Part 32 (2/2)

Had Charming really changed?

”That's okay. I can think of a few uses they will be good for soon.” Goldie grinned.

No, no he hadn't. He just found the perfect match. And she called me the harlot!

”Oh-kay... stopping this before I have to hear anymore.” I finally yelled.

Charming's eyes fell to me and narrowed. ”Why did you bring her back? She's still not safe here.”

I shook my head. ”I wouldn't worry about faeries for a while. She's safe here as she would be anywhere else at this point. Just get the magical wards as soon as you can for this place.”

”Really?” His eyes grew in worry as he looked to Goldie.

”Besides...” I started as my head turned and fell to Ashe with the brimstone pendant hanging around her neck. ”Life is too short, even for us, to not spend it with the ones we love.”

I pulled Ashe with me to turn around toward the door before Charming stopped me with a hand on my shoulder and, ”Thank you.”

I glanced back as Reynard stepped on to the hand and stared directly at Charming, blocking my view partially and doing something that was an utter shock...

”That doesn't mean everything is okay.” Reynard spoke clearly and suddenly with a high voice. ”Gnidori may not kill, but I have no problem tearing you apart if you try anything ever again like that round-about non-sense you put her through the last few weeks... Got it?”

Reynard's paws stepped off Charming's hand and he threw his bushy tail in a turn before stepping back down to Ashe's shoulder. I saw the shocked expression on Charming's face and I couldn't help but grin as I pulled my shoulder from the Tsar and kept walking.

I love this fox.

”Don't forget. I better hear you make that decree in a few days. My weaponsmiths want to move their workshop while they still have my help.” I added with a wave, not even directing my eyes back toward the Tsar and his l.u.s.t-filled company.

”R-Right.” Charming rasped, his voice clearing quickly, before he turned back to Goldie and some whispering ensued.

My attention fell to Ashe though, after we reached the front doors and headed toward the twins who had elected to stay back again. I don't know what they thought was going to happen with my visits to see the leaders of two nearby nations, but maybe they were right to stay back.

”I don't want an open relations.h.i.+p.” My roommate stated so possessively. I stopped and turned to look at her, she followed suit.

”I've never had one yet.” I explained, trying to study her face.

She closed her eyes and shook her head as her hand yanked from mine. ”Then why didn't you tell me you were going to kiss Gretel?”

Had that been what Ashe was trying to say to me for weeks now?

Of course it was, I hadn't even thought about it. I didn't even know she saw it from behind the fire wall.

Ettie must have heard her name because she stopped Han from joining us with the back of her hand.

”I hadn't been thinking. For me that was something that happened way before what happened between us, Ashe.” I hung my head as I realized, ”I hadn't even thought of your feelings about it. The truth is, if I hadn't let her kiss me I never would have been over her and kissed you.”

”You don't get it...” Ashe pulled further away from me and sniffled but I didn't see any tears, in fact I hadn't seen any from her in a few years. ”Ever since my wedding day I felt I had married the person I slept in a bed with that night.”

I stood in shock as it all clicked in place.

I'd had thoughts before about how much Ashe was like a wife sometimes, it just didn't sink in until she cried it out in front of me.

Had I been so oblivious to her feelings?

How cruel was I?

And this wasn't even the first time I had hurt her.

I was a monster.

My hands shot around her, and even though she struggled fiercely against me, I laid my cheek against hers and pulled one of her hands up to press it against my face.

”I'm an idiot.” I started. ”I never realized you wanted something more. It took overhearing you say it to others before I even paid attention. I should have known though, four years it felt like I had a wife and I won't let a goodbye kiss get in the way when I find out you felt the same way.”

I sighed. ”I really am like Charming.”

Ashe sniffled again and stopped struggling. ”A goodbye kiss?”

”I kissed Gnidori because I was afraid she would die when I shot her. So I gave her the goodbye she would have wanted from me, since it was the only thing I could never push myself to do with her.” Ettie stepped in to explain. I couldn't see her since she was behind me.

I don't know how long Ashe held against me but eventually she turned her cheek, wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me deep in to a salty and wet kiss filled with more fire than I could have ever expected from her.

When my eyes opened again, I turned toward the road with Ashe's hand in mine. It was in that moment that I noticed Ettie had been looking away with a rigid expression.

Had I mistaken her kiss?

No, the one thing she always told me was she could never be together with me.

I shrugged it off as Reynard said, ”Does this mean Ashy is officially my nice mom?”

”Nice?” I chirped and reached out to grab him, but he jumped from Ashe and started running away, ahead of everyone. I chased after him, while Ashe wiped her tears and smiled. The twins laughed until eventually I grew tired and settled back in next to... my wife.

My wife... it sounds almost funny to say it, but that was what she was to me.

”Well...” I sighed contently as my hand fit to Ashe's. ”And we all lived...”

I stopped as everyone around me had such heavily surprised expressions on their faces. Even Ashe.

”What?” I chuckled at them. ”You all thought I was actually going to say happily ever after?”

The End.

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