Shards From Other Stars

12. Stay with me

Aldith was exhausted and infuriated at the exact same time, what didn't help was the grinning face before her—the reason for all her dismay. Even though she would have much considered jumping on that very mesmerising—comfy bed—rather than try talking some sense into Wylie at such a late hour and from such a long ride.

The ride itself had not been pleasant, even though she did happen to crack a smile here and there—those smiles she made sure Wylie wouldn't see at all and would of course play it as an insult.

She wasn't trying to boost her already big ego and character.

So

She opted on kicking the girl off the horse they were on together but the first two times were unsuccessful. The second time she tried it, Wylie brought her down with her—shamelessly and without regret—the two of them landed on the harsh ground and honestly, Aldith still felt the pain in her shoulder.

Resting would ease it all—only if she could at all.

So back to topic.

A long journey from the city of Deni to the small town of Qolis best known for their inn's, and a tourist pitstop. A nagging partner behind you on the same horse, breathing right down your neck every second through it all—was a nightmare turn reality.

Aldith did believe nightmares were dreams too and she was living it as soon as Wylie found the inn they'd stay in. Relief was something short-lived, it wasn't enough to count as relief rather temporary delusion.

She should have never, and she meant never in her whole life, let Wylie pay for the room or be the one talking.

"What were you thinking?" Aldith pulled Wylie's ear as she stared at the single bed before them. "Find us a rooms for the night, rooms! If no then room with beds—heavy on the beds!" She hissed now glaring at Wylie, of course she didn't let the poor girls ear go—maybe this way she'd actually listen.

A shrug from Wylie.

"It's a room, isn't it princess?"

"A single bed!"

Wylie let out a hum as she placed her hand over the Aldith's, the one that was very close to ripping it off—and she pinched it, as hard as she could.

"Would have costed us a lot of coins if we got two! I'm saving money, Princess."

Wylie spoke as Aldith rubbed her hand, if it wasn't for the dim light she would have seen how red her skin turned. She was sure it did, it hurt like a motherfucker.

"I've got enough money!"

"I know, and that's exactly why I'm hogging it."

This was exactly why she, Aldith wasn't a huge or little fan of Wylie Quill, the musical witch thief, the fire witch—whatever the f**k her name was, she was a b***h—not a witch.

Aldith groaned, if she had not loved her hair so much she would have been pulling it out. "You'll sleep on the floor." That was not a suggestion, she was suggesting—that would mean giving her an option, she wasn't trying to do that.

Wylie however took it as one, what more would she expect from a stubborn girl like herself.

"Princess." Wylie laughed in disbelief. The Princess had to be mad insane if she ever thought Wylie would do that. "I am not sleeping on the floor when there is a perfectly good bed right there." Wylie spoke as she patted down the side beside her as she laid down.

"It's small for the both of us."

A thug from somewhere in the room was made. Aldith stared at the floor then back at Wylie, her boots had been tossed away and she was already getting comfortable— undoing a few buttons from her shirt.

"Not if you sleep on your side. But if you want to sleep on the floor, be my guest."

Wylie wasn't wrong, about the bed of course. The floor would have been no problem if the best didn't look the most mesmerising, a perfect fit for one's aching muscles.

"Just don't touch." Aldith sat on the bed, slowly and cautious of Wylie.

Lips pursed Wylie slowly gave the princess a head nod, she heard her loud and clear, it was rather hard not to when it came with a glare. Her eyes shifted from Aldith's eyes to her feet, that for someone wanting to sleep still had on shoes.

"The boots gotta go Princess. You don't plan on sleeping with them, do you?"

"You think I am going to sleep with them on?"

Wylie simply shrugged, choosing to not comment on that but the latter of her warnings. "No promises, I'm a hugger when a sleep." Wylie giggled as her hand rested on Aldith's shoulder, a mere second before it was smacked off.

"And I kick things."

At that Wylie laughed. She had experienced that first hand, too many times in fact she might have been all bruised.

"I don't doubt it."

§

The bed was indeed small for two people fighting for space and a warm blanket, which lead to a different sleeping situation early in this morning.

Aldith had herself hugging her body for warmth and comfort that the blanket once provided last night. Wylie had herself warmly wrapped in a blanket, that definitely made her forget how cold the floor was.

Aldith stared at nothing in particular as she woke from her sleep, nothing but the fact that she was left without a blanket when she clearly remembered hugging it soon after kicking Wylie off the bed took up her mind.

She didn't kick Wylie off the bed to be a menace, she was one but that's not the point. Point being she was way too embarrassed and acted out of shock.

It would be shocking if you suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, a satisfied smile on your face only to be wiped clean as soon as you realise what exactly is so warm and soft—and lovely to hug.

Yes, Wylie wasn't the only hugger when they slept. Aldith had the same tendency and she was cuddling with Wylie. She had her hand grip on the fabric of her shirt held tightly, no ounce of space was between them and Wylie found her way past her shirt for some reason.

Some messed up reason.

Obviously she kicked her off the bed as soon as everything registered in her hazy brain. One thing for sure was she wrapped herself tightly and warmly in a blanket before going back to sleep—ignoring the guilt of being so harsh as her eyes grew heavy.

"I know you're awake."

"I'm not." Came Wylie's weak response from the floor. Her eyes remained shut and her body wrapped in a tight burrito blanket.

"You know—"

Wylie cut Aldith off. "You hugged me in your sleep then kicked me out of bed when I hugged you back. That's rude."

Aldith rolled her eyes, unbelievable—well, believable, what else would she expect from Wylie. "Your hand was on my breast!"

Aldith watched as Wylie slowly sat up from the floor, the blanket was still gracefully wrapped around her and she held onto it.

"I did that unconsciously."

That was a 50/50 possibility with Aldith completely ignoring the other 50, that would suggest it was unconsciously done—but who could blame her, the smirk Wylie had was proving otherwise.

"And how do you know?" Aldith squinted her eyes at the latter not believing a single thing that left her lips.

The smirk grew into a wide smile. "If I did that on purpose, I would have slept on your t**s—face down."

"You pervert!"

"I know right. I missed an opportunity." Wylie laughed as she got off the floor and stood on her feet, with a little stretch to relieve the tension in her body she added. "—but if it's not too late, I can do that now."

As soon as though words left Wylie's lips, as soon as she stood—Wylie found herself groaning in pain as her back hit the floor too fast with too much force. Two hands were around her throat and occasionally Aldith's free hair grazed her face, it was rather ticklish for her.

She happen to giggle, that didn't help her case at all.

"I will—"

"I don't mind being killed with such a pleasant view—I might already be dead right now." Wylie mumbled as her eyes traveled from Aldith's chest—which had been giving her a rather great view—to the girl's fierce glare.

Aldith could handle her later.

A groan from her she gripped her shirt closing all access Wylie had before and got off Wylie, pissed more than before.

Even more pissed when Wylie smacked the back of her head the minute she turned her back on her. "See you outside, Princess!" With that Wylie walked out, a bag in hand.

She had been so engrossed in arguing with her to not notice how Wylie didn't look like she had just woken up, she was dressed and her hair wasn't as a mess as hers.

Wylie literally woke up, got ready then harshly stole the blanket from a sleeping Aldith and waited for her to get up.

Aldith groaned as she fell face down on the bed, the day had just begun but she wasn't already ready to kill—murder—Wylie.

§

Standing in front of the horse Aldith tilted her head to the side watching as the witch approached her, a wide smile on her face.

She'd practically call Wylie's walk a happy dance, she was skipping like a child who had recently had a big jar of sugar.

Aldith stared at her in disbelief.

She had gotten ready but the minute she came out of the inn, their horse was unaccompanied—which meant Wylie wandered off somewhere and had to wait for her to return.

So for the past three minutes or so, Aldith watched as the sunrise higher and the sky brighten up.

Her eyes trailed down to the carefully packaged scorn she held in hand, something she didn't have before.

"I thought you'd be hungry." Wylie spoke as she handed Aldith the scorn, of course she was hungry and thus why she took it from her—a thank you, wasn't something she was planning on saying.

"You stole this?"

"You can't even trust me for a second!" Wylie snatched the scorn back, very harshly and too fast it also fell to the ground. "You can starve!"

"No!" Aldith protested snatching it back before Wylie bit into it. "This smells delicious." Bringing it to her lip, she took a large bite from it and damn was it the softest scorn she had ever had."—it is and you still stole this." Mumbled Aldith with a mouth full.

Her moment of sweet pleasure, from the scorn was cut short as a sharp pain was felt at the back of her neck.

Aldith hissed as glared at the person beside her over her shoulder. "What's wrong with you!"

"You are what's wrong with me."

"I will get on that horse and kick you with her hooves!"

"I'll steam you like hot scorns."

"What!" Aldith laughed out loud, her body fully turn towards Wylie who let her neck go from the strangling.

"I knew I was funny." Wylie smiled softly as she created a small fist, held up in success for the achievement.

It was kind cute, Aldith had to admit—she just wasn't going to do it verbally.

"You are not, you're far from it."

"You laughed at my joke."

A hum from her, Aldith asked. "Was it a joke or you didn't understand what you were trying to say either?" She carefully watched Wylie's reaction, which was a quick shrug and pursed lips.

"Qolis, what does the Princess want to do in the second city of Rven region?"

Wylie changed the subject, turning away from the princess to the horse. Aldith smiled and damn was she happy Wylie didn't see the stupid smile she had on because of her.

"Sightseeing, book seeing."

"The large library!"

"You read?" Her question held a bit more excitement than she intended it to, but she couldn't help it—she loved books too much.

Wylie nodded, glancing at the princess over her shoulder she had a smug smile. "Stole a book or two from there."

"I will ignore that."

"I hope you do, Princess."