Chapter 184: The Vow
Arawn was quiet for a moment, making Evanna bite inside her mouth, still avoiding his gaze. "*I am sorry to hear about your mother.*" He caressed her cheek and tilted her chin to look at him. Evanna released a quivering breath upon seeing his features gentle; his eyes were not full of anger or malice. "*I must confess, though.. I am struggling with the idea that you know the uses of the gem, something that I do not. Only a few knew of its existence.*"
Evanna looked to the side, feeling his scepticism like a small wound in her chest. It was hard to believe she knew, but out of everyone, she didn’t think Arawn would-
"*Hey,*" Arawn steered her face back to him. "*I never said I didn’t believe you. You are a clever woman and more courageous than most men to follow down a path to near death to claim a Flori’s gem. But.." His face leaned closer to hers, and she gulped in response, although the Prince paused before her. "I know that everything you do is for love.*"
Arawn lowered his gaze to her lips that were parted from her soft, shallow inhalation due to their closeness. Evanna’s eyes followed suit, sliding down to look at the curve in his lips. Clearing his throat, Arawn stepped back and released her face from his hands. The enchantment was broken, but although she knew how close they were to kissing, Evanna’s eyes were still glazed over. It was with great effort to look away from Arawn’s lips.
"*Do you have proof with you? I would like to see what led you on this journey to me,*" Arawn asked, completely snapping her out of whatever temptations clouded her thoughts.
The Princess straightened at his words. Proof. Evanna smiled, "*All the proof you need is in my bag.. Ah, but my bag is in the tent.*" That would be problematic if there is indeed a time limit to that spell cast above them in the camp.
Arawn paused for a moment, his gaze rising to look behind her and then back down to her face once more. "*You remembered to bring your swords and any other manner of weaponry yet not your bag,*" He drawled, his expression turning amused.
"*It would not deem a proper kidnapping without a little fighting spirit.. Bringing my belongings along is as good as holding my hands out, waiting for you to tie me up,*" Evanna exclaimed, inciting a quiet chuckle from the Prince.
They stared at each other, smiling in amusement, then slowly, the corners of their lips slid down. It was as though something crackled and changed in the air around them, along with a rising tension Evanna could not quite comprehend. She could hear her heart pounding so loudly she worried Arawn might hear it revealing her nervousness. Although he had put some distance between them, changing the subject, it was now Evanna who followed her feet, urging her towards him.