Ephraim was walking through the dark halls when he heard a sob and fast steps. As he turned around the corner, he saw Nazneen wiping her tears and rushing somewhere that she didn't even see him.
"Nazneen?"
She halted and looked at him through her teary eyes. Tonight seemed to be a night of cries.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"No. I am not. Where is Ares?"
He focused his senses to see if Ares was nearby, but he could hear nothing. "I don't know."
Ephraim guessed that they must have discussed his illness. Ares had worried about her well-being and how the news would affect her.
"Oh…" she cried again, placing her hands on her face. "I shouldn't have said that."
A fight?
"I am sure he will be back," Ephraim told her. "He must have gone to the sea," he guessed.
She just cried and he didn't know what to do. "Come, let's sit down." He gently put a hand on her back to lead her away from the dark empty halls.
He took her to the nearest drawing room and sat her down. He gave her his handkerchief and she wiped her face as he sat on the other couch.
"What happened?" He asked, feeling like he was prying.
"Are you the one looking for a cure with him?"
He nodded.
"Is there really no chance?"
Ephraim became thoughtful and careful about what to say. It seemed like Ares had taken the tough road of accepting that the chances were bleak. Ephraim was not as devastated as Nazneen, but he could understand her struggle to accept. He had a hard time accepting as well, but he knew pushing a fight too much could be destructive. Hopefully, they could find a balance.
"At the moment, we have not found anything yet." He told her.
She shook her head. "There has to be a way."
"There could be, but we need to find it."
"We will find it!" She said. "I will look everywhere. I will not stop until I find it."
Ephraim smiled faintly. "Just don't forget the person you are looking for a cure for in the process."
He didn't want her to be consumed by it to the point where she lost sight of what was important. It could easily turn that way.
Nazneen looked at him, the storm in her eyes calming a bit. "It is just... frightening," she admitted. "I just felt selfish for allowing him to stay with me and risk his life, and now I find out about this."
"I know. I have a breedmate who fights dragons." He reminded.
She smiled a little.
"All of us are engaged in a perilous fight, that needs to be fought by someone. We could lose our lives, or even a loved one, at any given moment. In light of this, we must cherish each day and live fully, knowing that death is an inevitable part of our journey, whether it comes through illness or suddenly." Ephraim hoped this would help her lighten up a bit and see it from a positive angle. One could prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.
"You make it sound good." She sighed.
He chuckled. "Convincing, I hope."
"A little," she persisted.
"You must have duties as queen tomorrow. I will go look for Ares and send him your way." He told her.
She nodded.
Ephraim stood up and left to look for Ares. Once outside, he shifted and took off to fly over the island and have the full view to find anyone. Among the trees near the sea, he could see a figure moving around, so he flew down and noticed it was Ares when he came closer. Once he landed, he shifted back.
"What are you doing here?" Ares asked.
"Looking for you." He said seeing that the man had taken off his shoes and belt. "Are you diving?"
"Yes. It might help for a while because I am feeling tired still."
Ephraim could see that he was still pale and sickly.
"I have been thinking," Ares continued, now taking off his shirt. "I have been getting much worse lately. Remember the witch I told you about?"
Ephraim nodded as Ares tossed his shirt aside. The man was covered in more scars. They were faint, probably old ones, but many of them.
"I wouldn't have believed him if it wasn't confirmed by my people, but still… could he be making it worse than it is?" Ares asked.
"You think he put some kind of spell on you?"
Ares shrugged. "I am just weighing every possible option."
Ephriam shrugged. "If that is the case, then we only need to lift the spell. Another witch could tell us if you are cursed."
"Could you find one?" Ares asked.
"I could."
"Good." He nodded, reaching for his pants, he stopped. "You shouldn't be here in case…" he nodded toward the sea.
Right. He didn't want demons messing with his mind.
"I will be back soon." Ares told him.
"Nazneen is waiting. It seems you told her the opposite of what you are doing?"
He frowned. "Which is what?"
"That you accepted your death?"
"I have. That doesn't mean I started digging my grave."
"Good to know. Maybe you could clarify for her."
"She knows. It's just that I want her to be prepared for the worst. If things turn out better, it'll be a pleasant surprise."
Ephraim shook his head at him. "That's a bit pessimistic."
"Just realistic. You be the optimist, my friend." He grinned.
Ephraim stiffened. Friend?
Ares raised a brow, still holding the hem of his pants. "While I admit having had my mouth on your neck, baring ourselves in the nude is not the next course of action I am keen to pursue."
Ephraim chuckled. "Ah… I see. You are shy. I will grant you your privacy."
Shy?
Ares smirked. The man had good wit. He watched him shift and fly away, and he went on to dive for a while.
****
Nazneen waited in their room, while still in bed. She told herself not to cry but every time she remembered, she couldn't help the sadness that tore at her heart. It was a difficult fact to cope with. Impossible.
She curled up, and the tears subsided as she slowly began to understand everything. She came to understand why he had avoided her. But then why did he accept, she suddenly yelled in her mind. Her knuckles turned white from clenching her fists too hard.
He should have kept avoiding her. He should have left!
She took a deep breath, knowing all too well that she would have sought him out either way. He was the first person she had seen after a century in the darkness. The first one who had brought her out into the light, although he had infuriated her. He had taken her back home and helped her find her place, even if it was under the guise of a bargain. She snorted. He was full of nonsense.
Recalling his recent confrontation with Ravina, his pained eyes appeared infront of her. His words echoed in her mind. 'The worst feeling as a man is to know you can't be reliable, that you can't protect and provide for your loved ones.'
Those words suddenly held a different meaning. He meant to say he couldn't and wouldn't be there to do those things.
Nazneen shook her head as more tears fell down her cheeks. She pushed herself to sit up and wiped her tears to go find him.
As she walked down the stony shore under the crescent moon and shiny stars, she came closer to the sea. She looked around for any signs of him as she searched the area. She stopped when she found his clothes piled near a tree.
As she waited, Nazneen's eyes were drawn to the water, where the gentle sound of splashing caught her attention. Emerging from the sea, Ares appeared like a mesmerizing vision under the starry night sky. His upper body glistened with droplets of water, his toned muscles accentuated by the moon's silvery glow. His long, wet, brown hair clung to his neck and shoulders, framing his face and captivating his teal eyes.
His lower body, seamlessly crept from the water, covered in striking teal, gold, and glittery scales that shimmered in the moonlight. The scales continued up along his arms, subtly enhancing his powerful appearance.
Once he stepped onto land, their gazes met, and Nazneen felt an overwhelming wave of emotion wash over her. Without hesitation, she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. Ares, taken aback by her sudden affection, hesitated for a moment before tenderly hugging her back.
As she held him, she inhaled his scent, a mix of saltwater and the unique essence that was unmistakably his. Tears brimmed in her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "You are the strongest person I know and I… I know I can rely on you." Tears welled up in her eyes as she clung to him, her heart aching with the realization of how much he meant to her and the weight of the uncertainty that lay ahead.
"But you should have told me. I know why you didn't, but you should have. Why do you have to do it alone? I want you to rely on me as well."
She pulled back to look at him.
"I am sorry," he apologized in turn, taking her face into his hands. He wiped away a tear with his thumb. "Old habits die hard, but I know, I can rely on you." His eyes glimmered. "I want to."
She could hear the longing in his voice, and it tugged at her heart. "Good." She smiled playfully. "I will help you break this foul habit of yours."
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