The Mask Of The Monster

(From Ella's Perspective)

We were on our way back. Jed was still thinking about the things I had told him earlier. "Everything makes sense now. You're in love with him."

"What?"

"You're in love with Leandro. Oh lord, he is going to kill me if he hears me call him by name, right?"

"He might," I said. It was not a lie. I saw how Leandro behaved with others. He was just a bit different towards me. But I had to admit that even when he was a bit possessive, he was kind of handsome, a lot handsome truly. 

"Don't tell him I called him that," Jed said. "Anyway, as I said, you're in love with him and he's in love with you. Don't you think you two need to do something more than just kissing?"

"It's not time yet," I said. "And besides, I don't know if I'm in love with him or if he's in love with me. We just like each other and that's all for now. We'll think about the future later."

"Mark my word. You two are in love, just too stupid to see it."

"If he hears that you called him stupid..."

"You won't tell him, I know."

"I won't," I said. "Now will you tell me why exactly you are working in the castle?"

"Leora, I..."

"First of all, my name is Ella. And then, I know that it's not just for money. I suspect a thing, but I'm not sure."

"So you're telling me I'm in the castle not for money, but something else?"

"No, I'm not saying that. I mean, you're in the castle for money, but there is something else you've in mind to do as well. I'm not sure. It's just... I don't think it's normal the way you talk about the king's father. And call me crazy, but I've seen you looking at him that day and trust me, the way your lips were pursing... It's not normal. There was pure anger. I don't like him as well. But I'm sure I don't look like that when I look at him."

"Well, you're right. As you shared your secrets with me, I should share mine as well," Jed sighed. "Remember I told you that my father left my mother? I have never seen my father before or knew who it is. But when my mother threw me out of the house finding out that I'm gay, she slipped out that I'm the king's father's child. He left after raping mother."

"But your mother is human. Humans and shifters can't make children here," I pointed out. 

"They can't. But my mother is not human. She is a shifter as well. She just doesn't use her powers," he said. 

"What? Then you must be a shifter as well?" I exclaimed. The thought of Jed being a shifter was uncomfortable. I could not take the fact that he could turn into that ugly creature at any moment. 

"I am. I don't use my powers as well."

"It's a huge thing. You should have told me this earlier. Anyway, do you forget what you do in your Orgade form as well?"

"I don't know. I mean, I've never turned before. But they don't forget what they do in their Orgade forms, I heard."

"Leandro forgets... He is different. Perhaps that's why. But how is it possible that you haven't turned before?"

"I never liked being a shifter. There is no need for me to turn."

"But haven't you ever become angry? Leandro said that if the shifters become angry, they lose control and turn into those things."

"I've never become that angry," he muttered.

"That explains." 

"So now that you two are tied together because of the marking..."

"Half-marking," I corrected.

"Yeah, that. He seems pretty sure about it."

"He is helping," I said.

"Do you think it's just help? He literally made you his in a way and made him yours. You two are bound together. It's not just help, Ella."

"You don't understand."

"It's you who doesn't understand," he said. "Open your eyes, Ella. Can't you see that he has brought his guards down to you? He tells you about things that others can use against him. He doesn't care about that. He trusts you. He marked you and it means, neither of you can get anyone else till one of you dies. He can't mark others or sleep with others without you knowing about it. You can't do the same. In case of a mark, no one can touch the person without their consent. But as you're half-marked, no shifters can touch you without your consent. He will know the moment if a shifter tries to do something bad to you. He won't find out about the humans though... It's only possible in case of full marks," he said. 

"Leandro hasn't told me about this," I muttered.

"He must have a reason behind it. He cares for you a lot after all."

"Why would he choose me?"

"Because he loves you," Jed said without missing the beat. "He cares for you and trusts you. What more any of you needs? He knows that you're the one for him and you know what? He is the one for you as well. Don't let him go, Ella."

Whatever Jed was saying was not pointless. Did Leandro truly love me? I was not sure about this. Because love was not something easy. But I was sure that he cared for me and trusted me. It was all I needed to think about giving him a chance. He wanted a chance as well. So, why not try?

On the way back to the forest, I thought about him. I had to admit that he was doing too many things for me. His behavior changed as well. And he was being gentle with me. Well, he was never too rough on me, but he was not too gentle either. But now... He was different. 

He even promised me that he would tell me more about him and I knew he would. He would not break his promise. 

He was waiting for me there, looking as handsome as always wearing that black shirt with the first two buttons undone. He never did those buttons and I had to admit, it enhanced his looks. 

It was still a mystery to me how I managed to get him by my side. A man as handsome as him was everyone's dream. He was the type of man everyone wanted. Yet here I was, I never dreamt of having anyone in my life, I got him now. I did not care what our relationship was. All I knew was that he was there in my life, he cared for me and trusted me. 

I smiled looking at him. To my surprise, the side of his lips curled up into a slight smile as well, welling my heart up with a strange sensation. This feeling was different than the time we kissed or he touched me. It was kind of like the feeling of being_ home. 

I ran up to him and hugged him. I did not know why I did that. I just felt like I needed to. His familiar muscular scent filled my nostrils and his powerful aura seemed to wrap around me as his hands gently embraced me, pulling me into him. 

"I kept my deal. I didn't get in trouble nor did unnecessary things," I said, my nose still buried into his chest. "Now you have to show me the stones."

"Good job," he said and to my shock, kissed the top of my head, kind of in a protective and proud way. 

I looked up at him, surprised. He brought his face down and I did not move away. I let him capture my lips, making my mind blurry with his taste that was hard to resist. His hand wrapped around my waist as his lips moved slow and passionately on mine, tasting every part of me the way I could taste him. 

He pulled his lips away and kissed right the bottom of my cheekbone. I shuddered, but he held me close to him. He looked at me and my eyes welled up for some reason. It was the first time it happened after a long time. But I managed to blink them away before he could notice, at least I thought so. 

"Let's go home. I've got a lot to tell you," I said, taking his hand and he smiled at me. 

"Yes, let's go home."