Aria’s eyes fluttered open when she felt warm fingers caress her cheek. Her gaze was met with Alder’s as he stared down at her. She blinked a couple of times to clear her blurry vision and she realized it was morning, and he was dressed already; he was leaving.
“Don’t leave”. She said quietly.
She wanted to be with him forever. She wanted to be engulfed in his arms as she slept; she wanted him to hold onto her till her very soul retained the fragrance of frankincense.
“I’m sorry, I have too”. He said to her. “I have to be at the council”.
She reached out and held his hand.
“Please”. She said quietly.
What she now felt for him was so strong and intense that it scared her; it caused her heart to jerk and her eyes to brim with tears. The fact that he had to leave made her feel almost de
