CHAPTER FOURTERN: FAUNA AND HER ILL MATE
Fauna fell to the ground and lay her back against the cold earth. She lacked the will to chase after Saber. She didnât even think he wanted to be around her.
He had run away twice. That had to be him telling her he clearly didnât want her around. Which was odd, seeing as he was complaining that she was never around him. What exactly did he want?
She stared up ahead at her blue orb of light and she let her thoughts wander. She missed a lot of things. She missed the sun most especially. True, when she was around Lyle, she didnât think about any other thing. That didnât mean she didnât care about other things.
Was she a bad person for wanting to let go even for a split second? Lyle helped her relax and dragons knew she deserved even a moment of
relaxation⦠But that wasnât Saberâs problem, was it? He was jealous. He wanted Lyle out of her life because he wanted to be the only one in her life.
That had to be the case, and if it were, then Saber was the selfish one.
Fauna sighed and placed both her hands on her chest as she continued to stare into the brightness of her orbs. She thought about how Saber had been incredibly sweet to her and how she literally owed him her life. He had saved her, protected her and left his dad, his home, to make sure she was safe.
Granted, she had thought he had done that because he saw her as his sister. He always referred to her as a sibling.
How was she supposed to know
he had feelings for her?
She also thought about Lyle. He was the sweetest and most thoughtful person she had ever met and her feelings for him were totally out of her control⦠Wait! Was that it? Did she only feel for him because it was predestined and she didnât have a choice? More importantly, did he only care about her because he had to? What if he didnât?
Fauna sighed deeply as more thoughts ran free in her head, causing her a dull migraine. She must have been laying there for an hour. She was sure everyone was in their resting caves. She should go too. It was cold and she could barely feel her fingers and toes anymore, but she couldnât move.
Suddenly, clothing materialized over her palms and feet like gloves and socks and Fauna hummed in thought as she raised her palms before her face.
It was covered in clothing the same material as what she wore and it felt so warm and soothing. She thought it was rather convenient.
She lay there for longer. She could feel so much emotions and power whirling within her. The full moon was at hand and she could feel the effect on her. It was rather suffocating. It was as though power greater than her was struggling to burst free.
Frustration bubbled within her and her mouth parted and she let out a loud scream. The sound echoed and was soon lost in the thick, cold darkness, but it did absolutely nothing to soothe her.
âWell, this is hopeless,â she muttered to herself and immediately, Lyleâs head appeared above her face, startling her.
âWhat is, dear one?â He was smiling at her and his short hair fell forward. His golden eyes were bright and filled with concern and love. Love that
Fauna feared was forced upon him.
What if he didnât really want her?
âPardon me if I scared you. It wasnât my intention.â He lay down beside her and stared above with her. âI was worried about you, which is why Iâm here. Then, I heard you scream.â
âIâll be fine.â Fauna didnât think she wanted to talk to him. The thought that his feelings for her were forced was stuck in her head and she just
couldnât look at him the same.
She sat up and hugged her knees as she stared at the ground. Her action caused Lyle to turn so he was lying on his side and staring at her.
âI know youâll be fine. Youâre strong. However, youâre not fine right now, so tell me why youâre restless and screaming into the night. Are you
practicing how to howl at the moon like a wolf?â
He grinned cheekily at her and despite all reservations, Fauna found herself chuckling at his joke. She wanted to be distant. She really did, but there was something about him that was just so relaxing.
âI have no intention of howling like a maniac,â she assured him.
âThen, youâre frustrated,â he noted and she sighed for what she thought was the hundredth time that night.
âI am,â she finally agreed.
âAnything I can help with?â
Typical of Lyle to offer help, but how exactly could she tell him that he was partly the cause of her frustration?
âCan love be controlled?â She decided to ask him. He moved locks of hair away from his face and behind her ears as he nibbled on his lower lip in thought.
âIâm afraid not. Iâm afraid weâre all helpless to the power of love. Is this because of Saber?â
Her eyes widened and her lips parted, but words didnât come out. He knew. He knew that Saber had feelings for her⦠Now that she was really paying attention, she noticed he smelt like Saber. Lyle had been around him and dragons knew what happened.
What if Saber went to pick up a fight? He was angry and tigers were not the most rational werefolks. Lyle didnât look hurt. Did that mean he hurt
Saber? She didnât think she would forgive him if he did.
âI just spoke to him. We were having quite the chat actually, but I advised him to retire so he could train early tomorrow,â Lyle continued, confusing Fauna even more.
He and Saber were having a conversation? And judging by his relaxed demeanour, it wasnât a hostile one. That didnât make sense though. Why would Saber angrily leave her only to go have a chat with the person he considered competition?
âWhat do you â what do you mean you were â Iâm confused.â Fauna shook her head as she tried to make sense of her mateâs words.
âWell, he tried to pick a fight with me, but I could see he was just upset. I donât blame him for being upset. He really likes you and I appear to be
getting in the way. I didnât want to fight him though. I was trained to only fight when absolutely necessary. Iâm basically royalty and mindless fighting is bad for my reputation. Moreover, heâs a good guy and I know you wouldnât want to see him hurt.â
âSo, you talked to him?â She said in disbelief, still struggling to wrap her head around the idea of Saber and Lyle having a decent conversation. It just didnât seem plausible.
âIndeed. Why is that so unbelievable? Iâm charming.â He grinned widely, revealing his perfectly arranged teeth.
Fauna couldnât argue with that. He was rather charming.
âWe talked, and we even got along. I wouldnât call us friends, but I think we could get there⦠If he doesnât consider that awkward, that is.â
Lyle was unbelievable. There was no way someone could be as perfect and understanding as he was. It just wasnât possible for someone to be that affectionate and not know how to hold a grudge.
âIt doesnât bother you that he has feelings for me?â She enquired and Lyle shrugged as he sat up beside her and threw an arm around her shoulder.
As always, his skin was cool to the touch.
âIs it supposed to?â
Fauna furrowed her brows at the question. For someone who knew so much about feelings, he didnât seem to understand some things. He was
always calm and collected, always happy and cheerful. How was that possible? Or was he faking it? Was it that he didnât truly care about her so it didnât really bother him that someone else liked her?
âIâm your mate and someone else has feelings for me. Someone I couldnât possibly abandon. Someone thatâs one of the most important persons in
my life.â
Lyle said nothing. Instead, he placed his free hand against the earth and Fauna felt a slight quake before it started moving. He held onto her a little tighter as the earth levitated so she didnât fall. He was silent as they move towards her cave. She noticed everywhere was dark and quiet. She was right. Everyone had retired for the night.
When they were inside her room and seated on the bed, Fauna turned expectantly to Lyle. She was still waiting for his response.
He smiled warily at her and reached a palm towards her face with which he used to move a stray lock of hair away from her cheek.
âLove, when youâre in love with someone, all you want is to see them happy. Even if it isnât with you. You know Saber better than you know me, I wouldnât be surprised if you chose him.â
âBut I donât want to have to have to choose,â she firmly stated, shaking her head. âI really donât.â
âI know, dear one.â Lyle leaned closer to her and pressed his lips against her forehead which caused her eyes to involuntarily flutter close. He leaned his forehead against hers and she smiled at the coolness he provided. âYou should get some rest now.â
Fauna nodded and let out a yawn as Lyle pulled away from her. With his help, she crawled underneath her covers and stared at her mate who was watching her with those warm gold eyes that held more affection than she thought she deserved.
He jumped off the bed and started to leave, but Fauna sat up and called out to him. In response, he turned to face her once more, a brow raised in
wonder.
âWhat is it, dear Fauna?â He gently asked her and she nibbled shyly on her lower lip as she thought of how to phrase her request.
She wasnât accustomed to spending the night by herself and she most definitely didnât feel like doing so, but she didnât know how to tell her merman that.
âUhm⦠Well, I was â actually, Iâ¦â she trailed off and slapped her palms over her face in embarrassment.
âYou can ask me anything, you know this, right?â Lyle took a step towards her and Fauna peeked at him from between her fingers.
âCould you stay with me?â Her words were muffled against her palms, but Lyle heard her just fine. He glanced towards the entrance of her room,
then back at her.
Faunaâs hope fell. He didnât want to stay. He was going to turn her down.
However, and much to her surprise, his face lit up and a huge grin appeared on his face.
âOf course, my dear one.â He eased himself unto the bed and pulled Fauna into a comfortable embrace.
That night, she fell asleep in the arms of her mate, and it was easily the best sleep she had ever had.
Unfortunately, Lyle couldnât say same.
He looked down at his mate who was nuzzled against him, her body rising and falling as she took slow and steady breaths. She was so beautiful.
Lyle wanted nothing more than to kiss the girl. He wanted nothing more than to feel her soft lips against his once more, but he had bigger problems at that moment.
He looked down at his arm that was around her and immediately, the sleeve of his cloth disappeared, allowing his pale and cracking
skin to show.
His breaths were heavy and slightly wheezy. He tried to move away from her, but she stirred in her sleep and only moved closer to him, mumbling under her breath before she drifted off again.
Lyle let his head fall to the bed and he just stared at the lights floating above them. The lights that were now significantly darker so they could sleep.
He couldnât sleep though. He was in pain and he needed to get into the water.
How could he have left her though? She had asked him to stay while she looked at him with those innocent grey eyes. How could he deny his mate anything?
The air felt heavier and Lyle felt like someone was sitting on his chest, smouldering the air out of him. He grunted quietly as he focused what energy he had left on breathing. His body was trying to heal him, but it was rapidly draining his energy. He almost laughed at himself and the things heâd do for love. He couldnât help it though, and he didnât think he wanted to.
All he could do was close his eyes and try to breathe through the pain.
~~~
Oh no! My baby is in pains! ð¢
I just love writing LylexFauna scenes. Do you like reading them?