Omega's Rebirth

Neveah kept her gaze fixed on the wall, she truly just wanted to be left to herself at this point and there was also the fact that her mind kept replaying that kiss.

Neveah did not understand it...well, somewhere in the back of her mind, she did understand it.

There was a little voice in her head telling her just how obvious it was,

How obvious it always had been since she had arrived Dragon Keep, that there was something more in Menarx’s eyes whenever he looked at her.

That his tone had changed right after the light hall and that cold tinge could no longer be found whenever he spoke to her.

Neveah had noticed it... she would be lying if she claimed not to, but she had just let herself ignore the changes, the obvious differences.

That the Menarx who had arrived the Eclipse Domain with the rest of the King’s guard was most definitely not the same Menarx who fetched her from her room every morning and accompanied her to Lord Everon’s hall.

Thinking... pondering, recalling...so many things Neveah had missed or chosen to miss came to mind which made what Neveah was still unwilling to believe all the more obvious.

Neveah shook her head quickly, this was the thing about overthinking a scenario...it would begin to stir other unwanted thoughts and suspicions.

Now, facing Menarx felt all the more awkward and this was the best reaction Neveah could settle on.

She could only turn him away... Neveah did not even dare ponder a deeper meaning to Menarx’s actions, because above and beyond it all, Menarx was a pillar of Dragon Keep.

Menarx was a man with power, prestige and influence yet his darker side was all the more obvious...men like this, Neveah could never hope to predict or understand.

It was perhaps one of the reasons Neveah wanted out of Dragon Keep...

Between Xenon and now Menarx, Neveah could not understand either of them, each of their thoughts and actions were more baffling than the former.

And the more she was around them, Neveah realized the less she understood her ownself...it was a reality Neveah was unwilling to face.

A moment passed by and Neveah could still sense Menarx’s presence, she sensed when he took a step closer but paused and then retreated as she had requested.

Just as Menarx got to the door, he paused again, his actions telling of how conflicted he felt.

’You are as conflicted as he is... Only that you are sitting in place so it doesn’t show.’ Neveah’s wolf pointed out.

Neveah frowned slightly, her wolf had returned to being the voice of reason and Neveah’s personal reality check as she used to be,

But Neveah could not help feeling this was not the best time for a reality check.

’Why should I be conflicted?’ Neveah countered.

’Because you already find him reliable...Veah.’ Neveah’s wolf pointed out.

’He surely is, I can always count on him to drag me kicking and screaming back to Dragon Keep regardless of my own opinion.’ Neveah grumbled.

’If that is what you chose to believe...’ Neveah’s wolf said these final words and retreated to the back of Neveah’s mind, signifying the end of their conversation.

Neveah would have defended her thoughts more, but Menarx’s voice interrupted her intentions.

"If you wish to leave Dragon Keep...if that truly is what you want, I will do whatever it takes to get you back home...or wherever else you would wish to go." Menarx promised in a low tone.

At the mention of home, Neveah’s heart sank. The dragons did not fully understand just what kind of life Neveah lived back in the Eclipse Domain.

They believed they had taken her away from a life of prestige and bliss, a beloved and cherished princess of the Eclipse Domain, just as everyone else in the Eclipse Domain thought.

Neveah had never once considered returning to the Eclipse Domain, not even if she had faced death many times here in Dragon Keep.

"What does it matter to you what I wish for?" Neveah murmured, her tone still cold.

"It does...more than anything. As long as it makes you happy, I will do anything..." Menarx asserted.

Neveah was taken aback by the conviction in Menarx’s tone and for a moment, she could not reply but just stared back at him in silence.

"Your smile...so warm and bright is worth everything, I do not want you to lose that because of us." Menarx continued.

"So if you want to leave, say the word Veah. I will take you away right this instant...as far as you wish to go."

"But if you could just stay... then let me be your reason, Veah. If you could just stay... then I hope to give you my world." Menarx vowed, his tone earnest.

"Your world?" Neveah repeated uncertainly.

"I would offer you my heart, but you already claimed that..." Menarx admitted in a low tone.

"All I can offer you now is a way, to remain in Dragon Keep... not as an attendant, but as a woman no one would ever dare look down on."

"The only way I can truly protect you from my kind, is giving you all that I have... and all that I am. And I do not ask for your heart in return, I will have that only when you are willing to give it..."

"I only ask that you hold mine, because I will never take it back. My heart...my love, and everything else that is already yours." Menarx vowed.

Neveah gulped audibly, rendered completely speechless by Menarx’s words and even more so when he moved over to her closet and pulled out a bundle of neatly folded clothing.

"I thought of you often...too often, I must admit. I wondered if it would suit you and I hoped it would..." Menarx began as he placed it down beside Neveah.

"I had this tailored... the day you became Xenon’s attendant. This is how I give you...all of me." Menarx said with a small smile.

With that, he took his leave, leaving Neveah to stare down at the breathtakingly beautiful rider’s dress...in the shade of ruby red.