Page 150 of Soulmateless
"Amias?"
I hush her. “Yeah. Just me. Breathe.”
She runs up to the cage, her breath still shaking. I stick my hands through the bars and hold her face. “It's okay. It's just me.”
“Amias…” She closes her eyes and deeply inhales. I mimic her breaths while stroking her cheek.
“It's okay,” I murmur.
“It's horrible. I hate it here.”
“I know, my flame.”
“It's just like home,” she hisses. “In the worst way.”
"I know," I smile to assure her. “But I'm here.”
Her eyes shine. "Captain…"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything." I blink away tears to contain myself. I have to be strong for Ignatia. “I should’ve waited on the marking.”
"It's not you that has to apologize for this."
"I'm going to get you out. I have a plan."
“What plan?"
"You can go to Caelestia Kingdom as soon as you get out. I have a map and a backpack with clothes and food just for you. Enough for seven days. When they come get you out tomorrow, be prepared to dash. I can use the tutela flowers to trap the guards and they won't catch you. All you need to do is shove them and run as soon as they unlock the door.”
"Okay," she says, leaning her head into the iron bars. “I can do that.” She falls silent for a second. “You should come with me. You should run away. Get away from this damn kingdom. Caelestia isn't going to judge you or hurt you like they do here. We can still be together, as we are.”
My throat starts to throb. “Ignatia…”
“Please?”
“I can't. Amara will come after you, knowing I followed.” I press my head against the bars as well, right where her head is. My eye sockets push tears. I want to run away. I would if it wouldn't endanger Ignatia. “I wish I could, my flame, but I can't risk hurting you.” I whisper, trying to keep my voice from croaking. “I love you so damn much."
Her gaze starts to gloss over. "Don't cry."
I sniffle, trying to ignore the painful swelling of my heart. "I won’t. I just… I finally found you. All my life I've been dreaming of finding you. I finally found someone who I connect so well with, and someone I love as much as she does me, but the world is tearing us apart.
"Amias…"
I grin to keep it together, but it easily starts to falter. "It's okay. Everything will end up fine. You will find a nice man who will cherish you. Maybe have a family. You’ll live peacefully where people accept you."
"And you?"
I shrug, my neck hanging off my shoulders like a poorly made arts and crafts project. " I don't know. I'll raise Sabina.”
“But what about getting married?”
“If I can't have you, there's no point. You're one of a kind. It won't be the same.” I've already tried that before her.
"No. Don't do that," she hisses. "Don't just stop your life for me. You can get married and have some children and adopt Sabina. You will be a great father. People will start to accept you again."
“I doubt it. People around here aren't so forgiving.”
"Amias, I don't want to leave you like this.”
