Heart Over Sword
Chapter 184: The Vow

Chapter 184: The Vow

Arawn was quiet for a moment, making Evanna bite inside her mouth, still avoiding his gaze. "*I am sorry to hear about your mother.*" He caressed her cheek and tilted her chin to look at him. Evanna released a quivering breath upon seeing his features gentle; his eyes were not full of anger or malice. "*I must confess, though.. I am struggling with the idea that you know the uses of the gem, something that I do not. Only a few knew of its existence.*"

Evanna looked to the side, feeling his scepticism like a small wound in her chest. It was hard to believe she knew, but out of everyone, she didn’t think Arawn would-

"*Hey,*" Arawn steered her face back to him. "*I never said I didn’t believe you. You are a clever woman and more courageous than most men to follow down a path to near death to claim a Flori’s gem. But.." His face leaned closer to hers, and she gulped in response, although the Prince paused before her. "I know that everything you do is for love.*"

Arawn lowered his gaze to her lips that were parted from her soft, shallow inhalation due to their closeness. Evanna’s eyes followed suit, sliding down to look at the curve in his lips. Clearing his throat, Arawn stepped back and released her face from his hands. The enchantment was broken, but although she knew how close they were to kissing, Evanna’s eyes were still glazed over. It was with great effort to look away from Arawn’s lips.

"*Do you have proof with you? I would like to see what led you on this journey to me,*" Arawn asked, completely snapping her out of whatever temptations clouded her thoughts.

The Princess straightened at his words. Proof. Evanna smiled, "*All the proof you need is in my bag.. Ah, but my bag is in the tent.*" That would be problematic if there is indeed a time limit to that spell cast above them in the camp.

Arawn paused for a moment, his gaze rising to look behind her and then back down to her face once more. "*You remembered to bring your swords and any other manner of weaponry yet not your bag,*" He drawled, his expression turning amused.

"*It would not deem a proper kidnapping without a little fighting spirit.. Bringing my belongings along is as good as holding my hands out, waiting for you to tie me up,*" Evanna exclaimed, inciting a quiet chuckle from the Prince.

They stared at each other, smiling in amusement, then slowly, the corners of their lips slid down. It was as though something crackled and changed in the air around them, along with a rising tension Evanna could not quite comprehend. She could hear her heart pounding so loudly she worried Arawn might hear it revealing her nervousness. Although he had put some distance between them, changing the subject, it was now Evanna who followed her feet, urging her towards him.

Evanna inhaled sharply after reading Arawn’s surprised expression; it was then she realised her hands had gone up the Prince’s arms of their own volition. She could see now the struggle behind Arawn’s eyes, as though he was holding himself back. He had been teasing her for so long, all the while she was figuring out if it was all a part of a game or to get the information he needed from her.

But tonight, Arawn’s words and touch comforted her, yet after facing Conrad again, she was starting to feel wary once more. Evanna dropped her gaze; she would put an end to it now. Whatever doubts she was beginning to think about them, she would find out now if there was even a ’them’. One way or another, if Arawn was just using tricks to get what he wanted, then she would now know by his following actions, and she would act in response.

"Evanna?" Arawn called her, leaning forwards and peering into her eyes. There was concern in his voice, and it made her lower lip quiver. She bit it to stop the action and stared back at him.

Tell him the rest.

"*The gem is no longer in my possession nor my comrades.*" Arawn inhaled sharply, and she could see his eyes becoming icy. Still, Evanna held his gaze while her hands slid down his arms, her stance subtly drooping as her heart pinched in pain. "*I was betrayed,*" She whispered, lowering her gaze in guilt. It was her fault for putting that trust in Cilv. It really was.

Arawn grasped Evanna’s hands in his before she completely lost contact with his body. Evanna looked back at him, her eyes widening at the resolution behind his eyes. "*Do not fear me, Evanna. Yes, the gem is mine, but I will do all that I can to get it back to you so you can help your mother.*" His hands squeezed hers gently, and her lips parted in shock.

That was precisely what she wanted to hear. Could she trust him?

"*You have my word.*" Arawn then spoke in a language she did not understand, yet a few words were similar to the elven tongue. Evanna gaped at him, and then her eyes lowered as his thumb grazed the inside of her wrist. Her eyes widened at the slight blue glow and the feeling of cold ice crawling over her wrist as a small pattern formed on her skin. It was like an ink of ice blue forming a geometric configuration of symbols swirling around into the shape of a small tree with roots.

It was like the Flori emblem. Did the Prince just put a tattoo on her?! But something told her it was not the case; she felt a thrumming of power coming off the ink.

"*What have you done?*" Evanna whispered, staring dumbfounded at her inked wrist.

Arawn slid his hand up to her face and tilted her head to look at him. "*I want you to trust me, Evanna. This is an ancient custom, one lost to time, but only a few know of. If I break this vow, then I will die,*" He replied calmly, as though his words were that simple.

Evanna gasped; she had no doubt that what he spoke of was true. She could feel the power radiating off her skin. "*Arawn, you fool!*" She beat his chest with her fist, but there was no strength behind it even though she felt frustrated.

A tear formed at the corner of her eye, and she clenched them shut, leaning her head against his chest. "*How could this possibly help you? How.. I don’t understand.. This helps me. Why? Why will you help me?*" Evanna looked up at him, ignoring how their bodies touched and the goosebumps forming on her skin.

"*Do you really need to ask me that? You already know, my dear,*" Arawn’s quiet response resonated in her, the warmth of his words pooling into her chest.

Evanna’s heart soared at everything that had just taken place. Arawn vowed to her that he would help her, that he would help her mother. He has put his life on the line to prove to her he could be trusted. It was heartbreaking at the same time that he needed to go to such lengths, but now all her doubts about him had fled. About... these feelings.

Evanna bit the inside of her cheek as her emotions seemed to pour out of her like a bleeding heart. They were overwhelming, and it was all because of Arawn. Time seemed to stand still with only glowing butterflies fluttering around them. Evanna continued to stare back into Arawn’s mesmerising eyes, her hands tentatively grasping the collar of his shirt, and she gulped.

The forest itself seemed to quieten, the air holding its breath as the pair standing on the fallen tree under the filtered moonlight stared at one another in wonder. Evanna went onto her tiptoes and lost her balance, clumsily leaning into him and clasping tighter onto his shirt with widened eyes. Arawn smirked, his eyes softening, and he leaned down, one hand wrapping around her waist, steadying her while the other caressed her cheek.

His lips were inches from hers as he searched her eyes. Evanna tilted her chin slightly, silently giving permission. Arawn smirked again. "*I need to hear you say it, Evanna,*" He whispered.

Evanna blinked, her dazed expression turning to one of confusion until a memory flashed across her mind. "*I want..*" She gulped, then steeled herself and confidently said, "*Kiss me.*"

Arawn’s face lit up in joy, surprising Evanna. "*Gladly,*" He purred and brushed his lips against hers. A delightful shudder rippled through her, and she felt her legs go weak at the tenderness of his lips pressed against hers.

Arawn’s grip around her waist tightened, and a rush of heat delved in between her thighs. Evanna made a small groan making her eyes widen in shock. But then her lips pushed back against Arawn’s; she wanted more and felt the slight tug of his lips turning up in amusement. But before she could feel embarrassed, Arawn’s lead melted her unease. His hand slid into her hair and gently tilted her head to the side, delving his tongue into her parted, gasping lips.

The sensation was euphoric; her thighs tightened together as she felt his tongue brushing against hers, coaxing hers into following his lead until she became more confident. Evanna shuddered against him, feeling feverish, her skin scorching underneath his touch.

Arawn pulled away ever so slightly and gazed into her eyes, enchanting her further. But Evanna’s slight breathlessness and weakened limbs made her cheeks heat and turn into a rosy hue. Never had she felt so weak before. Did all men kiss like that?

His confident features and searing gaze told her otherwise. No, this was all Arawn. Her hand slowly went to her lips as she stared back at the intensity of Arawn’s gaze.

"*What now?*" She breathed.