Survive

Fifth Chapter

Damiana's POV

16th century

I thought my sister's suitor was annoying like my father, but I underestimated the young Commander. Tomorrow at sunrise we will make our attack on the vampire's lair and, instead of helping prepare our armies, the arrogant red head is following me like a lost child. And when I do something, he watches me and laughs for no reason. I told my father about telling Braxton for help or just any distraction, but that s**t-kid won't even listen, he does what he wants and it's pissing me off. He feels like a disease that I can not get rid of.

"Perhaps you would like to stop following me?" I asked, not turning around to face the amber-eyed Commander.

"No, I would not, Commander Crosse," he replied with the same formality.

It feels like he enjoys it! How can someone follow another person without getting bored? Is he out of his mind? Or maybe he wants to get some tips...if so...

I abruptly stopped and turned my body on my heels to face the annoying bastard. His eyes looked impressed but his body was at ease.

"You will stop! Right now! No more following!" I exclaimed, fisting my hands in leather gloves.

"And why would I do that?" He snorted, eyeing me smugly.

I took a step forward, leaning to his ear, feeling his musculine scent before menacingly whispering, "Take one more step after me and you will regret it, Braxton. Don't tell me that I did not warn you." I recoiled with warning eyes, but then I felt him taking a step forward. I groaned and wiped my head at him and saw a beautiful, childish grin. Oh, Lord, it's like he does everything to annoy me! Or kill himself.

I clenched my jaw and cracked my neck, "Yeah, I knew you were a fool," I heard his genuine laugh before I made a high kick but he only evaded my attacks, still laughing like a child.

"You can't run away now, Casmund!" I yelled.

"Oh, I know, Commander."

"Then make a move! Or what? Too scared?" I teased, doing a diagonal flip, attacking him with my legs, but he went underneath me and before I could react he pulled my arm and made three punches into my stomach and chest.

"Argh!" I choked out, feeling how bile came up to my throat. I stumbled back, grimacing.

"Well, Commander, still have words to say?" He chuckled and slowly made his way to me. I waited for him to come near me and then ran at him like a bull, knocking him off of his feet. We both fell hard in the mud. I was on top of him, and before he could make his move, I took out my small, extra dagger out of my boot and put it right under his chin.

"I still have so much to tell you, Commander Casmund," I chuckled in triumph, looking into his amber eyes.

He bit his lower lip, trying not to smile, revealing a dimple, "Tell me, I will gladly hear anything that will come out of those pretty lips of yours," he murmured, like a seducer as he is.

I couldn't hold my grudge anymore. I laughed. I genuinely laughed, putting my dagger back where it belonged, resting my palms on his hard chest.

Braxton looked astounded, looking at me and then at my hands and then exhaled, breaking into a laugh with me.

***

Perhaps I was slightly wrong about the young Commander. He was not so bad as I assumed. After our little play, he invited me to go for a walk into the forest.

He wasn't a cold, grumpy bastard as I thought. He was funny, genuine and he made me laugh. No one could do that. Not even my sister. For a moment...I felt ecstatic.

"Stop it!" I laughed, punching him in the arm.

He stumbled playfully, and smiled, "No, really, did you see his hair? I mean, they can't just stand so straight! It's impossible! I am sure he is using the saliva of a werewolf as his own signature balsam for his princely hair."

"Well, we can't know for sure. The only way we can find out is to ask a werewolf if His Highness didn't ask for a stack of saliva."

"I am sure we will be true heroes if we stop this begging. We will save a poor werewolf."

"Yes, but then, my sister will be mad at me for taking the only thing that makes her fiancé's hair look decent," I muttered, the laugh fading away.

"Wait...your sister is...?"

"Yes, right, I am gonna be an unknown sister of the Princess," I huffed, feeling ridiculous.

God, my sister is marrying a Prince...

Magdalena acted like nothing happened between us. She only talks about her wedding after the war. She is so sure that we will win the battle and...she thinks that she will have a wedding peacefully...of course, I wish so but...I wouldn't be so sure that we would win.

"Hey, are you alright, Commander?" asked Braxton, concerned. God, I can't believe he is worried about me. We have known each other a day and a half, but he acts as if we knew each other for our whole lives.

"You know, you can stop calling me so formally."

"I know, but what's fun in that, right? Isn't it charming in a sort of way?" He asked, stepping forward to me until I could feel his woodish scent, "Doesn't it give you goosebumps?" I gulped and then he leaned in and for a second I thought he was leaning towards my lips, and I stopped my gaze on them but then he smiled and whispered into my ear, "Or maybe you feel a little control that you have over me when I call you a Commander? Hm?" He recoiled a little to look at me in the eyes and when he did, I saw how his look slowly drifted on my lips.

I gaped and felt how my head went dizzy and...Holy God...I couldn't think straight! These opal eyes...What were we talking about?

"I-uh...we-uh..." I stammered, trying to remember the words.

His eyes sparkled, enjoying my reaction, "Yeah, Commander Crosse, feeling alright?" He murmurs, his hand runs down my spine and I take a deep breath.

That's a different level... Not one man touched me...and I am not letting him seduce me.

I chuckled, licking my lips and uncomfortably recoiled, getting my head straight, "Nice try, Braxton."

His lips quirked, "And here I thought I got you."

"Not today at least."

I took off my leather gloves off and ran through my hair, "I am actually quite freaked out. The war, the wedding, the... everything!"

Braxton nods in understanding, "I know what you mean. It's hard and no one understands and if they do, they won't talk about it," he confessed, "You know, if you want to talk about anything...if you want to use a friend, I am all yours."

I snorted and thankfully nodded, "I will keep it in mind, Braxton, thank you very much."

"Of course, of course," he laughs and then, I push him, when I hear a sarcastic note.

Minutes drifted into hours and it went dark before we could even realize it. We headed to the camp and found our families on the table.

"Oh, here they are! Our new lovers!" Called out General Casmund, eyeing me and his son.

I cough and see how Braxton fights his smile, "My daughter is hard to conquer, Bertilak, it will be one hell of a work," says my father, sipping on his wine.

I make a hard stone face and take a seat near my sister.

"Good evening," I greeted her.

"Hello, sister," followed her cold voice.

I thought she wouldn't continue the dialogue with me but she unexpectedly asks, "So, found your pair, Damiana?" She smiles and I see how she doesn't want to argue anymore or be mad.

I smiled back and shook my head, "No, just a friend."

She nodded and sipped wine, smirking when I glanced towards young Casmund.

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