The Paragon Antaris - a secret World of magic #2

The next morning, as I watched Ava and Bael welcoming all the children for the trip, I stood at the stairs of the mansion. Innia saw me and waved to me, and Nyllis also excitedly waved her little hand at me. I smiled at her; her excitement was just too cute, and the experience she would have would remain a fond memory for a lifetime. The trips we had as children with Aunt Ava and Uncle Bael were the best way to learn and have fun. I bet Nyllis will be wide-eyed when she sees the treehouse in the treetops and Devas tells them exciting stories around the campfire.

"Well, are you ready for your trip?" Vaell asked, suddenly standing next to me.

I jumped as he startled me because I was so lost in thought, and he laughed.

"I told Aidan we were coming, and he prepared everything I asked him for. I only told my mom and dad, who obviously loved the idea. Nobody else knows where we're going, so nobody gets any stupid ideas and suddenly wants to visit us," I said to Vaell.

"Now Miriel and I will accompany you since you don’t have an Amicus. Miriel will help you get to the island. And while we're there, we'll stay with her parents to do some training... and if you have another crisis, I'll be there," he said, laughing.

I took a look at him, and he burst out laughing. I shook my head laughing, even though I knew he was right. Nobody knows me like Vaell, and I knew I could always rely on him. He'll be on the other side of the island, but he would still be there for me in the blink of an eye if I needed him. He was, in fact, the best friend I ever had, and I was grateful for what he would do for me.

Ava called her Amicus Gea, who pulled the big school carriage with other unicorns and brought the children screaming and laughing on their adventure. I waved to Nyllis as she drove past us, and her eyes lit up with the excitement of the day ahead.

Innia came to us and greeted us, and Vaell explained to her where we were going. She was happy about it but still didn't seem to be completely fit, so her things were packed by servants and sent to the island with mine. As we walked through Antaris, Vaell talked while Innia listened to him with a smile, but I was deep in my thoughts and thinking about the upcoming conversation with Innia.

Innia's short dress and her long legs didn't make it any easier for me to stay focused, so I was quiet most of the time and tried not to show her what I was feeling. I had to explain to her about the bond that is only completed through physical contact, and I had no idea how I should do that. It wasn't about a kiss or touching but about the union of our bodies into one.

When we arrived at the beach, Miriel was waiting for us, and Innia seemed thrilled by the large dolphin-like Amicus she had.

"Oh Innia, you look great!" Miriel said as she greeted my mate in a hug.

She actually looked great, and I didn't say anything to her that made me feel bad now. But at the time, I didn't know what to say, so I decided not to say anything.

Miriel asked her Amicus for help, who brought me and Innia safely across the ocean on his back. I left enough space between us so that she didn't feel my excitement driving me crazy from her body. When we arrived at Bellatorum, we were faster than Miriel and even Vaell on his griffin, which Miriel's Amicus celebrated by jumping out of the water to show his joy.

Miriel and Vaell waved to us as they walked towards the training camp, and Uncle Aidan came towards them, also waving in our direction as he welcomed his daughter and greeted us.

"The house is ready for you. I hope you have fun, and let me know if you need anything else," said Uncle Aidan as he went to the camp with Vaell and Miriel.

We thanked him briefly and set off - it was a long walk.

I took Innia's hand in mine, and we walked along the beach, and she asked me about the fighters who were training. The longer we walked, the fewer people there were around us, and after a while, we were alone, surrounded by beautiful nature. I knew that Innia was still not fit because the dream walking from dream to dream had exhausted her energy, so I carried her the last bit to the house.

The conversation between us didn't seem to be going well, so I stayed silent and let Innia talk about the beauty of the island. When I brought her to the house and dropped her off, she stopped and looked at me. Her eyes were full of tears, and she seemed upset. I looked at her confused, not knowing what was going on.

"It's because of me, isn't it?" Innia asked me in a shaky voice.

I didn't know what she meant because she was laughing a short time ago, and now she was suddenly so upset.

"It's because of me and what you saw, isn't it? You haven't even been able to look at me properly since we got back, and yesterday you ran away from me when I came to. You're disgusted by me and what I was for years and..." she shouted angrily, and I interrupted her as I covered her mouth.

The pain and suffering she showed me because of my insecurities about our physical connection broke my heart. She thought that since I saw her in her dream, I had changed my feelings for her, even though I was behaving that way because I was afraid of losing her when she finds out that our bond is only sealed after we are one with soul and body.

She took a step back and looked at me angrily.

"Say it! Say you don't want me anymore, and I'll leave here as soon as my energy is back. Say it, and you'll never see me again! I don't need your compassion!" she shouted at me.

Her words were like a dagger in my heart, and I fell to my knees in front of her from the pain I felt.

All I wanted was to keep my promise and give my mate the time she needed to accept my love. And what I made of it is a mate who thinks that I don't want her anymore. The pain I felt in my heart also brought Innia on her knees, and she looked at me with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry, my angel if you thought that I didn't want you anymore. You are the only one I ever wanted and the only one I would ever want in my life," I said as I looked at her, tears falling from my eyes.

Innia put her hand over her heart and looked at me as if she was just now understanding.

"What I feel...these are your feelings for me?!" she asked and answered at the same time.

"Innia..I love you. I would die without you. Never say I don't want you again. You are everything I ever wanted. Everything you had to experience in the past is not your fault, and I would never be disgusted. You are the most valuable thing I have," I said.

"Say it again," she whispered.

"I love you," I repeated, knowing that she wanted to hear it again.

She looked at me and then hugged me, and for the first time, I felt that she could sense my feelings, and I held her as if she could disappear. I kissed her forehead and stroked her face with my fingers until I touched her lips. She leaned towards me, and for the first time, I touched her lips with mine. The kiss was tender and shy at first, but soon it became deeper, and the passion between us became clear.

I ended up on my back when things got too passionate, and Innia was on top of me, pressing her body against mine. The contact of her skin with mine awakened a volcano of feelings within me, which she also felt, moaning into my mouth as I gripped her body tightly. I felt her excitement and wetness through the thin underwear, and when she rubbed against me, she certainly felt mine too.

"Wait, Innia...we need to talk about something," I said as I broke our kiss, breathing heavily.

She looked at me curiously with those eyes that made every star fade. She was so beautiful I couldn't believe my luck, and before I did any more wrong, I decided to confess everything to her.

"Innia...the bond will only be complete when we are one. With body and soul. We have to unite physically in order to be completely connected mentally," I said to her, afraid of her reaction.

"I know," she answered me.

I looked at her in surprise and felt stupid for being so afraid of losing her...and she already knew it?

"I knew it from day one. The girls explained it to me when you left me alone with them before dinner," she explained.

"I was afraid of losing you if you found out, and I broke my promise or scared you off in some way," I said to her.

"I've learned to hide my feelings over all these years, and obviously I haven't shown you that my feelings for you are as strong as yours for me. I've wanted you since the first day I saw you, unconsciously why. But when I realized what mates are and I understood this, I knew that I loved you," she explained to me while caressing my face.

I looked at my mate as her shy demeanor fell apart in front of me, and she finally let me feel her feelings. "Say it again," I whispered.

"I love you," she said and kissed me again.