The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 151: Why Him?

The flickering fire cast dancing shadows on the rough, curved walls, its crackling the only sound breaking the forest’s hushed silence. The temperature was mild, the fire’s warmth creating a cozy contrast to the chill that crept in from the outside.

Jerrick’s gaze was steady, his concern palpable as he watched her. The mood was somber yet charged with an undercurrent of unresolved emotions, a mix of confusion and relief.

"You don’t realize?" he asked. His voice was low, almost a whisper.

"Realize what?" Jessamyn asked, her brows raised.

"It’s not just anyone, Jessamyn," he said, his green eyes boring into hers. "When you were in danger, you called for me. Not anyone else. Me."

Jessamyn blinked, her mind racing to process his words. She remembered the dream, the feeling of warmth, and calling his name.

His hand reached out to clasp hers. "There’s something between us, something more than just physical. You know it too, deep down."

Jessamyn looked down at their intertwined hands, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. Fear, confusion. He talked about connection. It surely was not love. If it was not love, then what was it?

"How am I not affected? Shouldn’t I be dead? Why am I still alive?"

"I felt a connection so deep when we were together. Did you not feel it? You were using me to heal yourself. There is something about you, Jessamyn. Haven’t you realized it yet? What else did you see in your dream, Jessamyn? Think. There should be an answer."

Jerrick surely was confused. He managed to get the leeches off, but her pulse was barely there when she called for him. The moment he touched her, the moment his lips contacted hers, he felt the change.

His energy drained as he moved inside her, replenishing her energy. He saw color return to her face. He was more than happy to give her what she craved, what she needed, to be her lifesaver. She had to know something because she held onto him until she got better.

Jessamyn let out a deep breath as she pondered. Could he be right? Was there something more between them, something she had been too afraid to acknowledge?

"I don’t know," she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. "I don’t know what to believe."

Jerrick took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving hers. He gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Believe in what you feel," he said softly.

"You’re drawn to me because we share something deeper, something more profound than either of us can fully comprehend. It’s not love; we know that. Also, it’s not just about survival or primal instincts. You called my name and surrendered your body to me because, deep down, you know that I am the one who can bring you back from the brink."

She frowned, her mind racing. She did turn her back to Joar in her dream and turned her attention toward Jerrick. She was distracted by the wolf, and she searched for Jerrick.

"But Joar..."

"Joar is gone," Jerrick interrupted gently, his hold on her hand tightened. "And maybe, in some way, he led you to me. Maybe he knew that I could protect you, that I could save you."

Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she felt a mixture of grief and anger. She knew Joar was gone. She knew she wasn’t ready to die yet. It was probably why she looked for Jerrick and not Joar.

She hated that Jerrick had figured out her reluctance to die. She hated herself for valuing her life more.

She didn’t like that he talked as if he knew Joar. Jerrick knew nothing about Joar. Joar wouldn’t have liked it if she was with another man. He was possessive of her.

"I am not going to forget him," she said, gritting her teeth, not to show her anger at Jerrick, but to reaffirm her resolve.

"You don’t have to," Jerrick said, wiping her tears with his thumb. "But he’s not here, Jessamyn... He’s not here... I am."

Jessamyn pushed his hand away. Her tears flowed freely. Joar was not with her, and she was too scared to join him already. She was indeed stuck with Jerrick. Was it fate?

Jerrick noticed that she was starting to get stressed. He covered himself and helped her cover up. "We’ll stay here for the night and start the journey in the morning. Have some rest..."

Jessamyn watched him getting dressed. She turned her back to him and curled up on the soft blanket he had spread for her. She couldn’t fall asleep as she thought about what Jerrick said.

Even if she had something special about her, why did she look for him for healing? The only people who had the ability to heal themselves were the shapeshifters—the Theodulf family. Jerrick was not a shifter, that much was sure.

She held her breath as Jerrick lay behind her. Without any hesitation, he scooted closer to her and placed his arm casually on her waist. He acted smoothly as if that was how they slept their whole life.

"Why you?" she asked, wanting to clear her doubt. "What’s so special about you? Is it witchcraft? Are you manipulating and controlling me?" She asked.

With each question, she knew she was descending into madness, but she asked anyway. She wanted to see how he reacted.

"I can never hurt you, Jessamyn," he pulled her closer to his chest. His voice resounded in her ear as he spoke. "I am not going to touch you without your consent."

His voice was clear as he meant it. He held her gently, not as a possession, but as a protector, someone who cared deeply for her well-being. Jessamyn could feel the sincerity in his words, and it caused a pang of guilt to tug at her heart.

She took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. The tension slowly began to ebb away, replaced by a strange sense of security she rarely felt in a long time. Despite the confusion and fear swirling in her mind, Jerrick’s presence was undeniably soothing.

"I don’t understand any of this," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why do I feel this way? Why do you make me feel safe?"

A drop of tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes. "Why you? Out of all the men... Why is it you, the one who broke my heart?" she mumbled under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper.

He probably didn’t hear her, but he didn’t answer. Instead, his hold on her tightened, his embrace becoming a fortress against the fears and doubts that plagued her mind.

In the forest, home to dangerous beasts and venomous snakes, she fell into a deep slumber in his embrace.

She knew she was safe with him.