan would conduct things. Apart from the other two he was more capable of handling the beings.

But now he had other things to tend to. He watched as Flame and Drexel got into the carriage and started their journey back to the Triecan. No matter what happened he would never forget the crippling fear he had just gone through. He blinked a few times, realising that his eyes were still glowing from the incident. 

She meant more to him than even he could be able to admit. No amount of words would be able to describe how deeply he felt for her or how shattered he would be if anything bad ever happened to her. 

None!! 

                          ❇️✳️❇️✳️❇️

Nuriel sat on the bed. Waiting for Flame to finish taking her bath before she went to bed. And with each minute that passed he became more impatient. More worried to be honest. He could hear the soft sound of splashing water. And he could smell that warm scent they his entire being had become so attuned to. He was certain she was in there. 

But he still felt as if he would not be at ease until he saw her again and held her safely in his arms. He had called Oceal to come and check on her and she had assured him that Flame seemed okay. 

But he knew better. 

And all his attempts to make her tell him what was truly wrong had been nothing but futile. She had insisted on being clueless as to what had occurred just a few hours ago. And he had decided not to pressure her with his hunt for answers. So he had brought her dinner and sat silently as she ate. 

It was night time. Quillon and Victor had conducted the meeting with the other beings but he had decided to wait until the next day to ask them of how it had gone. 

At last the washroom door opened and she stepped out. Now dressed in a long and lively silk nightgown. It was a rose pink and the colour was nothing if not flattering on her. He noticed how the thin fabric hugged her curves. How bare her neckline was and how utterly soft her skin looked.

" Oh, you're still here." 

He wondered what that meant. Did she not want him to be around? 

" I am. Is that a problem? "

" No, of course not. It's just.. " 

She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. Her face fixed on the floor. It warmed her heart just how much he was caring for her. His actions were so sweet, so tender and committed with nothing but selflessness. 

" Just what? " Nuriel was worried. Was she going to ask him to leave her alone again? Maybe she wanted privacy at the moment and was struggling on how to pass forth that information. 

" Well, I feel bad. I took all your time and I know you had a lot of things to do today. And it's all because of such a silly thing which I'm sure was as a result of my fears -"

" Silly? " 

He cut in. His brows raised as if silently asking her whether she was serious with her words. 

" It WAS silly. " she argued. Now that she thought about it, she felt like a fool. A scared little girl who knew nothing about how to deal with her fears. So much so that she suffered a heart attack because of being in what she summed up as a creepy house. 

" You call what happened silly? "

Nuriel slowly began approaching her. Watching her with his silver eyes as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. He could see the discomfort of their conversation clearly on her delicate yet wistful features. Could hear her silently begging him not to go any further with the discussion. 

" Do you have even the slightest idea of how terrifying that was for me? "

He could still feel the aftereffects of the experience. Could remember very clear how pale she had looked as she tried to breathe with no luck. As he held her in his arms thinking that he might lose her. 

" I could not think, I could not see clearly and I could not feel anything other than fright. To have to face the ugly predicament that there was a chance for me to have lost you was... It was unreal. I do not care how silly you might think it was but I doubt I have ever been so scared in my existence. "

He stood before her now. His eyes portraying his emotions . Letting her know the true depth of his words. She listened to them and held them dear to her heart. She felt those words like inward goosebumps forming on her very soul. No one had ever cared for her in such a tremendous manner. And now this... angel. This beautiful being that was standing before her and looking at her like she was all that mattered , he not only cared for her but also made it clear that he would never stop. 

Nuriel placed his hand on her nape. Divulging in the pleasing softness of her skin. She was so innocent and despite the things she had gone through, he could still see that innocence as it shined through her. She might act like she has it all together but he would not fall for that. He knew that deep down she was as delicate as she could be. 

Flame placed her hand on his wrist. Aware that the action was done out of the need to touch him in return. 

" Angel, "

" Let me hold you tonight. I know I said I would keep my distance and give you time but I need to have you close right now. "

He feared that she would say no. And he prepared himself for her refusal. Though even if she said no he would still stay and watch over her. But then she looked at him with pleading eyes, tightening the hold on his wrist as she placed her other hand flat on his chest. 

Then she said the one thing he hoped she would. 

" Please do... "

                              💮🌼💮🌼💮🌼

Flame woke to the calming sound of a steady beating heart. And to the warmth of a perfectly sculpted chest. She flattered her lashes open and the light in the room was a little more than she could bear, so she closed them again and made an approving sound from the back of her throat. 

Sighing softly, she opened them again. 

Forcing them to remain open even though she still felt drowsy. And immediately after her mentality was strained into the present. 

" Oh, " she hurriedly sat up. And from beside her Nuriel did the same. 

" You look frightened, "

" I'm sorry, I guess I'm just not used to... well.. "

" Sharing a bed with an angel? " he offered and she smiled.

" Yeah, you could say that. "

She looked around the magnificent room. Her arm instinctively wrapped around herself to offer a bit of cover. The night gown she had purchased from Sheila was lovely, but it still made her feel naked in a sense. 

Nuriel got off the bed and stood beside it. Crossing his arms as he examined her with his eyes. She looked much better than she did the previous day, but he still wanted to discuss what had happened. 

It would have to wait though. He had seen how distressed the matter made her and all he cared about now was her well being. 

Now that she was awake he had a chance to look at her more clearly. Last night had been awfully dreadful. He had underestimated the effect it would have on him to have her so close to him. He had spent all those hours admiring her fair skin. Not to mention the not so few instances when she had writhed and turned in his hold. 

Such cruel torture it had been. 

And as a result all he got from the experience was a massive arousal and a burning lust that would not seize. Though he would do it all over again. For his entire immortal existence if needed. And now more than ever he dreaded the fact that he had promised her to wait until she was ready. Because he had no idea when that would be. And holding that internal conversation with himself while she was dressed in that thin form hugging nightgown was almost physically painful.