hold of my chin and forced my head up, before telling me,
“Please, just indulge me in this, Amelia.” I released a sigh before opening my mouth ready to tell him that I wasn’t hungry, when my stomach took the opportunity to growl. Lucius raised a knowing brow at me, as if daring me to continue to try and deny it after my treacherous body had just sided with him.
“Fine, look see… happy?” I asked after fishing out a biscuit style bread and taking a big bite.
“Indeed,” he replied in that knowing tone I was used to this word being combined with.
“Now, stay here, eat and drink, and I'll be back in a moment,” he told me, and instead of making some joke about not being his breakable human pet anymore, I took note of his tense jaw and decided to cut him some slack.
“Where are you going?” I asked instead.
“I have to give orders to my men, and the army,” he replied with his tone tense, and again it was as if he was waiting for something to happen. Did he fear an ambush? Maybe it was just because we were so close to getting home and he wanted to get us both there without a hitch. I mean, it wasn’t as though he was being paranoid here as that damn witch had been like a bad penny!
So, I watched him walk away, leaving me to try and not over analyse that bad feeling in my gut, instead trying to convince myself it would be fine. But then, with every bite I took of the strange Fae bread, it was like swallowing lumps as it sat like lead in my stomach. Not that it was the bread per say, one that was a cross between a rich tea biscuit and a scone in the shape of a grape leaf. No, it was because it was like trying to force yourself to eat when all you wanted to do was throw up with worry and anxiety. That sinking feeling like a snake was coiling tighter around in my belly, but one that I just knew was getting ready to strike me at any moment.
Something was wrong,
I just knew it.
A few minutes later, I was brushing the crumbs from my dress and smacking the cork back into the flask after downing the contents. At least the water had helped in stopping me from feeling so nauseated and maybe Lucius had been right, perhaps I had needed to eat something. Speaking of whom, I looked up and this time found him speaking to the McBain brothers, who were looking grim.
“Now what is that about, I wonder?” I muttered to myself with a frown after first watching Lucius nodding his approval at them. The brothers then approached me, so I stood ready, having a feeling that dreaded time had come. In fact, it was why I had to look down a moment and cough back my emotion before looking back up to find three handsome, rugged faces each wearing the same expression… dejection.
“I guess this is the part where we say goodbye,” I said, being the first one to say it and trying not to let my voice break.
“Aye lass, that wull be th' gist o' it,” Gryph answered.
“I guess this means going back to a peaceful life for the three of you, especially now you don't have to save my ass anymore,” I said, trying to make light of the situation, even though it felt as if I was trying to force the emotion down my throat as I could feel the tears being held prisoner in my eyes.
“Mi’lady, aiding you in your troubles has been an honour we will hold within our hearts for the rest of our lives,” Vern said, making me smile, as my vision blurred.
“I guess posh Vern is yet to wear off,” I commented making him grin.
“It is indeed.” At this he lowered to one knee, and at the same time swung his bow around to plant on the floor. Then he put both hands to the top and bowed his head to me.
“Oh no… you don’t…” My protests were cut off when he told me,
“You will always have my bow and own my loyalty, Princess.” Then he stood finding tears in my eyes that I still would not let fall.
“I will miss you, Vern,” I told him after swallowing hard. He cleared his throat and took a step back so that Gryph could take his place. This