“I need you to promise me something.” His tone became rugged, demanding my attention.
“Anything,” I dipped my chin in agreement, desperate to get back to devouring his lips. His body. His entire spirit.
Galenor swallowed hard, inching himself back to claim my full attention, his eyes burning the demand into me.
“When they come for me tomorrow, don’t fight them.”
“Don’t,” Galenor's eyes pleaded while the sound of the sliding door rose us from bed. We’d both been too unsettled to remain under the covers or even try to catch some rest, so after celebrating our promise of love, we got dressed and spent the last few hours in heavy tension, expecting this exact moment.
“Galenor…” I begged, though we both knew there wasn’t much either of us could do. They’d probably send an army this time, carrying weapons and suits and, no matter how much we wanted to resist, there was only so much we could do.
“I’ll be alright,” he said, the corners of his lips sad in their motion. His emerald eyes shone with terror, his breath hitched, and his arms wrapped around me, fingers shaking down my back.
“I love you,” I whispered to him, grabbing at him for dear life, in a desperate need to feel more of him, to join our hearts and our spirits. To make us both disappear.
He replied to my confession with a press of his lips to mine, allowing me to feel his taste one more time before he stood and stepped towards the door, opening it in a determined single motion to reveal himself to the guards.
Galenor stepped out with confidence, the slide of his hips making a mockery of the room filled with soldiers. I tilted my head from the bedroom to spot over fifteen men, all carrying patrol weapons, circling the fae as soon as he made his appearance.
“Good morning to you,” Galenor said, and I could feel his smirk, the unrelenting disobedience he had always shown, doing his best to piss off these men. Even now.
I didn’t come out; I couldn’t watch him leave and he didn’t turn back either. Keeping his head high and frame tall, Galenor stepped out of the room like a royal, the guards only there to guarantee his safety.
We hadn't talked about it, neither of us wanted to bring up the subject of our separation, especially after confessing our feelings for the first time, but I knew his stance was solely for my benefit. He didn’t want to look defeated or scared, that tremble in his eyes before he said his goodbye was the only thing betraying his fear. Even though tears flooded my eyes, burning deep within my heart and everything in me shouted to fight this, I stood my ground as well.
I did not cause a scene, did not put myself or him in danger, did not come out of the room to seek a fight. We were outnumbered, the battle already lost before even starting. All we could gain out of it was more injuries and punishment, and I was determined to make things as easy as possible for Galenor. Not wanting to risk the guards’ rage towards me to be inflicted on him.
So I waited, frozen on the side of the mattress, blinking tears away, until everyone stepped out of the room. Until the door slid shut again, sealing me in my abandonment. I wanted to shout, to wail, to punch and kick everything in my way. All my mind focused on was Galenor. All my brain kept repeating was that this might be the last time we see each other.
“It is safe for you to come out, Captain Harrow,” a voice pinned my senses in place, stopping my plans and making me jump from the bedroom to discover its source.
A dark shadow flickered in the centre of the living room, part gym, part storage place for everything we didn’t want in the bedroom. The place was a mess, I had never left my assigned quarters to reach that state before. But the confinement to the bedroom we had both chosen left everything else in an abandoned state.
Not that I cared anymore…
“Who is this?” I approached the shadow, flicking my hand through it to observe it was entirely made of smoke. Though it had a form of a tall man and a voice that addressed me, I had no other hints on the origin of this person.
“Even though I must keep my distance from you for the foreseeable future, Captain Harrow, I wanted to speak to you as directly as I’m allowed. I believe I owe you an apology,” the materialised smoke tilted its head to me, just like a person would.
“What’s your name?” I asked, still observing the apparition with awe.
“I am the one who selected you for this assignment. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to disclose my name, though we have spoken before.”
“PDD?” I blinked, looking at the shape in wonder because it had the exact same height as Galenor. Another one of their mind games, I assumed.
It nodded, darkness mixing with shade in its motion. “You do know me by that name, yes.”
“Why can’t you come speak to me like a normal person?” I frowned, circling around this shape, and trying to make head and tails out of this strange moment.
“I do not have long, Captain, so you will have to content yourself with following the conversation rather than imposing questions. First of all, I must apologise to you. I am aware the instructions you received were not delivered in a clear manner, but we had our reasons.”
“Your reasons,” I huffed. “Like putting an innocent male in confinement and torturing him on a daily basis?”
“Galenor is everything but, Captain. Though that is not the reason why I owe you an apology.”
“Oh, really?” I folded my arms and shifted my weight on one hip. I didn’t know if the shadow could see me or not, but the motion came instinctively. “And what do you need to apologise for, pray tell?”
“We lied to you,” it replied. I wanted to ask more questions, but the explanation arrived on its own. “Your bedroom was never cleared of recording devices, nor was your bathroom. We felt you would be more comfortable if said information was relied to you.”
