Oops! Still Your Mate

Chapter Twenty Four

The air was chilly, the tall trees bending to the pressure of the strong wind. The clouds formed an umbrella over the sky. Ivy was taking her late night walk when she caught sight of Zeke, he was training at the back of his chambers. “Stoneheart,” she called and stepped closer.

“What do you want?” Zeke turned to glare at her and sighed helplessly.

“Don't tell me you've forgotten about our trainings just because you're taking a new wife?” She tilted her head provocatively.

“A new wife? Who told you that?”

“Then why's Enid visiting and what happened to talking to your mate about that?” She asked, her eyebrows shooting upwards.

Zeke stood straight, his sword dangling from one hand as he stared at her. “You're not my mate, okay? And what I do shouldn't bother you,” he groaned suddenly.

Ivy eyes shot up as she saw his face becoming even paler. The fever. She took quick steps over to him, trying to hold him but Zeke flinched backwards. “Don't touch me,” he ordered but Ivy could already feel the heat radiating off his skin. He was burning.

“What's wrong with you?” She asked, stupidly hoping that he would open up to her, even when it seemed impossible.

“I'm fine.” He muttered. “Or maybe your presence makes me sick.”

Ivy flinched slightly before putting on a brave expression. “Then get prepared for death.” She rolled her eyes. She snatched the extra sword from the rock which Zeke had placed it on.

“Training?” She stood in stance and Zeke sighed.

“You're going to drop dead at this rate,” Zeke scoffed.

“I'm trying okay? How about being a little optimistic,” Ivy fired at him.

“And you want to be a Luna? My Luna?” He shook his head.

Ivy's heart stopped for a moment. “Well, I can't see someone like Enid fitting that position,” she moved faster this time and her sword cut into Zeke's thighs, drawing blood.

“Oops, Luna Ivy at work,” she chuckled and Zeke smiled helplessly.

The training became even more intense till the rain started falling in torrents. “How about we stop here?” Zeke suggested, looking up onto the sky.

“Are you feeling sleepy? Or you're just afraid of me?” Ivy teased.

“I'm neither sleepy or afraid of you.” Zeke replied. “It's just the rain.”

“Well, who cares?” The training continued, more fierce, more brutal and even more better.

“Okay, Ivy. This is a disarming technique. You're to get into my grasp and disarm me ot my weapon, is that understood? Just like this,” Zeke demonstrated and ivy nodded with a mysterious glint in her eyes.

“I'm not joking with you.” Zeke warned and she chuckled.

“I understand. I should get into your arms right?” She asked. Zeke sighed and got in stance.

“Ivy!” Zeke yelled, a little flustered by her attitude. She had gotten into his arms and stayed there, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly.

“What?” She moved backwards, hands open innocently.

“I don't remember teaching you that. Maybe the training has long been overdue.” He stated and turned his back at her.

“Okay,” Ivy sighed. “I'm sorry, let's do it again.” She said and he scoffed before turning back at her.

They try the technique again and this time, she gave it her all, moving quick into his guard and moving out with the same speed but yet still unable to disarm him.

“s**t,” she cursed and went still. “This is crazy,” she wiped the drops of water falling into her face and looked at Zeke who had been soaked from the rain, his black shirt wet, showing his abs.

“Let's try it again.” Zeke's voice pulled her out of the trance and she gave a stiff nod.

It was at the fifth attempt when she got it right. She successfully disarmed him and threw his sword on the floor but the momentum carried her into his chest. They both went still and her lips parted slightly.

Inviting warmth seeped from his chest, making her comfortable in her posture. His arms wrapped around her with his second arm hanging dangerously low to her waist. Her hands were gripping his shirt slightly, rain running down their faces.

The blue crescent mark burned faintly against their arms but they seemed not to have notice, eyes fixed on each other.

Zeke lowered his head to stare at her for a moment and his expression threw her off guard. It wasn't his usual coldness, his face was completely open. Not cold, not controlled, just him with an expression dangerously close to want plastered on his face - the want he had refused to name.

Their breath mixed together with Ivy barely breathing, barely moving. Her eyes didn't move an inch from his expression, as if afraid to miss any changes. She saw that split moment, the one where his eyes flickered to her lips momentarily, how he bit down on his lips slightly and her stomach twisted.

Her eyes almost flickered shut, waiting, wanting but they stayed open, because she couldn't fully trust him yet, couldn't turn off her guard at the most critical time.

And she didn't miss the moment when it all ended. When the tension was forcefully quenched. Zeke took a deep breath, arranging his expression and looked away. When his eyes returned back to her, they were back to being cold and controlled, having everything under him.

His jaw set and he took two steps backwards. He cast a last look at her before turning around and walking into the rain.

Ivy shuddered and finally released the breath she had been holding. She ran her fingers over her wet hair, watching him move away. She didn't follow after him, didn't call at him, she was never one to do so.

But the weight of “what if?” settled in her chest. She shook her head lightly and raised her face into the rain, letting the water wash over her face.

“Coward,” she said softly, not angry, just a little bit sad.

“Stupid Stoneheart.”