Chapter 375 Sweet moments

Chapter 375: Chapter 375 Sweet moments

Talia’s POV

I pressed my face into Kaelen’s chest, and I felt his arms tighten around me. "We do it all together," I whispered.

He held me tighter. "Together. And that is what matters more than anything else."

I closed my eyes, and I let myself breathe. The fear was still there, but it was softer now. It was not gone, but it was no longer in control. I had admitted my fear, and he had admitted his, and we were still standing. We were still together.

Kaelen took my hand, and we walked back to our room together.

The moon was setting, and the sky was beginning to lighten.

I watched the colors shift across the sky, from deep purple to soft pink to pale orange. It was beautiful, and it was peaceful, and for a moment, I let myself forget about everything else.

The stars were fading, and the world was waking up. I could hear the birds beginning to sing, and I could feel the morning air on my face.

I had not realized how much time had passed by, while we were in the training ground.

"Kaelen," I said, and my voice was soft. "What happens now?"

Kaelen looked at me, and I saw the determination in his gray eyes. "Now we rest. And tomorrow, we prepare."

I nodded, and I felt the peace settling over me. "Together."

Kaelen squeezed my hand. "Together."

We walked into our room, and Kaelen closed the door behind us. The fire had burned down to embers, and the room was cool. I stood in the middle of the floor, and I did not know what to do with my hands.

Kaelen walked to the cabinet in the corner of the room, and he pulled out a small wooden box. He carried it to the table and opened it, and I could see the rolls of clean cloth, the small jars of salve, and the other healing supplies inside.

"Sit," Kaelen said, and he pulled out a chair for me.

I sat down, and I held out my hands. Kaelen pulled a chair close and sat across from me. He took my right hand in his, and he turned it over, examining the torn skin and the dried blood.

"This is going to sting," Kaelen warned in a soft voice, and he dipped a cloth into a bowl of water and began to clean the wounds.

I flinched when the cold water touched the raw skin, but I did not pull away. Kaelen was gentle, and he worked slowly, and carefully removing the dirt and dried blood.

"I am sorry," I said, and my voice was barely a whisper.

Kaelen looked up at me, and I saw the confusion in his gray eyes. "For what, Talia?" He asked.

"For making you do this," I replied. "For making you worry."

Kaelen shook his head, and he went back to cleaning my hand. "I would rather worry about you than not have you at all." He said.

I did not know what to say to that, so I just watched him work. He picked up a small jar of salve and unscrewed the lid. The smell of herbs filled the air, and I felt the cool cream against my skin as he applied it to each knuckle.

The cool cream tingled on my skin, but I bore the pain, and tried to keep my face normal, even though I mostly failed trying to.

Kaelen kept blowing light air on my knuckles as he applied the cream, and that made me feel so much better.

When he was finished with the salve, he began to wrap my hand in clean cloth. He was careful and precise, and I watched him loop the cloth around my fingers and my palm.

I watched Kaelen wrap the cloth around my knuckles, and I saw the concentration on his face. His tongue was poking out the corner of his mouth, and his brow was furrowed like he was trying to put out a fire, instead of bandaging a few scrapes.

"You know," I said, and my voice was still rough from crying, "I have seen you take down three rogues at once, but I have never seen you look this serious about anything."

Kaelen looked up at me, and I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. "These are important knuckles, Talia. They belong to my mate."

I laughed, and the sound surprised me. It came out watery and broken, but it was real. "They are just knuckles, Kaelen."

Kaelen shook his head, and he tied off the last strip of cloth with a flourish. "No, these are the knuckles of the last Silvertongue. These knuckles have broken silver bars, and commanded armies of wolves, and punched a training post until they bled. They deserve the utmost care."

I laughed again, and I felt the tightness in my chest loosen just a little. "You are impossible."

Kaelen looked up at me, and I saw the love in his gray eyes. "I know," he said. "That is why you love me.”

I smiled brightly, and I felt my heart lighten even more.

When Kaelen was finished, he lifted my hands to his lips, and he kissed each one.

I felt the warmth of his lips against my skin, and I felt the love in my chest. It was a small gesture, but it meant everything.

"Rest, Talia," Kaelen said, and his voice was soft. "I will be right here."

I climbed into bed, and I felt his arms around me. I closed my eyes, and I let myself sleep.

The fear was still there, but I was not alone. And that was enough.