He can’t be the one that I mark, right? Considering who he is, it's like playing with fire.
Especially knowing I can end up like Rayden, with Amias getting manipulated into killing me like Lydia did to him. Especially knowing I'm completely disobeying my father's words.
I twist my lips. I can't let that side get in control of me. I shouldn't be feeling that way towards Amias anyways and it's highly doubtful he or any Amarians would take a marking as the sign of love.
And in this case, there's no room to blame him. No bite mark could ever replace Amara’s soulmate arrangements.
“Now where were we?” Amias titters, bringing me out of my thoughts.
I immediately snap back to where the bowls of bread dough are. "We still need to finish up."
"And clean up," Amias sighs. "Let's do this."
???
We wait for the bread to cool after letting the dough rise and bake. I look up at the time on the clock. It's morning seven.
“Can ten minutes go by any faster?” I whisper. My stomach is killing me for baking something so complicated.
“Maybe don't choose something that will keep you up all night.”
We're sitting up on the couch, nearly knee to knee as we watching what they call a TV. It's strange seeing the images roll by. Amias had spoken a simplified enchantment, which led it to automatically play his chosen so called “movey”. The rimof the black box glows orange, as people get into drama about soulmates on screen.
Amias sighs. "I don't want you to feel pressured but… if you feel comfortable… do you want to come to my birthday party?"
I crease my brows and turn to him, burying half of my face into the back cushion. "Your birthday party? At the castle?"
“No pressure… I just wanted to leave the option open for you."
My lips twist. Me? Going to the grandson of Amara's birthday? "Why?"
"Well we're friends, right? You've given me trust to sleep in your room. I can invite you to my party.” He smiles softly. “I think it would be fun. Plus my Mother wants to meet you after that phone call today."
"She does?" I can't have that happen. Would she come searching for me? Is it because she thinks we're dating or something?
"Yeah. She just wants to get to know you. She likes to know people I hang out with. Only if you're comfortable with that. She would understand if you weren't."
I clench my teeth. I could risk coming around her, considering I rarely battled in my human form, so she wouldn't recognize me from looks alone. But if she has another way of finding out who I am, that's how I'd get killed. "I'm sorry for saying this but no. I can't do that."
He nods slowly, a small frown forms upon his lips. "That's okay."
"I can't meet your mother." A shudder goes down my spine when I think about how Amara had hurt us dreamscreechers. I know through battle and stories being told. A lot of us who've fought against her have been killed. Even if I'mjust meeting her daughter, I can't risk it. "Never, Amias. I can never meet her."
He quickly nods, though his eyes shining in disappointment. “Yeah. I'll never have you meet her."
My heart sinks. "But… I will do something for your birthday."
He gives a small smile. “You don't have to do that, but thank you."
The movie continues as it falls silent, but I find myself leaning on his shoulder. It almost feels like Amias' shoulder was designed for my head. It just feels too perfect.
I take in a deep breath, the scent of amare flowers on him welcoming me. There's a sense of calmness whenever I breathe it in. I could bury myself into that smell.
Why do I feel this way about him? I want to ignore my own plans, and stay here with him to fix things. I want to touch him. I want play with the flour all over again. I want to go to the party and have a fun time with him. I love being around him.
If anyone were to find out about us and who I am, this can very well be used against me if they cleanse him.
I look up from his shoulder. “Would they cleanse you if you spoke for dreamscreechers?”
