Chapter Thirty-One

"Did you learn anything?" I hear and turn around to see Aidan.

"I'm not sure. M-maybe you'll have a better idea?" I asked.

"Ok." He says and pulls me into a side room. "Tell me what he said."

I recalled what the advisor and I had discussed on the roof but he wasn't sure either.

"You're right, they're after something, but I'm not sure what. And I'm not sure why Thebes went over the top to reward your family and look after you when he needn't do anything. Maybe he has a soft spot or maybe there's an ulterior motive...we can't be sure yet."

"Still it wasn't all bad. It was lonely but I never went hungry. I probably could've survived until I married but..."

"Then you'd be a widow now." He spat out.

"N-no. I was going to say the prospects weren't great." I said and furrowed my brows.

"I would've found you faster if you weren't hidden away."

"Maybe, but I would've been m-married." I stuttered.

"Not for long."

"H-how can you be so cavalier with murder?" I whispered the last part.

"If you think I haven't already killed for you then-"

"S-stop please." I said and shut my eyes.

"Ari," he said and stepped closer, "open your eyes. We're at war, there is death everywhere." He says, I look back up at him with determination to get through to him.

"So I ask again, how can you have such a blatant disregard for life? How is my life precious but others can be snuffed out without a thought?" I pleaded.

"You're getting too worked up."

"You're avoiding the question Aidan."

He grabbed hold of my arms but I jerked away. He let out a sigh.

"I've been tortured to the brink of death – no one helped me but you. Your life is the only one I care about."

"But I didn't do anything…"

"You were the only one who was kind to me, the only one to love me. No one has made me feel that way since."

"Do you…not care about peace?"

"I do. I don't want people to needlessly suffer but I'm not averse to it if that's the way it has to be." He said with a frown.

"I see…" I say, my mind wondering.

"You're not happy with that answer?" He asked.

"I-I just realized I don't know as much about you as I originally thought. You've changed…"

"I wish I could be the same big-eyed kid I used to be but that boy was weak. The man I am now has the power to keep you with me forever." He reached for my hand again, this time I let him. I was starting to relax again. You'd be hard pressed to find a man that hasn't committed violence in this war, was I making too big a fuss?

"Perhaps now we can make up?" He asks to break the silence.

"You need to keep your eye on the prize."

"Oh I am." He said with a lighthearted laugh.

"I-I meant the negotiations a-and-" I stuttered.

"I know what you meant but that's not the prize."

"It-it is. Y-you can have me an-anytime." I say and he groaned.

"And yet you're trying to dissuade me from doing just that."

"Wh-why don't we see what the specialist has to say first?"

He groaned. "Ok, but only because I need you, all of you and my room would be better than here."

"Ai-Aidan." I say, flustered.

"Can you blame me?" He asked and pulled me close. "You're a beautiful woman."

"S-still, we didn't finish our conversation."

"Didn't we?" He asked and I shook my head no. He half smiled at me and pulled me into an embrace to kissed me.

"We should get going before I start something we cannot finish here." He said.

"Y-you can't say stuff like that."

"Why not? You're my wife Ari."

"T-there are people watching." I said in a flustered tone, my face bright red.

"All they can say is how much I love my wife and how beautiful she is. Especially when she makes these cute faces." He says as he brushes hair out of my face.

"I-I don't want them to see me."

"Hm, then we should hurry." He kissed me again then whisked me away until we found the Cordonan advisor again.

"What's the verdict Advisor Brown?" Aidan asked.

Victor looked at me. "Are you certain you know what you're doing?"

"Don't talk to my wife, talk to me." Aidan said.

"Once we leave, we cannot help you if there are any more misunderstandings." Victor said, still talking to me.

"Hey I said-" Aidan started but I interrupted him.

"It's ok. I don't need help. I'm happy as I am Advisor Brown."

Victor sighed. "Then you are free to resume-" He started to say but Aidan didn't wait for him to finish his sentence. He scooped me up and whisked me off to his room.