Music recommendation: Realization by Borrtex on Spotify.
As the night slowly ticked by. Leo was dressed and back at the camp. Everything was left untouched, with some rations left on the side that Lyra had yet to finish.
He held his chest as his erratic beating heart was still present. He furrowed in puzzlement at the unrecognizable feeling. His breathing was heavy, like he had undergone a training regimen.
When was the last time he ever felt raw desire? Giving in to sensual pleasure.
Never in his long life of walking on this plane has he ever lost himself to that extent. He had an inkling that his cursed mark awakened his demented side, causing him to lose control and rationality.
He ran his tongue over the front of his teeth, feeling sharp canines graze him. He darkened at the discovery he had lost another part of himself. He was becoming what he dreaded and wanted to blame the woman he nearly ravaged.
He released a heavy sigh as he steadied his breathing. He ran his fingers through his silky white hair and closed his eyes to calm himself, but the image of Lyra beneath him stirred him once more, and he growled under his breath. She was captivating, and the eyes that held innocence yet defiance challenged his authority.
Every time he stared into those aquamarine eyes, he felt his being gravitate toward them and simultaneously dominate them. He recalled the exhilarating feeling of running his fingers through her delicate skin and the sparks that electrified him. The scent of her left him enamored. Her moans of ecstasy drove him senseless.
What in Eden's grace was she doing to him?
Leo grunted in disbelief. He was a man of valor and dignity! He may have lost his grace, but he still had a moral conscience. He shouldn't be mixing business with pleasure. He chided himself on the task at hand.
Realizing he left her in the water, he would need to go and retrieve her. Leo had turned to head back to the woods but halted as Lyra stepped out and walked to the fire. He was stunned and felt his heart still—Damn you, treacherous heart!
Her clothes stuck to her skin as she clutched her arms protectively. Her eyes seemed puffy and distant. She walked past Leo without engaging him and sat by the fire. Her body shivered, and she raised her hands above the fire, easing into the warmth.
Leo managed to compose himself as he turned to face her. He stood a couple of feet away from her. He sat across from her, his right leg curled on the ground while the other was folded to support his arm. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by her sneezing.
Lyra sniffled as she groaned irritably; she prayed a fever wouldn't surface after tonight; she already felt miserable. To make matters worse, she couldn't escape from him.
After a long moment of silence and dry enough from the fire, fatigue gripped Lyra and decided to turn in for the night. She tucked into her bedroll and cocooned herself with just the tips of her hair peeking out.
Leo flustered over the fact he couldn't utter a single word. He was riddled with guilt. He breathed through his nose as he closed his eyes, compiling the right words.
"I…" Leo paused; he felt tongue-tied for some reason.
'Pull yourself together.' Leo compelled internally.
"I apologize."
Lyra shifted, debating whether to face reality or hide in shame. If one heard the tone of his voice, it sounded half-hearted. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head, propping an elbow as she turned to face him.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips as she stared at her. Leo's expression was genuine, something she didn't realize he had in him. He was always subtle, but the chaotic night they both shared left her bitter.
She brushed it off coolly as she closed her eyes, "It's nothing, Leo…Let's forget this ever happened and not complicate matters."
"I'm tired and wish to rest." Ending the conversation, Lyra hunched back to her sleeping position with her back facing him.
Lyra hoped things could be civil as Leo would prefer her as she was a means to an end. She reminded herself he was a world away from her; she could never reach him. She needed to draw the line and protect her heart from any more issues.
Leo nodded, satisfied with the outcome of her understanding. However, why did he feel the subtle disappointment? It was strange. He needed to reign in on his self-control. Vigilant and indifferent.
His obsession with redemption was close, and he couldn't change course. Being welcomed back to the life he yearned for was days away, which uplifted his spirits. He stared at the night sky above; the moon gleamed as the small cluster of stars shined. Peace reigned the surroundings as the night carried on.
The next day, they broke camp and resumed their travel. Lyra was quiet and compliant, and Leo was indifferent in his usual way.
Eventually, the couple made it to the next village, Searingham, a relatively large village that settled at the border between Eden and Evrax. Leo guided the horse to an inn and had his steed taken to the stables by the staff.
The inn was impressive, two stories high, and the décor wasn't grand but welcoming for weary travelers like themselves.
Leo was hooded as he kept his white hair and red eyes hidden. He approached the innkeeper. Lyra didn't want to stray from him and followed him to the desk.
The innkeeper was a feline humanoid creature; his fur was black with a white crosspatch between his brows. Small glasses settled on his nose as he looked at the logs of his bookkeeping. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't realize the two figures standing before him until their shadow covered the light.
The innkeeper twitched its ear as his sharp green eyes peered at the new customers; he held a bored expression. He pawed under his chin as he lazily shifted the book to the side and drawled,
"Welcome to the Whisker Haven Lodge…" He yawned, "Where we 'cat-ter' to purrrfection," the innkeeper cringed at the end.
Lyra muffled a suppressed laugh as she tried to hide it with a cough.
"What can I do for you?" The innkeeper rolled his eyes, irritated by the human female already.
Leo pulled two silver coins from his pocket and placed them on the desk, "We would like two lodgings with food sent to our rooms for the night," He said.
The innkeeper gleamed at the coins but halted from taking them,
"I regret to inform you we only have one room available as we are filled at full capacity," the innkeeper informed. "But we can accommodate three meals for you both for three silvers."
Cunning as a cat, as they would say, when it comes to negotiating, Leo didn't care. He chucked another silver coin at the feline humanoid, and the black cat pawed at the shiny coin mid-air before catching it. The innkeeper's green eyes twinkled with greed, and they pocketed the coins.
The innkeeper gave a well-rehearsed toothy grin, "Now then, if you will kindly follow me," he spoke enthusiastically; he leaped over the desk and pranced toward the stairs. His black tail swished with a slight curl at the tip.
Lyra was skeptical about the transaction. Did they get swindled over one room? She narrowed her gaze at the sly cat. She reached for Leo's cloak to gain his attention, but the man already started walking away from her, with her being left behind.
'Fine! If he wants to be robbed blindly, why should I care,' Lyra huffed. She reluctantly followed them up the stairs.
The innkeeper led them down a long, dimly lit hallway with doors on each side, halting at the end. He twirled around, pocketed his right paw, and pulled out a ring of keys. He fiddled with one as he scrutinized which key it was to unlock the door before him. By the third attempt, there was a click, and he swung the door and smiled in relief.
"Your room, good sir," He bowed. "Your meals will be sent to you momentarily."
The room was simple. A large bed with worn sheets at the center, a small desk flushed against the wall, and two half-used candles on its surface. The window was dusty, and a curtain was torn at the edge. Lyra furrowed in discomfort.
'This is worth three silvers?' She scoffed mentally.
The couple strode into the room, and Lyra sat on the bed; a puff of dust wafted in the air, which made her sneeze.
The innkeeper gripped the door handle and reminded gleefully, "And thank you for staying at the Whisker Haven Lodge."
The door shut, and silence settled. Lyra sniffled and had the urge to sneeze again, but the awkwardness between them made it unsettling.
Achoo!
'Why was the Creator punishing me?' Lyra internally screamed.