Page 73 of Soulmateless
I slowly turn my body to face his. I wait for his next move. What does he want from me?
He smiles despite his lips quivering. “You’re n-not violent… right? They're lying… right?”
My ears perk. Is he… really trying to… befriend me? Inthisform? Does he really think they were lying?
He continues, “Of course they a-are… or else… t-this is a st-stupid decision…”
I snort. Stupid decision? I'm the one making a stupid decision. I'm staying put while he probably has a gun hidden somewhere.
And yet, despite my awareness, I really want this to be real. I want him to open his eyes and realize that I'm not the bad guy. Even though everything, from my pounding heart to my buckling legs, begs me to run.
But what if he has changed? What if… one person in this kingdom is starting to understand me? What if Amias realizes the propaganda he's been fed?
He inhale. “Okay…” He takes off the satchel over his arm and throws it aside. “No weapons…” He turns his pockets inside out.
I can already feel my heartbeat slowing. Okay. That's good.
“Can I approach you?” he whispers.
I slowly nod. This is awfully bold, and yet, it's exactly what I need.
Someone bold enough to see the truth.
My pulse echoes throughout my body, but I hiss quietly to myself. Don't get too excited.
He takes a step forward. His step is shaky, but it holds such significance. He takes another step, and then another one, each one more confident than the last. I keep eye contact with Amias. His eyes. They seem more blue with each step, the gray ring getting smaller.
I wonder how they do that.
Finally, he's maybe a foot away from me. He kneels, gaping with his face pale and his forehead sweating. His eyes shift as if searching within mine. He's close enough for me to tear him alive. I'm close enough to get strangled or stabbed. Nearly face to face.
It's so dangerous, but yet, my heart flutters excitedly.
We stare at each other. Time passes but neither of us move. I scan him up and down, noticing his hands and legs steadying. His breath is stable too and his gaze has softened.
My nerves have disappeared too. Not completely, but still.
Whoa. I’m close to an Amarian in dreamscreecher form… To the grandson of Amara… And I don't have to worry about getting shot… or strangled to death…
Could… could this really be happening? Has he really come around?
He smiles. “If you were naturally violent, you would've attacked me.”
I nod. My voice might be recognizable. As exciting this might be, I'm not ready to reveal myself yet.
Amias chuckles and wipes his forehead. “This is great! I wasn't wrong…” He takes a deep breath and his grin falters slightly. “Clara wasn't wrong…”
Clara wasn't wrong…
Those words sing sweetly to my soul . Of course, I knew I was right, but it's different when someone understands, especially here in Amara.
“You've probably gone through so much here.” Amias leans in a little. “Yet you saved my life that one time. And then at the mall, right?”
I nod.
“Thank you…” he says softly. Then he leans over, wrapping his arms around my neck and shoulders, pulling me into an embrace. I jump at his gesture, my body stiffening. “Thank you for saving my life…”
Heat floods my cheeks. Thank you? Amara’sgrandsonisthankingme?
