I sat in my bed, the sun had not risen yet, but I had woken from a dreamless sleep and could no longer go back to sleep. As a child whenever I would face a sleepless night I would always wake my father, he would make me honey lemon tea, and we would read together for hours, not realizing the day had set in until my mother would stumble into the living room mumbling about us being creepily alike. Tears sprung to my eyes at the beautiful memories I had shared with my parents, for that was all I had now, just memories I would never get to spend more time with my parents create new memories. I wiped my tears with the sleeves of pyjamas, so sick of crying, I was so weak, the complete contradiction to the strong girl my parents had always thought me to be. My parents always thought of me as courageous, and it was time I began to act upon their perception. The next time I saw Alaricus Knight I wouldn't let him escape me without speaking to him, I would demand for him to let me go home.

With that resolve I slipped out of bed quietly, trying not to wake all the supernatural beings that lived in this house that could be woken by the slightest of noises.

I went into my closet, grabbing a fluffy robe to wear over my pyjamas, before tip toeing out of my room and to the library. I would continue with my odd traditions, even if I had to tweak them for the special circumstances.

I snuck into the kitchen signing in relief when I saw no one, nobody should have the displeasure of seeing my blotchy puffy face in the morning. It was easy to tell I had just cried and the staff were too caring for their own good, they would ask many questions.

I bustled about the kitchen making a kettle of honey lemon tea, trying to make the least amount of noise possible. I grabbed a little cup from the vast sets of tea china, pouring the steaming hot tea in the smell of it bringing a smile to my face.

I quietly made my way to library, opening the large door slowly and slipping in through the small opening I had managed to make in the door while sipping my tea.

I turned away from the door after carefully pressing it closed and what I saw almost made me drop my cup.

Alaricus Knight sat in one of the large couches, looking every bit the king he was, despite his casual attire and messily strewn hair, some strands dropping forward onto his forehead making him appear younger than he was. A book lay open on his lap, his scorching honey brown eyes stared intently at me, his lips pursed slightly.

"Morning Amara." His deep velvety voice rang out in the library seeming to resonate despite how quiet it was.

"Morning" I replied meekly, walking towards the books, my nerves in knots, only this morning I had made up my mind to speak to him but now actually seeing him had unnerved me. I pretended to concentrate on the books but watched him from the corner of my eyes, he seemed perplexed as he sat in his seat, his fists tightly gripping the side rests of the chair as his eyes were trained on my every movement.

He made a move to get up, and I waited for him to approach me, my breath caught in my throat, but like always he made his way towards the door like he usually did recently, and I didn't hesitate. The rush of the moment having me calling out his name before I could give my decision a second thought.

"Alaricus." His hand was at the door knob by now, but he froze his back tensing, he turned towards me slowly his scorching gaze turning my nerves into a jumbled mess again.

He stared at me waiting for me to elaborate, and I took a deep breath, taking a sip of my tea to waste time.

"Can we talk?" I asked hesitantly, and he nodded solemnly slowly walking towards me, and I stayed frozen in my spot, trying to gather my jumbled thoughts.

"What is it Amara?" He asked gently, his arms crossed at his chest as he stood before me. My eyes dropped to his muscled biceps and I swallowed in unease, seeing his large arms wasn't helping my nerves.

"I uh you seem to have been a-avoiding me." I stuttered pathetically when I made the mistake of looking into his unnerving gaze. He sighed deeply, holding out a hand to me and I looked at him confused before hesitantly putting my hand into his much larger one. He breathed deeply, as if that simple contact had breathed life into him. He made his way to the chairs, slowly leading me behind him. He settled onto one of the single seat couched, perching me on the one across from it.

"Amara, my love I can't bring myself to face you after what I did that day." He said looking down, not letting my hand go instead resting his second hand over top my hand, so that my hand was engulfed between his much larger, and warmer calloused ones.

"The fear in your eyes, it haunts me, you were afraid of me, I scared you. I let the monster out and it frightened you, I was much too ashamed to face you." He said the grief clear in his voice.

"I haven't been avoiding you, I just couldn't muster up the courage to face you." He finished softly, looking up into my eyes.

"Would you be able to find it in you to perhaps forgive me?" He asked quietly his eyes shon with a childish hope, and I didn't know how to respond to his question, I couldn't bring myself to diminish that hope.

"Yes, I-I forgive you." I said quietly, and a small smile brightened up his features.

He leaned forward in his seat, wrapping his arms around me, holding me close to his chest, nuzzling his face into my hair fondly.

"What did I do to ever deserve an angel like you?" He whispered softly, making me almost regret the question I was about to ask. I squirmed in his strong arms, and he released me gently, offering me an apologetic smile, the strewn strands of his hair, combined with his smile giving him a boyish appearance.

"If you were so ashamed as you put it, why didn't you send me home?" I ask, making his smile drop, his eyes turning grave.

"I'm assuming you are still hoping I would let you go." He said, and I nodded apprehensively, fearing his reaction.

"I can't let you go love, I apologize if that makes you upset, but like I have told you before I cannot let you go. I will not, but please do not let that make you unhappy, you could ask me for anything else, anything at all my love and I would give it to you." He says sincerely and I nod, not wanting to face his wrath again, even though his words had upset me, diminished my hope.

We sat in silence for a moment, he stared at me intensely, assessing my reaction to his words before he spoke

"You haven't chosen a book yet."

"May I make a suggestion?" He asked softly, and I nodded, making his light carefree expression return, his eyes held a childish excitement. Even though I very much doubted our taste in books was similar, I would read the book anyway. That childish excitement was fat to endearing to be crushed. He got up gracefully from his seat, making his way towards the book shelves pulling out an ancient looking book. Despite it's great condition its age was quite apparent.

"Give this a try love, it's one of my absolute favourites." He said, taking a seat beside me now, and I shuffled to the side to make space for him. Not wanting to upset him I accepted the book offering a small smile, making him smile softly in return, a tender look in his burning eyes.

I took a sip of my tea, looking for a place to put it down so that I could start up the large book I my lap, but found none. Alaricus Knight took a hold of the cup gently pulling it from my grasp, and I looked at him confused was he planning to hold it? But he brought it slowly up to his mouth, taking a small sip while staring intently into my eyes. My breath hitched in my throat at the longing in his eyes, and a small smile spread on his face.

"It's delicious." He spoke softly, and I gulped, the intimacy of his actions making me uncomfortable.

I read silently, and after a few moments of him staring at me, I grew uncomfortable enough to voice my thoughts.

"Mr.Knight, aren't you going to read something, perhaps continue the book you were reading when I got here." I said, and he frowned deeply, and I stared at him confused, was he that unstable that me asking him not to stare at me had ticked him off.

"You shouldn't feel the need to address me formally, Amara you can call me by my first name, you are the only one who can." He says his eyes tormented with a deep grief, so enchanting in their honey brown beauty that I sat compelled in his gaze.

"Alaricus." I muttered softly, and a soft shiver rumbled down his spine, as he hummed in approval.

"Your voice is beautiful." He mumbled running my cheek with the back of his hand affectionately, making me blush a deep scarlet. Adoration clear in his eyes as he stared intently at me, judging my every action.

"Please call me by my first name from now on." He asked softly after a moment of staring and I nodded, he smiled at me, leaning forward to cup my face, and press a kiss to my forehead, before he turned from me walking towards the door turning back to look at me, before walking out the door.

How was it possible for one man to be so deeply affected by the smallest of things that I did. My jaw dropped as the realization dawned upon me, he had stolen my tea.