Dark Empire, 'The Chornicles of Dajorin

A/N: I'm an aspring writer looking to get my work published. But at the moment I'm really looking for any feed back, good or bad. Any reviews would be most welcome and appricated. I'd really like to know if you liked this, didn't like it or what you think. So if you read this please drop me a line, and let me know, it's much appricated. ~Fai.

Mildune walked the halls having entered after her dad came out to talk with Averie, lost in thought. She wondered what Tim was up to as she traveled through the castle intending on arriving at her room. Not really paying attention to where she was going or what was around her for that matter. She really didn’t expect to run into anyone this late at night believing that everyone was already asleep, or in their rooms getting ready to wind down for the night.



Tim was carrying Jewell, while walking beside Adonna towards the infirmary. As they turned the corner, he slid to a stop and nearly turned into Adonna. His mate’s presence however, stopped him and made him face the human girl, whom had been walking in their direction. “M-Millie…” he said quietly, clearly surprised to see her after so long…



She turned slightly and blinked. “Timber.” She said and looked like she wanted to cry. Traitorin had been her guardian, her father, there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him within reason but this had been the hardest thing he had ever asked of her. Tears started to fall down her face as she looked away from him. She felt horrible for leaving him like that and to face him now. “I…” she shook her head and closed her eyes turning away from him… “I’m sorry.”



He felt awkward in Millie’s presence. It was odd to have a history with one woman and to be married to the other beside him now. There’d been no closure between him and Millie…he never thought there would be…and now… “I…I know,” he said. “Look, Uh…we have to get this woman to the infirmary right now,” he said meaning he and Adonna, the golden retriever girl standing beside him, “but…I’m…uh…I’m glad you’re back,” he said to her, in truth the only Human he had ever come to trust.



Millie looked at Timber and nodded. “Yes of course, thank you…I was headed towards my room…” she said softly. “It was nice to see you again Timber.” She said and turned to go down another hallway. She didn’t offer to go with them, didn’t want to intrude on anything. “I’ll see you around alright?”



Timber watched Millie start to walk off and nodded, “Uh, y-yeah…I’m staying here currently …so yeah…we’ll see each other around.” He said. There was a lot they’d have to talk about at some point…but not now. Now he’d have to explain to Adonna what the heck was going on and get Jewell to the infirmary.



Millie looked at him a moment then nodded as she walked down the hall. Her parting words where gentle. “Take care Timber. I won’t keep you.” She said, starting down the hall walking calmly away wanting to get out of his hearing range before she either ran or sank down on the floor and cried. She wasn’t sure which it was she wanted to do.



Kahi turned the corner, looking around for any sign of the wedding party that had run off, trying to figure out what had happened. He turned another corner and collided with the heart-broken Millie, knocking her right to the floor. “Oh gods, I’m…I’m sorry.” He said as the young Alpha wolf moved to help her up, only aware that he’d knocked down a lady.



Millie looked up at him as he helped her up. She didn’t know who he was and sniffed wiping her eyes and smiling a bit shakily. “I’m okay…I’m so sorry I should have been watching where I was going…” She said both shakily and gratefully as she accepted the help up. She looked at him a moment then spoke softly. “I’m Mildune…everyone calls me Millie though…and you are?” She asked him lightly wondering who it was she had collided with.



He paused and stepped back a little as he looked at her warily. He suddenly nervous in her presence, after all she was Human…he could see and smell that now. She had the scents of Mystrians on her from her travels, it’d thrown him off. He’d never met a human…he’d been raised to fear them, to distrust them. That’s why his tribe had been isolated from all other Mystrians except those of Far Mist for so many generations…until it was recently destroyed. His father, their original Alpha killed, leaving everything on Kahi’s shoulders. Do I…talk to her? She’s…she’s human, but…she doesn’t seem anything like what I’ve heard about in the stories about them…



Millie looked at him and tipped her head. Blinking she was now worried about him. “Oh my you not hurt are you?” She asked concerned and taking half a step forwards. “If you are I’ll walk with you to the infirmary. Dad’s healers are some of the best. I know they’ve been taking care of my injuries most of my life.” Millie wasn’t sure why he suddenly tensed up when she collided with him, it hadn’t been because he was injured and she aggravated it was it? “What do I do…Dad will be so upset if I hurt someone in his care…I didn’t… did I?”



He reached up, touching the still fresh and sore scar that ran diagonally across his face. Starting under his bangs on one side of his forehead, and running just between his eyes, over the bridge of his nose and ending just on his cheek. It was the injury Chaos left him as a reminder of his inability to protect his home, his people, or for that matter to save his father…A reminder that Chaos was going to come back and finish them all off and Kahi wouldn’t be able to stop it then either. He shook his head and lowered his hand, the scar somehow worked for him, not taking anything away from his good looks. “No…you didn’t. I just…I’ve never met a Human. You’re not like what I was told you’d be like…”



She looked at him. “A…human….” She paused tipping her head and blinked then giggled. “Sorry I keep forgetting that. I was brought up by Traitorin, I don’t really know much about the way other humans do things but I’ve always lived among Mystrians and tend to think of myself as one because of it.” She shrugged and smiled as she looked at him. “I’m sorry I can’t say if all the others will act the way I do. I’ve heard terrible stories while I was traveling about what they’ve done and I can’t understand why they do such things.” Millie continued to smile as she looked at him. “Traitorin’s my guardian and father so to speak, at least I’ve lived in the castle almost all of my life.” Millie didn’t mean to get so talkative but she didn’t like it when others feared her among the Mystrians to her they were more family than anything else.



He felt uneasy when she giggled, was she laughing at him? Did he say something silly? One of his ears twitched as he listened to her speak and then eyed her confused. “You…you don’t think of yourself as….human?” He asked, trying to understand how anyone could be thing and not accept it’s what they are. Then again, he supposed…it’d make sense…if it’s all she’s known. “So…you’re a good human…” He said, finding it odd that he was actually hoping she didn’t take offense to the question…



“Millie!” Garand voice interrupted as he ran around the corner in his pj bottoms and t-shirt. At 18 and the youngest of the dragons knights who Trait had raised alongside Millie, he was barely a year older tan her….and he’d missed his ‘sister’ something terrible…especially with what happened to Aspen in her absence…He’d tell her of that later though….right now, he’d caught her scent while he was nodding off to sleep, and had to see if it was for real. He nearly knocked her over himself as he hugged her tightly. “Gods…it’s really you.”



Kahi jumped back a little, shocked by the sudden reunion.



Before she could answer she was swept up into her ‘brothers’ arms and giggled again. “Garand! I missed you too.” She said smiling and looking at him. Then tipped her head as she hugged him back… “A good human…I suppose so. I guess I never really thought about it.”



She smiled as she looked at Garand. “Yeah sorry I’ve been gone so long, but Dad needed me to do something with Fiore and a few others. We went looking for Averie, someone important to Dad and just brought him back.” She said as she held on tight to him for a moment before pushing playfully on him to get him to back up a little. “You big goof, you nearly knocked me over!” But Millie was smiling as she said it, not at all upset. She’d be more upset if he treated her as if a stranger. “How have you been Garand?”



Kahi nodded a little. It was odd…he was talking to a human…and it was…nice. He’d seen more harm and damage done by other Mystrians, namely Chaos, than Humans, actually…



Garand smiled. “I’m…worlds better now that your home,” He said. “You’ve missed so much Mil,” He said, not wanting to make her feel bad, but just wanting to tell her everything…including the fact that he’d finally managed to let himself get close to a girl at long last…close enough to get to call her his girlfriend at least! “Mov got married, Blake’s engaged, and Aspen’s…” he trailed off and seemed to frown a little, but then shook his head. “Aspens’ well, he’s Aspen.” He then smiled. “And just…a lot’s happened. Lots of brothers and sisters…” He added, just to hint to her that there was even more to tell.



“Well, uh…maybe I should leave you to your… ‘Brother’?” Kahi said, having yet to have even given her his name…



Millie groaned. “Ick, looks like you’ve all been very busy Garand. Mov married, Blake engaged and….when you say that about Aspen he’s in trouble again huh?” She said shaking her head. “It wasn’t so bad because Fiore kept us away from all Human camps, but it was lonely without my family around,” She looked back at Kahi biting her lower lip she wanted to spend time getting caught up with Garand but she didn’t even know the Lycan’s name. “It’s so late…and there’s so much you could probably tell me. I wonder if it’d be better to get it all in the morning from you…” She smiled a little as she looked at Garand then heard Kahi’s voice.



“I suppose…please if you don’t mind may I have your name at least?” Millie asked looking back at him. He was cute to say the least and she wanted to know who he was.



Garand was very reluctant to let Millie just go to bed and wait til morning when he hadn’t seen her for a month…but then he looked from her to Kahi and back again, narrowing his eyes some at her to try and read that glimmer in her eyes. ‘What’s is it with you and Lycan’s?’ he wondered. He knew from a talk with her before she left that she’d liked that Timber guy too…and was likely unaware that Timber and Kahi were from the same pack. “Well, sure Mil. I should get back to bed anyways. It’s uh, been a long day for me and I’m sure you want to get your rest too…” He said, backing up. “See you tomorrow Mils glad you’re back safe…” he added before stepping up to her again, kissing her cheek in a brotherly fashion before he turned and walked off.



Kahi watched Garand go then looked back to Millie. He was quiet for a moment trying to register everything that was going on tonight. “I’m…Kahi.”



She watched Garand go and knew she’d hurt his feelings. She’d have to make it up to him later. And she would, Garand was special to her, he was the closest out of all of her adopted ‘brothers’. She wanted to wait until morning so she didn’t miss anything he had to tell her. That and because she honestly was concerned about Kahi. He looked so very lost. She honestly had no idea where he was from but that didn’t change the way she felt. “Garand, good night, I promise I’ll be by first thing in the morning. I really do want to hear everything you have to tell me.” She said to his retreating back. Her voice caring her sincerity with it…



“Thank you Kahi.” She said softly as she turned to face him. “You don’t have to tell me about it, but you look like something is bothering you. I’ll listen if you want to talk about it.” Mil said in gentle concern about Kahi as she looked at the young Alpha. She stood there looking at him quietly not sure if he wanted to talk to her. He seemed wary of her and that hurt. She didn’t know what she did to make him so very uncomfortable around her.



Kahi shook his head. “It’s…been a difficult week.” He said simply. “I’ve…there’s been a great deal of loss, and now I’m supposed to do the right thing as Alpha, perform a very important marriage ceremony…and half the weeding party ran out like the gardens were on fire. Including the groom….and the bride never arrived, which is…, unlike her. I just don’t want this week to become even more unforgiving…,” he confessed. It was; very obvious, with him being only roughly 21, that he wasn’t expecting nor was he prepared to be an Alpha…which meant something terrible had happened to the previous Alpha for him to fall into the role at such a young age. Normally Lycan Alphas were far older, and stayed in the position until they lacked the strength to protect his rank or died trying.



She shook her head, “Sounds like a lot to deal with. Would you mind coming with me to the gardens? You’ve had a lot to deal with and I’d just like to walk with you. I know this marriage you said was important, but right now with everything the way it is, it might help to take a step back a moment.” She frowned, she knew there was more than one garden in the palace but wasn’t sure if he’d want to step foot in one at the moment, what with the wedding being in one. That and she didn’t know if she was coming across right. She didn’t want to down play his troubles they were nothing to down play after all. “But tonight nothing more can be done. I’m sure in the morning things will start to flow right…I’m sorry I’m probably not saying this at all…,” she paused and looked away.



She didn’t know how to help him feel better. He seemed to be going through so very much in such a short period of time, it made her; own troubles right now seem so very small. “This isn’t unfixable yet. I just don’t want to see it trouble you anymore tonight…I’m sorry…this isn’t coming across right is it?”



“I just came from the gardens…” He said not aware that there was more than one garden in this grand castle... “That’s where the wedding is supposed to be. All of the guests are still there. I don’t think I can face them without knowing what’s going on…and I won’t find out until either the bride or groom…or someone…comes and tells me.” He said, and then looked at her curiously. “You…apologize an awful lot…when you don’t have to.” There was a moment’s pause between them before he nodded, “We could walk somewhere else, if that’s possible…”



She blushed and looked down. “I’m…sorry…” She said while sighing seemed like she was always saying that. “I just don’t like hurting people’s feelings. I’m always worried I’m going to say or do something that will hurt someone. I don’t want to do that,” Millie looked up at him and smiled warmly. “But yes I’d like that, there’s the ballroom that’s large and quiet, the grand hall, with all sorts of paintings. If there’s something you’d like to see Kahi I can show you.” She said softly feeling a bit better that he was at least talking to her at the moment. “Oh have you been through the mountain’s paths? There’s a few around the castle that lead off to small glens around here. There’s a nice place to just sit and clear the mind. You can see the stars from there.”



Kahi looked around then at her again, “I don’t think there’d be many stars out on a rainy night like this…” He said softly but didn’t want to discourage the girl. “Maybe when the skies are clear again…Have you a music room?” He asked a bit curious.



She blinked and smiled. “Yes there is. Dad had it built for me a long time ago. I can take you there.” Millie said as she began to lead the way towards her own private sanctuary. It was a room where she could go and sing even in the late of night and not wake anyone. It wasn’t that she had a horrible singing voice, just the opposite, she often drug people out of bed just to listen to her sing. Traitorin telling her she had a golden voice.



He followed Millie, still a little wary, but she seemed sincere and genuine enough. Having been the head of the Sentinel Guards of Far Mist…he had to have a pretty good sense of a person’s intentions and there character. Thus far, she was the complete opposite of every story he’d ever heard about Humans…and it was becoming easier to see her as an earless, wingless, tail-less Mystrian at this point. “A music room…built just for you? You must like to…sing?” He asked taking a stab in the dark.



“Yes I love to sing actually. But I’d wake everyone up on nights that I couldn’t sleep. I wouldn’t mean to I’d be singing in the garden and wake up everyone in the castle before I knew it I had an audience almost every night. Dad had the room built so, that I could go there at any time day or night and sing without disturbing anyone.” She looked over at him. “There are all sorts of instruments in there. Harps, violins, pianos…do you play or sing?” She asked curious.



“Well…all Far Mistians are musically inclined,” Kahi noted proud of his tribe…” I’m best though with the piano.” He admitted, it was getting easier and easier to talk to her it seemed.



Mil smiled as she glanced over at him. “Really…I can’t wait to hear you play,” She said looking at Kahi then opened the large beautiful orient door to the music room. It looked heavy but had been hollowed out so that she could move it. The room was large, and as she said filled with harps, violins, a beautiful black wood grand piano and various other instruments. She turned slightly to allow him to walk in ahead of her, before shutting the door behind them so they would not disturb others.



He looked behind him as he watched Millie close the door. This whole experience was getting him thinking about some of the other requests that had been made to him. If he could associate with a human on this level…then maybe there was something to this merger with the remnants of Far Mist with the 106th. True Far Mist would no longer be just pure Far Mist Lycan blood going back for centuries…but…it was time for a change right? Kahi smiled at Millie and nodded. “Well, uh…I guess I can play…something,” he said in agreement before he walked over the grand piano, sliding onto the bench.



She smiled brightly as she looked at him. “Really?” Millie walked further into the room and tipped her head a little watching him sit before the grand piano and the offer to play something. “That’s wonderful. Please anything you like.” She couldn’t help but be happy very few could play anything in this room and she’d love to sing with him playing, if she knew the song he choose. She couldn’t help but be interested in this Lycan. Something about him had caught her attention and refused to let go.



Kahi tapped the keys a little, just getting the feel for this style of piano. He then brought his other hand up and let his fingers slid lightly over the polished ivory before he started to finally play. It was a very popular song among the Lycan race’s…and every pack seemed to have their, own variation of it. Far Mists had one of the most beautiful lyrics for it, and quite possibly Traitorin may have had them on record somewhere for Millie to have memorized.



She listened to the opening bars and closed her eyes. She had heard and sang so many different variations of this song but there was one she loved the most. Falling into the beat she began to sing in Far Mist’s variation, relaxing and just letting herself flow with the music. Her voice soft and sweet as she sang in time with his playing…



He continued to play without missing a beat, despite the fact he quickly looked at Millie, utterly floored by the fact that she was singing their version…and she was singing it beautifully…like a sweet nightingale…Hers was one of the sweetest voices he’d ever heard.



She continued to sing opening her eyes and just loosing herself to the music. Letting the words flow from her as she matched, him, the highs and lows, the speed of his playing, it felt wonderful to be able to sing beside someone who could play so beautifully. It was easy to get lost in the song with his playing.



He continued to accompany Millie on the piano, it was odd…he just…he couldn’t his eyes off of her. Off of this human…and now that he was really looking at her he had to admit that she was, is beautiful. With a voice like a sweet silver bell, a funny feeling came over him as he neared the end of the song, and he quickly looked down at the ivory key’s to make sure she didn’t catch him starring at her so very rudely.



She let the last notes fade as the song trailed off and smiled. Bright indigo eyes looking over at him, unaware that he had been watching her so very intently. “Kahi, your playing is beautiful. Thank you for letting me; hear it…” She said softly pushing her dark blue violet hair over her shoulder. “If you like we can keep going; I’ve never heard anyone play like you do. It sounds so pure…”



Kahi looked over at Millie for a moment lost for words, and then he smiled while nodding. “Thanks…I admit…I’ve never heard anyone sing like you,” He said fingers resting on the keys. “I’ll play something else. Uh, any requests?” he asked with a smirk.



She tipped her head in thought as she looked at him. “Anything from Far Mist is fine. I love the music from there. The lyrics are all so beautiful,” She said smiling. “There’s a song but I’m afraid I don’t know the name of it. It’s a lullaby according to dad, but he doesn’t remember the name. He said it’s a rare one from Far Mist if that helps any.” She looked down a little embarrassed, she knew the lyrics by heart to all of the songs from Far Mist, but some of the names on them were long lost.



He looked down and tried to think. “There’s one…that comes to mind. My mother used to sing it to me…,” He paused briefly to think a little prayer to Luminos for her. “It’s called… ‘The Star Flowers at Twilight….’ It goes like this…” He said as he started to play the first few bars, looking over at her and stopping. “Is that it?”



She tipped her head listening and nodded. “Yes, that’s it.” She said softly. “‘The Star Flowers at Twilight.’ That’s pretty.” She said looking at him. “I’ll sing it for you if you like.”



He smiled and nodded. “I’d like that, Millie…I’d like to hear it again, and I know with your voice…it’ll sound perfect,” He complimented, trying to suppress a faint blush at his own charms as he put his hands on the keys again and began to play the intro for her.



She smiled and nodded her eyes closing and listening to the intro. She fell into the song easily enough with his playing it wasn’t hard to find the right cue. Her voice singing the lullaby as sweetly as she had sung the other song before; although she had to take a moment before during the intro to fight down her own blush and keep her pulse steady; she didn’t want to ruin it for him that was the last thing that she wanted.



He sighed to himself, closing his eyes as his ears fell back. He listened quite intently to Millie’s singing, playing that melody by heart for her. His ears lifted and fell many times as she sang, his eyes staying closed. He could feel the notes in his fingers, and her voice…it did something to him…it warmed him deep inside. There was just something about her.



She let the song flow from her, opening her eyes to once again watch him and smile as she sang. Feeling warmth in her heart as she watched him, Kahi seemed so at peace and she liked that. She’d like nothing more than to keep that sorrow out of his eyes. Millie honestly never wanted to see such pain and sorrow there again, not in his eyes he didn’t deserve such pain and sorrow. She didn’t know his full story and didn’t need to. All she needed to know was that her singing for him made him happy, closing her eyes again she continued the sweet lullaby for him, letting the words flow from her memories and her heart.



He felt the song filter out under his fingers. Opening his eyes and looking over at Millie as she was slowly letting the last note fade out, her own eyes closed, he sighed and shook his head a little in a way that clearly read, ‘How is it possible I feel this way?’ There was only one thought in the forefront of his mind and he was trying desperately to push it back…and that thought…was to kiss her.



She let the last traces fade from her lips and slowly opened her eyes, as if coming out of a dream like state or a deep trance. It wasn’t all that unusual for her. She always felt so relaxed when she sang, than looked at Kahi and blushed a little. It wasn’t because she had forgotten that he was in the room. It was because she had become so very lost in the song, it had taken her a few moments to realize it was over. She tipped her head to hide the blush that so readily stained her cheeks behind a fall of hair. “Thank you.” She said softly still trying to catch her breath.



He blinked a few times, snapping himself out of his daze. He stood up, looking at the piano keys, shaking his head, “Uh, no…thank you…that was…it was beautiful,” He said, than added even quieter. “Perfect…” if he took his hands off of the keys, he didn’t know what he’d do right now. He decided it would be safest to just leave them there, least he grab her and kiss her…which would probably offend or upset the girl.



She blinked and shook her head at his words. Looking startled even as the blush deepened on her cheeks. She had been told in the past she had a beautiful singing voice but no one ever said it was perfect. She shook her head. “Oh no…if it is…it’s only because of the way you play…I could feel the music in my heart it was so beautiful.” She said softly looking at him. She wanted to walk over to him, to hug him…to be near him longer. Her heart thudding wildly in her chest, she looked at him a moment longer before looking down again. “Thank you so much for playing.”



He shook his head a little. “Thank you…for singing it. I haven’t heard it in…a very long time.” He looked over at her a little glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes. Kahi slowly sat back down on the bench, his fingers having been tensing against the keys, wanting to move his hands away from them and grab her. But he couldn’t…he couldn’t give in to these strange feelings like that and risk upsetting her. “How about…another song?” he asked, not trusting himself to move away from the piano yet…



Millie smiled, “Sure, whatever you like. You pick.” She said as she looked at Kahi, not understanding why her heart was racing so at the moment, while she tipped her head to watch him.



He nodded and thought a moment, closing his eyes. It was at the moment really hard to think of music. Kahi started to play another song, but it was as if his fingers had forgotten how to play as he hit a sour cord shortly in. ‘What’s wrong with me? I’ve never played a bad note in my life…suddenly I can’t remember where my fingers go? Why?’ he thought silently to himself, a little frustrated by his own behavior.



She heard the sour note and blinked; concerned she walked over and gently laid her hand over his. “Are you alright? If you’re tired we can continue another day.” She said gently hitting a sour note could mean a lot of things, if he was tired there was no point in going forwards it would just end up frustrating him to no end.



His hand tensed up under hers as he closed his eyes tighter. Turning his head away he spoke in a tense tone. “N-no..I’m fine…” he said, trying so very hard to not do something he would regret. The only time he’d ever felt his awful urge was when he went into heat…but this wasn’t that. But gods he was having hard time thinking straight about anything but kissing her.



She watched him turn his head away. “Oh…” she said softly and wanted to smack herself because she couldn’t hide the hurt in her voice. He’d looked away from her, did she still disgust him? “Okay...” she said softly as she slowly let her hand drop.



His hand moved faster than lighting as it clasped around Millie’s wrist with just enough pressure to keep her there without harming her. He held her hand above the piano keys preventing her from pulling away again. “No…it’s not what you think…” he said, still not looking at her, but knowing what she must have been thinking.



She looked at him, than at his hand around her wrist. It didn’t hurt but he held her firmly. “Alright…” She said softly looking at him as he looked away from her. She watched him quietly wondering what he was hesitating about.



Kahi shook his head and let go of her hand, forcing himself to reign in these unexpected urges. “Y-you’re right…I’m just…I’m just tired,” he said, slowly opening his eyes and looking at her, almost hesitantly though. He knew by that look on her face that she could tell he was lying.



She nodded and looked down. “Oh…Thank you for tonight,” She said as she slowly started to step back. She wasn’t sure why he was suddenly putting such distance between them then mentally smacked herself. He’d been through a lot her behavior wasn’t helping him right now. Leaning forwards she kissed him on the cheek and smiled. “Please don’t lose your smile Kahi. Your eyes looked so sad before. No matter how hard things get always find something to smile about.”



He gripped the edge of the piano and dug his claws in when she kissed his cheek, trying so hard to restrain him-self, but it appeared that was the straw that broke the camel’s back so to speak. He knocked Millie over onto the floor, moving over her and kissing, the very likely shocked girl on the lips.



She was shocked to stay the least as she hit the floor, gasping a moment before her heart skipped a beat. She only hesitated a moment before closing her eyes and kissing him back, bringing her arms up to hug him to her.



He felt her arms close around him and instinctively panicked. He broke the kiss and pushed up over her so that his arms locked in place with him looking down at her in surprise. “I…I’m so sorry.” He said hanging his head and closing his eyes. “I shouldn’t have done that…”



She blinked and looked at him. Laying there a moment she reached up and touched his face. “You’ve done nothing wrong, so you have nothing to be sorry for.” Millie said simply, she didn’t know how else to put it, she didn’t mind the kiss.



“No…I…I..Shouldn’t have done that…” He said again before her got off of her completely. Sitting up Kahi clearly felt bad about his lack of restraint towards her. How could he do that without even knowing if she wanted him to…and even if she forgave him for it…he still did it without her permission…without thinking about her feelings…



She looked at him. “Why not…?” She didn’t understand and wasn’t upset about it, reaching up she placed a hand on his shoulder. “Kahi…if it’s you I don’t mind…I” She looked down, she didn’t know how to say it without sounding too forward. She let her hand drop. “If it’s you…” she repeated softly, truthfully if it was him, and only him that was alright.



Kahi shook his head looking at Millie again. “Because Far Mist has it’s ways….and I’ve offended those ways. I betrayed them…when I took advantage…” He looked down. “You shouldn’t forgive me. I did it without thinking about your feelings.”



She looked at him. “Even if they were the same as yours…?” She asked him then tilted her head. “Kahi, I don’t know the ways of your people. I don’t know your customs…” She reached out and placed her fingers to his chest. “All I do know is that the one thing you must remain true to is yourself. Your heart, I’ve always been told to follow my heart, and my heart tells me that I have no regrets over that kiss.”



Kahi opened his eyes looking at her hand on his chest, and then slowly at her. Swallowing the lump in his throat, “You mean…you really…didn’t mind it?” he asked, one of his ears twitching with uncertainty.



She smiled up at him. “No I didn’t mind the kiss.” She said sincerely as she looked at him. “I will tell you this, had it been anyone else yes I would be upset, but as I said before it’s because it’s you that I don’t mind.”



He shook his head. “How can you say that? It was…it was inappropriate. You barely know me. We just met…and I…I jumped on you like that…and you keep saying it’s okay? How, how is it okay?”



Kahi’s question caused her to blink. “Because feelings can’t be measured in time Kahi… It doesn’t matter if you’ve known a person for years or just met. If something feels right it simply does.” She sat back and looked at him hands resting on her lap.



“I just can’t understand rules that dictate who and when it’s alright to fall in love. To feel deeply for a person, how’s that fair to the people involved? If your heart tells you one thing how can one accept being told that the feelings you have are wrong? The gods gave us the right to fall in love with whoever we want.” She slowly stood up and walked over to the piano, although she had not finished speaking not yet.



“No one has the right to tell anyone how they should or shouldn’t feel. If your sad cry, if you’re happy then express it and when you fall in love embrace it.” She looked back at him and smiled sadly. “I say it’s okay because you mean so very much to me Kahi. I want to see you smile, I want to see you happy and it bothers me to see you sad or troubled. I know I can’t tell you how to feel, which is why I went out of my way to get to know you. When we first met, you looked like you were going to break under all that sorrow in your eyes. Even if it was just for a moment, I wanted to give you something to smile about…and that was when we just met.”



She took and deep breath; and froze when she realized she had just chewed him out for asking a question that upset her so very much. How could she bark at him like that? It hurt that he kept stressing they just met, her heart didn’t honestly care about that…”I..I’m sorry you didn’t deserve to be lectured like that…”



He felt like a kid who did wrong again. Standing up he slowly nodded, not turning around to where she was. “You’re right…you have no right to lecture me,” He said before walking to the door and pulling it open, he walked out. There was too much to take in at this moment. She’d had a lot to say, and he just couldn’t hear it and absorb it all at the same time right now. ‘Stupid…wolf.’



She closed her eyes. “Stupid…so stupid.” She grumbled to herself and proceeded to walk about the room. She sat down for a moment behind the piano and closed her eyes. “That was so stupid Mils. He didn’t need that…” Leaning forwards she just let the tears fall…she could be so very stupid at times.



He clenched his hands a few times as he walked. He was right back to where he started, he’d been at peace for a while, and then he was the one to screw it up all over again. On top of that, now he had all of his old worries, as well as one more…Everything with Millie. “One thing at a time, Kahi….first you find out what’s happening with this wedding…then you worry about Millie…”