Chapter 124 Strange Catharsis (3)

The hut was dark and mostly empty. It stood farthest among the huts, mostly isolated from the rest and with nothing more but a simple bed. The bed looked like it was mostly made of wood and then leaves for furnishing.

A couple of hides were present and looked to function as either pillows or blankets. Whichever the user preferred, but it looked untouched and unused. The Vampire couple looked at it and then at each other with an unreadable gaze.

Lukas wanted to grimace–he had expected something more comfortable.

More cozy for people who wanted to rest… and maybe do other more things.

Chaerin finally smiled at him. "It's not bad, right?"

"I suppose if there's something that Theodore and his group didn't quite consider when they visited here–it's introducing them to proper beddings and all that." Lukas remarked.

He approached the bed and sat down.

It wasn't the most comfortable one, but it was not half bad either.

"I don't think they've ever thought of trading–or even if they did, perhaps it was too costly." Chaerin offered as she plopped down beside him and then laid down.

"You're right, most likely." Lukas joined her and turned to face her. "How do you feel? Is your wound really healed?"

"Hmm… you can check it if you like." Chaerin smirked at him, her red eyes glowing at that moment.

Lukas hummed and couldn't quite hide his own pleasure. Now that they were alone, it finally seemed like they had the time and space to be just themselves.

Before he knew it, Chaerin moved closer to him and wrapped her hands around him. She pulled herself to his chest, burying her face in it.

It was an intimate move that made Lukas blink, but his hands instantly went to caress her hair.

"You doing, okay?" Lukas asked.

"As good as someone who nearly found herself losing her boyfriend several times in the past few hours." Chaerin replied and squeezed harder. "Maybe even more during the time we left Lux."

"Hey," Lukas rested his chin on her head. "We're fine, aren't we?"

"For now, but what about next time?" Chaerin lifted her head and gave him a look.

"We'll be safer–"

"It's not exactly the most comforting to know that my boyfriend likes to go off on his own and decide that he's going to do this and then do that." Chaerin said a little reproachfully.

"Well, I mean, I had a feeling–" Lukas said.

"I think Alexei did have a point before we left to find the Heart of the Forest."

"Didn't things work out in the end though?" Lukas's brows furrowed together. "Do you think that Cervus and Ursa would have made peace if–"

"Shhh, that's not the point." Chaerin brushed her finger on his lips. "Listen to me, I love you–"

"And I love you too." Lukas kissed her forehead.

"Ah, ah–that's not going to work on me." Chaerin playfully swatted Lukas' face before her expression turned serious. "We didn't know if your choices would have paid off in the end, something else worse could have happened."

"But it didn't."

"But it could."

"Luckily, it didn't."

"And yet it could have." Chaerin narrowed her eyes at him.

"Come now, Chaerin. It's already over isn't it?" Lukas combed his fingers through her hair. "Shouldn't we be relaxing and trying to get as much rest as we can? It's been a long night as you said–"

"I wish that you consider what your choices could do–what bad things might happen if you needlessly throw yourself out there in the world." Chaerin sighed and averted her gaze. She pulled away slightly from him.

Lukas frowned and decided to say something that had annoyed him earlier.

"But weren't you the one who promised to stay with the villagers–"

"Because you went off and decided to see the Heart of the Forest!" Chaerin huffed. "Of course, your actions then led to the Dryad acting out and then Cervus discovering us, so of course we had to stay and make sure that the village is safe because it was your decision that led to this! We had to take responsibility for it–don't tell me that you were planning to run away!"

Lukas stiffened, but chose to be honest with her. He wouldn't lie.

"... If it came down to keeping you safe–"

"Then you wouldn't have forced us to go to the Heart of the Forest in the first place!"

"I thought that the Dryad could intercede for them, that fighting Cervus would be too costly of a battle–I wanted to keep you safe!"

"Is it really true?" Chaerin asked him. "If that had been the case, all we really needed to do in the first place when we got here was just stay with Cervus and–"

"You would have been fine with me and some warriors killing Ursa then?" Lukas shot her a look.

"I mean, that's–" Chaerin clicked her tongue and balled her fists. She took a breath and shook her head. "That isn't it. You're reckless and I worry–"

"Worrying isn't going to solve anything," Lukas replied and rubbed his face. "We could worry all we want and tire our brains out, but that doesn't change the situation or fix our problems. It's by making a choice and decisions that seem hard–"

"Without any consideration you mean?" Chaerin frowned. "I mean, how quickly did you come up with the idea–oh, let's go see the Heart of the Forest?"

"And who managed to quick wit himself out of the giant sandworm, Chaerin?" Lukas asked. "Because, that was me. I don't see how delaying decisions actually help anyone–"

"It makes more sense to consider things slowly–"

"Don't you trust me?"

"Now that's just unfair." Chaerin looked at him painfully. "Of course, I do–but that doesn't mean that I'll instantly believe in you every time. I don't think that's really reasonable… I mean, do you always trust me? No, right? I can't always trust you–"

"Lily would have–" Lukas started, but then caught himself.

Except it was a little too late.