@tribridis sent: ❛ tell me it means nothing, that it was just a bit of fun. ❜
‘ i can’t tell you that hope. ’
THIS WAS A MISTAKE, he chastises himself. he should’ve never kept coming over, let himself give into urges he’s had since the moment he’d laid eyes on the tribrid. allowed himself to bed her, over and over, despite their complicated history, their conflicting feelings for one another. because now? the bond has gone from a loud hum to a raging wail. no longer can he attempt to ignore their connection; the bright, golden line binding their souls illuminated as soon as their bodies had met. limbs entangling, hearts melding, their status as mates was solidified. and every time they touched, another piece of himself was hers. bit by bit, day by day, the heir to the night court’s feelings for hope only grew. even though their arrangement was meant to be purely physical, the hatred their relatives held for one another ruling out any chance of a happy ending, he cannot deny his emotions any longer.
‘ because it doesn’t mean NOTHING. not to me, at least. ’ sitting on the edge of her bed, tucked wings and bare back facing her, the illyrian runs a hand through his hair. fingers idling fiddling with the ring on his lip as he tries to breathe through the panic steadily rising in his chest. ‘ maybe it did at first, but ------ i have feelings for you, hope. mating bond aside, our family’s feud aside, i’ve fallen for you. your smile, your power, your eyes, the way they light up when you’re painting; you play in my head on constant fucking repeat. ’ he doesn’t dare turn to face her. cannot bear the rejection that he knows she must be wearing in her expression. ‘ i know where you stand. but i won’t lie to you, and i can’t keep lying to myself. it hurts too much to pretend i don’t care for you when i do. ’