Aaden and Reva reached a small creek not long after entering the woods and both took up their own home-crafted fishing rods. Aaden had taught her how to make her own some time ago, telling her how his father Neil had taught him. Reva was especially good at fishing and usually caught way more fish than Aaden.
The dragon threw his rod down after Reva got her sixth fish and he had yet to catch any.
"Ugh! How are you so good at this!?"
He turned to her with a skeptical look, as if trying to read her mind.
"You're like the fish whisperer..."
She only giggled.
"Reva can't talk to fish, Aaden."
He didn't look convinced but accepted it anyway and turned around.
"I'm gonna start the fire."
She heard him grumble as he walked.
"That's something only I can do..."
She smiled as she watched him start the fire by simply breathing some flames. He truly was a dragon. Everything he did that showed that fact never ceased to amaze her. She thought he was amazing.
Reva stood from the edge of the bank, setting down her rod and stepping onto the grass before making her way over to sit by the fire so her feet would warm up. Aaden adjusted his sitting position so that he was sitting next to her while the fish she caught cooked against the fire. She glanced at him, but he was only looking into the fire. He often got lost in thought when he looked into flames. She wondered why.
"Aaden?"
The young dragon blinked out of his thoughts, looking to his vampire companion with a raised brow.
"What's up?"
She looked into his warm coal eyes, hoping she didn't cross any lines by asking some questions.
"Are you worried about something..?"
His eyes softened at her concern, so she elaborated.
"Can Reva help you in any way?"
After all, he had saved her from the darkness that most definitely could have taken her if he hadn't stepped into her life. The least she could do was try to ease his worries.
He broke eye contact with her, unable to look directly into her honest gaze. He leaned forward a bit, running a hand on the back of his neck. Then he looked at her again, his gaze was determined, and maybe a bit concerned. It caught her by surprise.
"Reva...If I...If I left from here, would you come with me?"
She took a moment to keep herself from crying tears of happiness at his words. Her smile was bright and warm as she put her hand on his own.
"I would go anywhere as long as you are with me, Aaden."
He breathed a sigh of relief, lying back against the log in defeat.
"Thank goodness! I don't know what I would have done if you had said no!"
Before she could even think about replying, he jumped back into a sitting position, a wide grin of joy on his face.
"I probably would have just taken you anyway."
He laughed.
"After all, if I want to protect you, you need to stay close!"
Her hands tightened in her lap, and they shook slightly. It took her every last ounce of self-control she had not to cry. Anything he said has always had the ability to make her happy beyond words, but how was she supposed to respond to that? A month of his company has proven he was easily the most precious thing in her life, and yet, she struggled with how to express that.
Aaden took her nervous actions as a sign that she was worried about something.
"What's the matter?"
He took her hand in his own,...