>>Amber

His hand slid lower, under the hem of my dress, his fingers brushing the sensitive skin of my thigh.

!!

The heat from his touch sent a jolt through me, and my breath hitched, anticipation building inside me like a coil ready to snap. I could feel his hunger, the way his body pressed into mine, and I knew where this was going.

Part of me wanted it, desperately.

But then, a flicker of doubt flashed through me—a mix of nervousness and fear.

My heart raced, not just with excitement, but with something else, something that made me feel vulnerable. The warmth of his hand crept higher, and without thinking, my body flinched. My hand shot down, covering his, stopping his fingers just as they slipped under the fabric of my dress.

Hael froze instantly.

The kiss broke, the heat between us dissipating in an instant as he pulled back slightly, his lips hovering just inches from mine. His breath was ragged, matching mine, but he didn't move. His hand stayed where it was, beneath mine, completely still.

He looked at me, staring as if he was observing me.

My mind raced. Had I done something wrong? Had I ruined the moment? The fear that had been bubbling in the back of my mind surged to the surface. I couldn't look at him, my eyes dropping to the floor as I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my ears. I was terrified that he might pull away, that the spark between us would be lost in the hesitation I had caused.

But instead of frustration or disappointment, Hael's response was gentle. I felt the warmth of his lips press against my forehead in a soft, reassuring kiss.

??

I was not expecting that.

His hand slid out from under my dress, and he brought both of his hands to cradle my face.

??

The tenderness in his touch soothed the panic building in my chest.

"It's fine," He whispered, his voice calm and steady, so unlike the intensity of moments before. "We don't have to rush anything. Not until you're ready."

Oh...

The tension in my body began to melt away at his words, and I felt a rush of relief wash over me. I looked up at him, my eyes searching his, still afraid I had somehow ruined everything.

But there was no anger, no impatience in his gaze—just understanding.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, my heart still racing, but for a different reason now. "I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I wasn't sure why I was apologizing, but the words slipped out before I could stop them.

Hael shook his head slowly, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks ever so gently. "You don't have to be sorry, Orenya," He was calm, "I know better than anyone what it feels like to be forced." He got up from the bed, his hands slipping away from my face as he got ready to walk away.

My heart dropped

Ah...

"I wasn't- it wasn't forced," I had to clarify it, "I just need to be slightly prepared." I pinched my index finger and thumb together. After all, the last time we did it I was drunk out of my mind and now I'm fully awake!

I don't mean to say I want to get drunk and do it, I want to remember every single moment but I just need a little time. Some mental preparation.

Hael just smiled back at me, "You don't have to explain it. If you don't want it, that's enough to stop."

"I do want it!" I said, "I definitely do!" He chuckled in return but didn't say anything. I felt a little embarrassed after that, "Say," I was still a little flustered, "Even with your past memories..."

"Hmm?" He picked the papers up and then looked at the tray he had brought me. Until that point I hadn't realized that he had pushed it away with magic so it wouldn't spill on the bed.

"You're telling me, you love a villain?" I was a pretty big villain in his life.

He grabbed the tray and gave it to me as he smiled, "Yes,"

"Why?"

He looked at me as I took the tray from him, our faces inches apart "Because you are my Villain."

!!!

He made my heart skip a beat. I felt such a sudden rush of shyness that I looked down as my face flushed red and he backed away.

That's when I noticed it

"Wait," I looked up at him again as he walked to the table and placed the bundle of papers there, "Who changed my clothes?" I had never seen this silk gray dress before in my life. I looked at Hael,

"Hmm?"He looked back at me, "Who do you think?"

...

I let out a nervous laugh, "May, probably?" Now, I had an inkling who it really was, but I didn't want to admit it.

His face went blank, but I could tell he was annoyed, "Why would I let anyone else change your clothes?"

...

My already flushes face went further red

I got it, he meant to say he did it himself!

GOD!!!

"Because May is a female like me!!" I said

"Doesn't matter," He said, "I won't allow it even if it's a female."

...

I blinked at him in awe and he walked back to me.

"I will not allow it." He said in a low tone, "All of you is mine. Mine to see. Mine to touch." I looked down as I felt like all of it was too much for me, but he placed his index finger under my chin and pulled my face up, making me look at him,, "All of you," I gulped as our gaze met, "You may not be obsessed with me anymore but I am." I think my heart is going to stop.

How do I tell this man that I am obsessed with him too? I have never stopped loving him!

I could feel the heat in my cheeks spreading all over my body. He had stunned me yet again. I felt like my inside was boiling because of how worked up he got me.

The way my heart drummed. It felt like it would explode. He noticed and then he snickered, but he didn't say anything, he straightened up as he backed away and then he walked back to see the papers he brought back.

My Gosh!!!

This man!! Oh My God! What the hell happened that he's suddenly like this?!? Did someone put magic on him!?

What happened in the past timeline??! I stared at him, at his back as he sorted the papers out.

I bit my lower lip, my heart still drumming in my chest as I felt butterflies in my stomach.

I can't believe we got to this point. I pursed my lips. This is like a dream!

I put the tray aside and got off the bed.

But why should he be the only one who gets to tease me?

"Hael!" I called him as I approached him. He turned his face towards me and as soon as he did I cupped his cheeks, tiptoed to get a little taller and then kissed the tip of his nose

He stiffened. His eyes went wide for a moment at my action.

He stared at me. Then blinked once and then continued to stare.

I let him go and took a step back, "What's wrong?" I asked.

His furrowed his eyebrows, "Do it again," He said

I ended up chuckling, "Why?" I felt like I had an upper hand now.

"It felt weird." He said softly

"It felt weird?" I raised my brow at him

"Like... Good weird."

My smile widened, "No," I wanted to tease him too. So I turned around to leave. I don't think he realized that I was just teasing him but he ended up pouting a little at my refusal. He looked down at the paper he was holding in disappointment.

He then clicked his tongue softly and looked away when I chose to surprise him. I turned around when he looked away, grabbed his face again and gave him another nose kiss

!!!

"Hehe," Then I let him go and backed away, leaving him stunned once again.

Then his expressions changed slowly and softly, turning into a smile.

"Yes," He said, "I definitely like this." My heart fluttered warmly at his words. I stood there and looked back at him.

"Say, I'm curious." I said

"About what?" He asked

"You seem like a whole different person," I couldn't help but be amazed, "You said you recalled your memories, but what happened in those memories that you-" I had to put it in the right words, "That you can express yourself this nicely."

His gaze lowered as he replayed stuff in his mind, "I guess anyone would be curious about it. Though I don't plan on showing other people this side of me." He raised his eyes and looked at me, "The feelings that I shut off when my mother first abandoned me. Einar helped open them up."

???

"Einar?"

"Yes, Einar." He said, "Enya Wellington's twin brother." When he said his name, there was a look of relief on his face.

"Oh!" I nodded, "Seems like you and Einar got really close."

He smiled, "Maybe... But we didn't have enough time."

I placed my hand on my other arm and rubbed it softly, "A lot must have happened after my death."

Hael turned his head and looked out the window, "Yes," Far beyond the city's buildings, beyond the shield where miasma had taken the ground completely.

It was heavy looking at that.

I looked back at Hael, his eyes were still lingering outside. I originally wanted to go North and talk to Enya because I wanted to learn about the past, but I guess I can just ask Hael about it.

"Hael?" He looked back at me when I called his name

"Yes?" He's always so polite with his words.

"You turned back time for me," I was thinking about it, "But I was so bad to you in the original timeline." I asked softly, "Then why?"

"Because there was a reason I fell in love with you."

"Yes?"

"It's regardless of the timelines. Because in both times, that part of our lives did not change." He seemed confident, " I fell for you for a reason and when I recalled that I chose to believe in the good you have."

I blinked at him, "There was a time I was good?" I can only recall the times I was a complete ass to him.

"You don't remember?" His smile was rather sarcastic, "I remember," He said, "Each and every single day."