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Emilios knew that trying to get Theo to meet alone with him was risking. This was a court gathering, with every noble family attempting to make a measure of the new King. Eyes were everywhere, watching every action. It wouldn’t have surprised him if Fotios had ordered someone to keep an eye on him. The deal had been that he would watch the love of his life marry his brother without interfering. And for the futures of the rest of the Leventi women, he would see that done.
As much as it broke him to let it happen.
As much as he would die a little inside when they were wed.
As much as he would spend their wedding night drinking away her memories, for their sake.
Once the marriage had happened, he could have her. And he was certain that she wouldn’t turn him away. Maybe, just maybe, one day he would be able to tell her why he had made the deal he did. Why he had betrayed her to a man he knew she despised. Why it appeared that he’d done nothing.
They had rarely spoken since the Circus, both far too busy to think of anything else but their duties and too long for the other. Now, he knew he needed to speak with her, to feel her one last time before she belonged to Achilleas.
Hidden in the back stall of the stables, Emilios waited. The stables had always been their meeting place, had always provided them with the ability to hide should they need it. And neither of them seemed to mind the company or the smell. Filled with horses that belonged specifically to the royal family, he was sure that they would be left alone for quite some time. The only people who would come to the stables during an open court function would be the Leventi ladies, and Emilios was sure that Theo would make sure they were left alone.
He heard her call out of him, and he replied with a soft whistle, directing her to the back, where it was dark and secluded.
His heart was in his throat as he anxiously awaited her appearance.
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Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Emilios knew that trying to get Theo to meet alone with him was risking. This was a court gathering, with every noble family attempting to make a measure of the new King. Eyes were everywhere, watching every action. It wouldn’t have surprised him if Fotios had ordered someone to keep an eye on him. The deal had been that he would watch the love of his life marry his brother without interfering. And for the futures of the rest of the Leventi women, he would see that done.
As much as it broke him to let it happen.
As much as he would die a little inside when they were wed.
As much as he would spend their wedding night drinking away her memories, for their sake.
Once the marriage had happened, he could have her. And he was certain that she wouldn’t turn him away. Maybe, just maybe, one day he would be able to tell her why he had made the deal he did. Why he had betrayed her to a man he knew she despised. Why it appeared that he’d done nothing.
They had rarely spoken since the Circus, both far too busy to think of anything else but their duties and too long for the other. Now, he knew he needed to speak with her, to feel her one last time before she belonged to Achilleas.
Hidden in the back stall of the stables, Emilios waited. The stables had always been their meeting place, had always provided them with the ability to hide should they need it. And neither of them seemed to mind the company or the smell. Filled with horses that belonged specifically to the royal family, he was sure that they would be left alone for quite some time. The only people who would come to the stables during an open court function would be the Leventi ladies, and Emilios was sure that Theo would make sure they were left alone.
He heard her call out of him, and he replied with a soft whistle, directing her to the back, where it was dark and secluded.
His heart was in his throat as he anxiously awaited her appearance.
Emilios knew that trying to get Theo to meet alone with him was risking. This was a court gathering, with every noble family attempting to make a measure of the new King. Eyes were everywhere, watching every action. It wouldn’t have surprised him if Fotios had ordered someone to keep an eye on him. The deal had been that he would watch the love of his life marry his brother without interfering. And for the futures of the rest of the Leventi women, he would see that done.
As much as it broke him to let it happen.
As much as he would die a little inside when they were wed.
As much as he would spend their wedding night drinking away her memories, for their sake.
Once the marriage had happened, he could have her. And he was certain that she wouldn’t turn him away. Maybe, just maybe, one day he would be able to tell her why he had made the deal he did. Why he had betrayed her to a man he knew she despised. Why it appeared that he’d done nothing.
They had rarely spoken since the Circus, both far too busy to think of anything else but their duties and too long for the other. Now, he knew he needed to speak with her, to feel her one last time before she belonged to Achilleas.
Hidden in the back stall of the stables, Emilios waited. The stables had always been their meeting place, had always provided them with the ability to hide should they need it. And neither of them seemed to mind the company or the smell. Filled with horses that belonged specifically to the royal family, he was sure that they would be left alone for quite some time. The only people who would come to the stables during an open court function would be the Leventi ladies, and Emilios was sure that Theo would make sure they were left alone.
He heard her call out of him, and he replied with a soft whistle, directing her to the back, where it was dark and secluded.
His heart was in his throat as he anxiously awaited her appearance.
She’d never considered their meetings to be anything but secretive in the past. Sure, they’d passed private notes in public marketplaces unbeknownst to anyone in their families.. They’d found each other in dark shadows and spent days away from their homes horseback riding away from the prying eyes and whispering lips of servants. But until now, it was always in preparation for their engagement. It would have been unseemly to be seen so much together before anything official was made between the families, though at public events when they were both present they did get to share a bit of time together out in the open. She was rather surprised no one in their families had caught on long before this.
Now, with her engagement to Achilleas.. With her talk with her father and the upcoming temple blessings, meeting Emilios had taken on a far more clandestine and risky heir. She didn’t particularly like the feeling that what she was doing was somehow wrong. How could being with him be wrong?
Her heart raced as she moved to the back of the stables and when he replied with a low whistle, she turned again to ensure no one was there before pulling the gate open and slipping inside the stall.
It was dark this far back; no lamps lit and her eyes needed time to adjust. She stared into the darkness as she pulled the gate closed; the sound of her heartbeat thick in her ears. When she finally saw the dark shadow of his shape, she let go of the latch and stepped to him; those first two steps measured. But she’d not spoken to him in weeks... Not heard from him. This was worse than when he was off to war because now it seemed like she needed to see him to validate what they were.. So it didn’t seem like an illusion. She’d not spoken to him since the night of the attacks and she’d not received any letters either.
She closed the distance quickly in those final steps; taking his face in both hands as she stepped up on her toes to seek out his lips. The kiss was heated; passionate and spoke of her need for him. Of how much she’d missed him. She pressed the length of her slender form against his and whimpered against his mouth as if she’d been crawling through the desert for months and he was the first sip of water she’d had in just as long.
When she finally broke the kiss, she pressed her forehead against the bridge of his nose; finally happy. Finally, it felt like the weight that had been sitting on her shoulders all day...no.. for the last two weeks was gone. She’d never felt safer than she had when she was with him; never felt more emboldened and confident in herself than when they were together. He was her life’s breath; the air she breathed and when he was gone, all oxygen went with him.
She stroked his cheek; brushing feathery kisses against his lips; his cheeks; his chin; his jaw as she spoke. “My love… By the Gods how I have missed you.. How I’ve needed you.” With him, the haze of alcohol she’d buried herself in since he’d left was a nuisance, not a relief. With it, her senses were dulled.. Her anxiety, comfortably numbed. ...But here with him, the sensation of his cheek against her nose was dulled as well. The smell of him seemed muted and her thoughts less than clear. Sure, they’d had their times laughing over a bottle of wine until they fell asleep drunkenly. ..But she wanted to experience him without it. It was the first time she regretted drinking that day.
She had so much she wanted to ask.. So much she wanted to tell him and it seemed she didn’t have enough time for any of it. Her hand pressed against his heart; needing to feel it’s pulse. With his Uncle and cousin dead, was he well? Was anyone checking on him? Was he taking care of himself? Where had he been? Had he spoken to Irakles? Had he figured out a way to change their fate? But all of her questions and concerns seemed minuscule in comparison to just being with him. Right now she just needed him. To hell with everything else, she just needed to feel his arms around her and his mouth at her temple; soothing her soul and reminding her how he was the only person who truly made her feel beautiful.
JD
Staff Team
JD
Staff Team
This post was created by our staff team.
Please contact us with your queries and questions.
She’d never considered their meetings to be anything but secretive in the past. Sure, they’d passed private notes in public marketplaces unbeknownst to anyone in their families.. They’d found each other in dark shadows and spent days away from their homes horseback riding away from the prying eyes and whispering lips of servants. But until now, it was always in preparation for their engagement. It would have been unseemly to be seen so much together before anything official was made between the families, though at public events when they were both present they did get to share a bit of time together out in the open. She was rather surprised no one in their families had caught on long before this.
Now, with her engagement to Achilleas.. With her talk with her father and the upcoming temple blessings, meeting Emilios had taken on a far more clandestine and risky heir. She didn’t particularly like the feeling that what she was doing was somehow wrong. How could being with him be wrong?
Her heart raced as she moved to the back of the stables and when he replied with a low whistle, she turned again to ensure no one was there before pulling the gate open and slipping inside the stall.
It was dark this far back; no lamps lit and her eyes needed time to adjust. She stared into the darkness as she pulled the gate closed; the sound of her heartbeat thick in her ears. When she finally saw the dark shadow of his shape, she let go of the latch and stepped to him; those first two steps measured. But she’d not spoken to him in weeks... Not heard from him. This was worse than when he was off to war because now it seemed like she needed to see him to validate what they were.. So it didn’t seem like an illusion. She’d not spoken to him since the night of the attacks and she’d not received any letters either.
She closed the distance quickly in those final steps; taking his face in both hands as she stepped up on her toes to seek out his lips. The kiss was heated; passionate and spoke of her need for him. Of how much she’d missed him. She pressed the length of her slender form against his and whimpered against his mouth as if she’d been crawling through the desert for months and he was the first sip of water she’d had in just as long.
When she finally broke the kiss, she pressed her forehead against the bridge of his nose; finally happy. Finally, it felt like the weight that had been sitting on her shoulders all day...no.. for the last two weeks was gone. She’d never felt safer than she had when she was with him; never felt more emboldened and confident in herself than when they were together. He was her life’s breath; the air she breathed and when he was gone, all oxygen went with him.
She stroked his cheek; brushing feathery kisses against his lips; his cheeks; his chin; his jaw as she spoke. “My love… By the Gods how I have missed you.. How I’ve needed you.” With him, the haze of alcohol she’d buried herself in since he’d left was a nuisance, not a relief. With it, her senses were dulled.. Her anxiety, comfortably numbed. ...But here with him, the sensation of his cheek against her nose was dulled as well. The smell of him seemed muted and her thoughts less than clear. Sure, they’d had their times laughing over a bottle of wine until they fell asleep drunkenly. ..But she wanted to experience him without it. It was the first time she regretted drinking that day.
She had so much she wanted to ask.. So much she wanted to tell him and it seemed she didn’t have enough time for any of it. Her hand pressed against his heart; needing to feel it’s pulse. With his Uncle and cousin dead, was he well? Was anyone checking on him? Was he taking care of himself? Where had he been? Had he spoken to Irakles? Had he figured out a way to change their fate? But all of her questions and concerns seemed minuscule in comparison to just being with him. Right now she just needed him. To hell with everything else, she just needed to feel his arms around her and his mouth at her temple; soothing her soul and reminding her how he was the only person who truly made her feel beautiful.
She’d never considered their meetings to be anything but secretive in the past. Sure, they’d passed private notes in public marketplaces unbeknownst to anyone in their families.. They’d found each other in dark shadows and spent days away from their homes horseback riding away from the prying eyes and whispering lips of servants. But until now, it was always in preparation for their engagement. It would have been unseemly to be seen so much together before anything official was made between the families, though at public events when they were both present they did get to share a bit of time together out in the open. She was rather surprised no one in their families had caught on long before this.
Now, with her engagement to Achilleas.. With her talk with her father and the upcoming temple blessings, meeting Emilios had taken on a far more clandestine and risky heir. She didn’t particularly like the feeling that what she was doing was somehow wrong. How could being with him be wrong?
Her heart raced as she moved to the back of the stables and when he replied with a low whistle, she turned again to ensure no one was there before pulling the gate open and slipping inside the stall.
It was dark this far back; no lamps lit and her eyes needed time to adjust. She stared into the darkness as she pulled the gate closed; the sound of her heartbeat thick in her ears. When she finally saw the dark shadow of his shape, she let go of the latch and stepped to him; those first two steps measured. But she’d not spoken to him in weeks... Not heard from him. This was worse than when he was off to war because now it seemed like she needed to see him to validate what they were.. So it didn’t seem like an illusion. She’d not spoken to him since the night of the attacks and she’d not received any letters either.
She closed the distance quickly in those final steps; taking his face in both hands as she stepped up on her toes to seek out his lips. The kiss was heated; passionate and spoke of her need for him. Of how much she’d missed him. She pressed the length of her slender form against his and whimpered against his mouth as if she’d been crawling through the desert for months and he was the first sip of water she’d had in just as long.
When she finally broke the kiss, she pressed her forehead against the bridge of his nose; finally happy. Finally, it felt like the weight that had been sitting on her shoulders all day...no.. for the last two weeks was gone. She’d never felt safer than she had when she was with him; never felt more emboldened and confident in herself than when they were together. He was her life’s breath; the air she breathed and when he was gone, all oxygen went with him.
She stroked his cheek; brushing feathery kisses against his lips; his cheeks; his chin; his jaw as she spoke. “My love… By the Gods how I have missed you.. How I’ve needed you.” With him, the haze of alcohol she’d buried herself in since he’d left was a nuisance, not a relief. With it, her senses were dulled.. Her anxiety, comfortably numbed. ...But here with him, the sensation of his cheek against her nose was dulled as well. The smell of him seemed muted and her thoughts less than clear. Sure, they’d had their times laughing over a bottle of wine until they fell asleep drunkenly. ..But she wanted to experience him without it. It was the first time she regretted drinking that day.
She had so much she wanted to ask.. So much she wanted to tell him and it seemed she didn’t have enough time for any of it. Her hand pressed against his heart; needing to feel it’s pulse. With his Uncle and cousin dead, was he well? Was anyone checking on him? Was he taking care of himself? Where had he been? Had he spoken to Irakles? Had he figured out a way to change their fate? But all of her questions and concerns seemed minuscule in comparison to just being with him. Right now she just needed him. To hell with everything else, she just needed to feel his arms around her and his mouth at her temple; soothing her soul and reminding her how he was the only person who truly made her feel beautiful.
There was a way things were done among the nobles and the royals. As the son of a Prince, he was expected to marry well and to maintain the proper steps towards marriage. While he was sure that marrying Leventi would have been smiled on by both the Gods and his parents, Emilios knew that he should go through it right. And he thought he had been, for the most part. Her reputation was important. Now, waiting for her, he wished that he would have made it known sooner.
Even if they were married simply because he’d already defiled her, it would have been better than watching her marry his brother.
His eyes had long adjusted to the lack of light, and he saw her the moment she stepped into his cell. They had always been magnetic, had always been drawn to each other. As she stepped into the stall, Emilios stepped forward to meet her, his arms at her waist to pull her against him. They had a passionate friendship but were even heavier once they started intimate. His lips were on hers, reminding her just how much he loved her.
This was what he had been missing, all these weeks. As much as he tried to bury himself in work and hard labor, as much as he tried to forget her the way Stephanos had always suggested-- there was no one like Theo. No one who made his heart clench and ache and pine as she did. He wanted to consume her now, wanted to toss her over the side of a stallion and ride off.
But the deal was fresh in his mind, and the lives of her sisters were on the line. So he deepened the kiss and stopped thinking about leaving with her.
As she pulled back a bit, resting against the bridge of his nose, his lips pressed a kiss to her brow. Her words were gentle, making it obvious that they shared the same feelings about the situation. Emilios wondered just how long they would have before someone noticed they were missing. Hell, he was sure that Fotios would have noticed the two right away if he wasn’t so wrapped up in the political climate of the room. ”I have missed you too, love.” He said quietly against her brow, wishing that they weren’t in the shadows.
He thought this would be easier, thought that it would be less hectic if he kept his distance. Once he realized that there was no turning back, no forcing the marriage into his favor, Emilios knew he had to stay away. As he held her now, he knew that was futile. They were soulmates, after all. Time, distance, hell even marriage, wouldn’t stop that. He had let Fotios exploit that, and there was little he could do to care.
His lips pressed into hers again, and again before he pulled back. ”I do not think there is much else we can do, Theo.” He whispered into her ear, knowing it would be hard to take. She was days away from the marriage, and they had both exhausted all resources. ”I cannot take this to the King, not with the Creed looming over his reign.” She expected more from him, and he didn’t have a solution for his. She was going to have to marry Achilleas, not just because of the deal he made, but because they had no other options. Their parents didn’t seem to care about love, his father not even held to his wedding vows. And Fotios felt the same as his father-- love and marriage did not have to be exclusive.
Perhaps, one day, she would see that, too.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
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There was a way things were done among the nobles and the royals. As the son of a Prince, he was expected to marry well and to maintain the proper steps towards marriage. While he was sure that marrying Leventi would have been smiled on by both the Gods and his parents, Emilios knew that he should go through it right. And he thought he had been, for the most part. Her reputation was important. Now, waiting for her, he wished that he would have made it known sooner.
Even if they were married simply because he’d already defiled her, it would have been better than watching her marry his brother.
His eyes had long adjusted to the lack of light, and he saw her the moment she stepped into his cell. They had always been magnetic, had always been drawn to each other. As she stepped into the stall, Emilios stepped forward to meet her, his arms at her waist to pull her against him. They had a passionate friendship but were even heavier once they started intimate. His lips were on hers, reminding her just how much he loved her.
This was what he had been missing, all these weeks. As much as he tried to bury himself in work and hard labor, as much as he tried to forget her the way Stephanos had always suggested-- there was no one like Theo. No one who made his heart clench and ache and pine as she did. He wanted to consume her now, wanted to toss her over the side of a stallion and ride off.
But the deal was fresh in his mind, and the lives of her sisters were on the line. So he deepened the kiss and stopped thinking about leaving with her.
As she pulled back a bit, resting against the bridge of his nose, his lips pressed a kiss to her brow. Her words were gentle, making it obvious that they shared the same feelings about the situation. Emilios wondered just how long they would have before someone noticed they were missing. Hell, he was sure that Fotios would have noticed the two right away if he wasn’t so wrapped up in the political climate of the room. ”I have missed you too, love.” He said quietly against her brow, wishing that they weren’t in the shadows.
He thought this would be easier, thought that it would be less hectic if he kept his distance. Once he realized that there was no turning back, no forcing the marriage into his favor, Emilios knew he had to stay away. As he held her now, he knew that was futile. They were soulmates, after all. Time, distance, hell even marriage, wouldn’t stop that. He had let Fotios exploit that, and there was little he could do to care.
His lips pressed into hers again, and again before he pulled back. ”I do not think there is much else we can do, Theo.” He whispered into her ear, knowing it would be hard to take. She was days away from the marriage, and they had both exhausted all resources. ”I cannot take this to the King, not with the Creed looming over his reign.” She expected more from him, and he didn’t have a solution for his. She was going to have to marry Achilleas, not just because of the deal he made, but because they had no other options. Their parents didn’t seem to care about love, his father not even held to his wedding vows. And Fotios felt the same as his father-- love and marriage did not have to be exclusive.
Perhaps, one day, she would see that, too.
There was a way things were done among the nobles and the royals. As the son of a Prince, he was expected to marry well and to maintain the proper steps towards marriage. While he was sure that marrying Leventi would have been smiled on by both the Gods and his parents, Emilios knew that he should go through it right. And he thought he had been, for the most part. Her reputation was important. Now, waiting for her, he wished that he would have made it known sooner.
Even if they were married simply because he’d already defiled her, it would have been better than watching her marry his brother.
His eyes had long adjusted to the lack of light, and he saw her the moment she stepped into his cell. They had always been magnetic, had always been drawn to each other. As she stepped into the stall, Emilios stepped forward to meet her, his arms at her waist to pull her against him. They had a passionate friendship but were even heavier once they started intimate. His lips were on hers, reminding her just how much he loved her.
This was what he had been missing, all these weeks. As much as he tried to bury himself in work and hard labor, as much as he tried to forget her the way Stephanos had always suggested-- there was no one like Theo. No one who made his heart clench and ache and pine as she did. He wanted to consume her now, wanted to toss her over the side of a stallion and ride off.
But the deal was fresh in his mind, and the lives of her sisters were on the line. So he deepened the kiss and stopped thinking about leaving with her.
As she pulled back a bit, resting against the bridge of his nose, his lips pressed a kiss to her brow. Her words were gentle, making it obvious that they shared the same feelings about the situation. Emilios wondered just how long they would have before someone noticed they were missing. Hell, he was sure that Fotios would have noticed the two right away if he wasn’t so wrapped up in the political climate of the room. ”I have missed you too, love.” He said quietly against her brow, wishing that they weren’t in the shadows.
He thought this would be easier, thought that it would be less hectic if he kept his distance. Once he realized that there was no turning back, no forcing the marriage into his favor, Emilios knew he had to stay away. As he held her now, he knew that was futile. They were soulmates, after all. Time, distance, hell even marriage, wouldn’t stop that. He had let Fotios exploit that, and there was little he could do to care.
His lips pressed into hers again, and again before he pulled back. ”I do not think there is much else we can do, Theo.” He whispered into her ear, knowing it would be hard to take. She was days away from the marriage, and they had both exhausted all resources. ”I cannot take this to the King, not with the Creed looming over his reign.” She expected more from him, and he didn’t have a solution for his. She was going to have to marry Achilleas, not just because of the deal he made, but because they had no other options. Their parents didn’t seem to care about love, his father not even held to his wedding vows. And Fotios felt the same as his father-- love and marriage did not have to be exclusive.
Perhaps, one day, she would see that, too.
What time they had now was bittersweet. Days were numbered and now it was growing closer to counting hours. In two weeks she would wed Achilleas. In a week they would take their temple tour and request that the Gods bless their marriage. But how could any God bless a union between her and the wrong brother? There was no rhyme or reason to it. She loved Emilios and he loved her. Blindingly. Intensely. Nothing that maddening could have come without Aphrodite’s hand. Surely, if she turned her back on him she would risk dishonoring at the very least, one God.
Their kisses were feverish; hasty as if at any moment they could be called away from each other. She wanted more of him, but the idea of her youngest sister still being nearby.. Of her family yards away beyond two walls was just risky. Perhaps too risky and so she relegated herself weakly to just kisses. But his words were a soothing balm. The last time they’d spoken he’d determined her to be Achilleas’s. He’d held her at bay and they’d fought and she couldn’t figure out how to bridge the divide. But they were both foolish if they ever thought anything would keep them apart. It was the first time since that night that she felt relief and it gave her a thrill of energy that burned through her.
He found her lips again; assailing them with kisses before he gave her his news… or lack thereof. His doubts, more or less as if his kisses would somehow cushion what he said.. And it did. How could she possibly be upset here? Now? Nothing looked so bleak when he held her. No obstacle too insurmountable. They would figure this out. They would be together… she was sure of it. ...She just needed to reassure him. “Shhh… shh… darling..” Her voice was filled with hope and happiness; tears flooded down her cheeks as she tried not to laugh in her giddiness. Fingertips brushed against his cheeks between kisses in soft, calming caresses. “We’ll find a way… We’ve always found a way..” She peppered her lips along his mouth and chin. “Achilleas has been gone. ...I can speak to him when he returns. Surely he’d understand.. Or Pia. Pia can reason with Stephanos.” They only had a couple weeks… but other arrangements could be made in that time. ...Perhaps even another Leveni would do.. Eva and Nana were of age. They would be splendid partners for Achilleas. And while she was aware of Emilios’s animosity towards his brother, she was sure that whatever bond they had would win out… she would never place a man between her and her sister's relationships.. Especially if she wasn’t attached to them.
Surely no one could blame her if Achilleas ended the arrangement and not her…
She reached up to curl her arms around him; burying her face into his shoulder so he could hold her. Just for a while more. She derived so much of her strength from him and the day had been trying, to say the least. She sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes as he replied before leaning back. It was too dark for him to see the glint in her eyes, but her voice was laced with excitement. “If that doesn’t work we can go, Emilios. ...I meant it. I’d follow you anywhere. Take me away… We can move to...Egypt or.. Italy. We could disappear… they’d never find us.” The idea seemed adventurous when she spoke it aloud to him… but if she were to think harder about it she would miss her sisters and her parents terribly. She would exchange one form of misery for another. But at least in this way, they could be together. In the most awful, selfish way they could think of, but Emilios was the only selfish thing she’d ever done for herself. The only thing she’d ever wanted for herself. She had no desire to give him up next week.
JD
Staff Team
JD
Staff Team
This post was created by our staff team.
Please contact us with your queries and questions.
What time they had now was bittersweet. Days were numbered and now it was growing closer to counting hours. In two weeks she would wed Achilleas. In a week they would take their temple tour and request that the Gods bless their marriage. But how could any God bless a union between her and the wrong brother? There was no rhyme or reason to it. She loved Emilios and he loved her. Blindingly. Intensely. Nothing that maddening could have come without Aphrodite’s hand. Surely, if she turned her back on him she would risk dishonoring at the very least, one God.
Their kisses were feverish; hasty as if at any moment they could be called away from each other. She wanted more of him, but the idea of her youngest sister still being nearby.. Of her family yards away beyond two walls was just risky. Perhaps too risky and so she relegated herself weakly to just kisses. But his words were a soothing balm. The last time they’d spoken he’d determined her to be Achilleas’s. He’d held her at bay and they’d fought and she couldn’t figure out how to bridge the divide. But they were both foolish if they ever thought anything would keep them apart. It was the first time since that night that she felt relief and it gave her a thrill of energy that burned through her.
He found her lips again; assailing them with kisses before he gave her his news… or lack thereof. His doubts, more or less as if his kisses would somehow cushion what he said.. And it did. How could she possibly be upset here? Now? Nothing looked so bleak when he held her. No obstacle too insurmountable. They would figure this out. They would be together… she was sure of it. ...She just needed to reassure him. “Shhh… shh… darling..” Her voice was filled with hope and happiness; tears flooded down her cheeks as she tried not to laugh in her giddiness. Fingertips brushed against his cheeks between kisses in soft, calming caresses. “We’ll find a way… We’ve always found a way..” She peppered her lips along his mouth and chin. “Achilleas has been gone. ...I can speak to him when he returns. Surely he’d understand.. Or Pia. Pia can reason with Stephanos.” They only had a couple weeks… but other arrangements could be made in that time. ...Perhaps even another Leveni would do.. Eva and Nana were of age. They would be splendid partners for Achilleas. And while she was aware of Emilios’s animosity towards his brother, she was sure that whatever bond they had would win out… she would never place a man between her and her sister's relationships.. Especially if she wasn’t attached to them.
Surely no one could blame her if Achilleas ended the arrangement and not her…
She reached up to curl her arms around him; burying her face into his shoulder so he could hold her. Just for a while more. She derived so much of her strength from him and the day had been trying, to say the least. She sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes as he replied before leaning back. It was too dark for him to see the glint in her eyes, but her voice was laced with excitement. “If that doesn’t work we can go, Emilios. ...I meant it. I’d follow you anywhere. Take me away… We can move to...Egypt or.. Italy. We could disappear… they’d never find us.” The idea seemed adventurous when she spoke it aloud to him… but if she were to think harder about it she would miss her sisters and her parents terribly. She would exchange one form of misery for another. But at least in this way, they could be together. In the most awful, selfish way they could think of, but Emilios was the only selfish thing she’d ever done for herself. The only thing she’d ever wanted for herself. She had no desire to give him up next week.
What time they had now was bittersweet. Days were numbered and now it was growing closer to counting hours. In two weeks she would wed Achilleas. In a week they would take their temple tour and request that the Gods bless their marriage. But how could any God bless a union between her and the wrong brother? There was no rhyme or reason to it. She loved Emilios and he loved her. Blindingly. Intensely. Nothing that maddening could have come without Aphrodite’s hand. Surely, if she turned her back on him she would risk dishonoring at the very least, one God.
Their kisses were feverish; hasty as if at any moment they could be called away from each other. She wanted more of him, but the idea of her youngest sister still being nearby.. Of her family yards away beyond two walls was just risky. Perhaps too risky and so she relegated herself weakly to just kisses. But his words were a soothing balm. The last time they’d spoken he’d determined her to be Achilleas’s. He’d held her at bay and they’d fought and she couldn’t figure out how to bridge the divide. But they were both foolish if they ever thought anything would keep them apart. It was the first time since that night that she felt relief and it gave her a thrill of energy that burned through her.
He found her lips again; assailing them with kisses before he gave her his news… or lack thereof. His doubts, more or less as if his kisses would somehow cushion what he said.. And it did. How could she possibly be upset here? Now? Nothing looked so bleak when he held her. No obstacle too insurmountable. They would figure this out. They would be together… she was sure of it. ...She just needed to reassure him. “Shhh… shh… darling..” Her voice was filled with hope and happiness; tears flooded down her cheeks as she tried not to laugh in her giddiness. Fingertips brushed against his cheeks between kisses in soft, calming caresses. “We’ll find a way… We’ve always found a way..” She peppered her lips along his mouth and chin. “Achilleas has been gone. ...I can speak to him when he returns. Surely he’d understand.. Or Pia. Pia can reason with Stephanos.” They only had a couple weeks… but other arrangements could be made in that time. ...Perhaps even another Leveni would do.. Eva and Nana were of age. They would be splendid partners for Achilleas. And while she was aware of Emilios’s animosity towards his brother, she was sure that whatever bond they had would win out… she would never place a man between her and her sister's relationships.. Especially if she wasn’t attached to them.
Surely no one could blame her if Achilleas ended the arrangement and not her…
She reached up to curl her arms around him; burying her face into his shoulder so he could hold her. Just for a while more. She derived so much of her strength from him and the day had been trying, to say the least. She sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes as he replied before leaning back. It was too dark for him to see the glint in her eyes, but her voice was laced with excitement. “If that doesn’t work we can go, Emilios. ...I meant it. I’d follow you anywhere. Take me away… We can move to...Egypt or.. Italy. We could disappear… they’d never find us.” The idea seemed adventurous when she spoke it aloud to him… but if she were to think harder about it she would miss her sisters and her parents terribly. She would exchange one form of misery for another. But at least in this way, they could be together. In the most awful, selfish way they could think of, but Emilios was the only selfish thing she’d ever done for herself. The only thing she’d ever wanted for herself. She had no desire to give him up next week.
There were far too many people within the walls of the palati for them to spend too much time together. Someone would certainly notice one was gone and then would go to find the pair, wrapped into each other's arms passionately betraying his brother. If they were discovered, everything would be ruined. Not just their lives, but the lives of their families. He knew it would end poorly, would be far worse than she would ever know. And yet, Emilios couldn’t stop from pressing into her.
He wanted to ravish her, wanted to pull up her skirts and press into her. His hands itched to tug the pins from her hair, to watch the dark curls tumble onto her skin. He wanted her naked, sweating against the wall, moaning his name. He wanted to fill her, to taste her skin and make her cry out for him. But he couldn’t. Doing that was putting them both in too much risk, so instead of devouring her body, he took his need out on her lips.
Forgetting that they would be red when they finally separated.
As they pulled away, the tears were hard to miss. Her hands on his cheek, his hands brushing away the tears that were rolling down them. Emilios knew that she wanted to hear that he would follow her to the ends of the Earth. And that he would leave with her now and try to start a new life together. But he knew the costs of doing so, and there was no way he could explain it to her. He couldn’t tell her that her uncle wanted the marriage to occur, for whatever reason he had. And he certainly couldn’t tell her that he had agreed to continue their relationship at the cost of lands, of a real title. There was no way that he could betray her trust like that, not before the wedding.
Not with so much on the line.
His head shook at her suggestions, ”They both have far greater concerns than me and you, Theo. Even as a family, they are newly crowned and under more stress than you or I can imagine. To bring him into this, now, would hurt his rule.” What Theo would have missed, simply due to being female, was the obvious doubt and disapproval that was whispered within the court and Senate. Even at home, he had seen senator come and go, all seem to bring their concerns about the King and his ability to rule. ”And Achilleas seems just asset on the marriage as you and I are to break it. He would not break what our families have so carefully put together-- not when it is his duty to do as his father wishes.”
There had been a moment where he pondered approaching his mother with his problem, but couldn’t stand to see the shame that would be on her face. Not after how badly she felt she was treated by her husband’s open infidelity. Not only would she not rule in his favor, but she would also most likely beg him to end it to allow the two to find a peace she’d never had.
And how could he deny his mother, if she’d asked it.
Pressing his lips against hers, he didn’t pull back too far. But his smile was sad, ”If we go, our families will be shamed. My sisters will never marry, and your sisters would suffer the consequences, too. The rumors, the shame… they would never recover from it. Theo, we are out of options.” His heart dropped with his words, knowing that her heart was going to break with them.
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There were far too many people within the walls of the palati for them to spend too much time together. Someone would certainly notice one was gone and then would go to find the pair, wrapped into each other's arms passionately betraying his brother. If they were discovered, everything would be ruined. Not just their lives, but the lives of their families. He knew it would end poorly, would be far worse than she would ever know. And yet, Emilios couldn’t stop from pressing into her.
He wanted to ravish her, wanted to pull up her skirts and press into her. His hands itched to tug the pins from her hair, to watch the dark curls tumble onto her skin. He wanted her naked, sweating against the wall, moaning his name. He wanted to fill her, to taste her skin and make her cry out for him. But he couldn’t. Doing that was putting them both in too much risk, so instead of devouring her body, he took his need out on her lips.
Forgetting that they would be red when they finally separated.
As they pulled away, the tears were hard to miss. Her hands on his cheek, his hands brushing away the tears that were rolling down them. Emilios knew that she wanted to hear that he would follow her to the ends of the Earth. And that he would leave with her now and try to start a new life together. But he knew the costs of doing so, and there was no way he could explain it to her. He couldn’t tell her that her uncle wanted the marriage to occur, for whatever reason he had. And he certainly couldn’t tell her that he had agreed to continue their relationship at the cost of lands, of a real title. There was no way that he could betray her trust like that, not before the wedding.
Not with so much on the line.
His head shook at her suggestions, ”They both have far greater concerns than me and you, Theo. Even as a family, they are newly crowned and under more stress than you or I can imagine. To bring him into this, now, would hurt his rule.” What Theo would have missed, simply due to being female, was the obvious doubt and disapproval that was whispered within the court and Senate. Even at home, he had seen senator come and go, all seem to bring their concerns about the King and his ability to rule. ”And Achilleas seems just asset on the marriage as you and I are to break it. He would not break what our families have so carefully put together-- not when it is his duty to do as his father wishes.”
There had been a moment where he pondered approaching his mother with his problem, but couldn’t stand to see the shame that would be on her face. Not after how badly she felt she was treated by her husband’s open infidelity. Not only would she not rule in his favor, but she would also most likely beg him to end it to allow the two to find a peace she’d never had.
And how could he deny his mother, if she’d asked it.
Pressing his lips against hers, he didn’t pull back too far. But his smile was sad, ”If we go, our families will be shamed. My sisters will never marry, and your sisters would suffer the consequences, too. The rumors, the shame… they would never recover from it. Theo, we are out of options.” His heart dropped with his words, knowing that her heart was going to break with them.
There were far too many people within the walls of the palati for them to spend too much time together. Someone would certainly notice one was gone and then would go to find the pair, wrapped into each other's arms passionately betraying his brother. If they were discovered, everything would be ruined. Not just their lives, but the lives of their families. He knew it would end poorly, would be far worse than she would ever know. And yet, Emilios couldn’t stop from pressing into her.
He wanted to ravish her, wanted to pull up her skirts and press into her. His hands itched to tug the pins from her hair, to watch the dark curls tumble onto her skin. He wanted her naked, sweating against the wall, moaning his name. He wanted to fill her, to taste her skin and make her cry out for him. But he couldn’t. Doing that was putting them both in too much risk, so instead of devouring her body, he took his need out on her lips.
Forgetting that they would be red when they finally separated.
As they pulled away, the tears were hard to miss. Her hands on his cheek, his hands brushing away the tears that were rolling down them. Emilios knew that she wanted to hear that he would follow her to the ends of the Earth. And that he would leave with her now and try to start a new life together. But he knew the costs of doing so, and there was no way he could explain it to her. He couldn’t tell her that her uncle wanted the marriage to occur, for whatever reason he had. And he certainly couldn’t tell her that he had agreed to continue their relationship at the cost of lands, of a real title. There was no way that he could betray her trust like that, not before the wedding.
Not with so much on the line.
His head shook at her suggestions, ”They both have far greater concerns than me and you, Theo. Even as a family, they are newly crowned and under more stress than you or I can imagine. To bring him into this, now, would hurt his rule.” What Theo would have missed, simply due to being female, was the obvious doubt and disapproval that was whispered within the court and Senate. Even at home, he had seen senator come and go, all seem to bring their concerns about the King and his ability to rule. ”And Achilleas seems just asset on the marriage as you and I are to break it. He would not break what our families have so carefully put together-- not when it is his duty to do as his father wishes.”
There had been a moment where he pondered approaching his mother with his problem, but couldn’t stand to see the shame that would be on her face. Not after how badly she felt she was treated by her husband’s open infidelity. Not only would she not rule in his favor, but she would also most likely beg him to end it to allow the two to find a peace she’d never had.
And how could he deny his mother, if she’d asked it.
Pressing his lips against hers, he didn’t pull back too far. But his smile was sad, ”If we go, our families will be shamed. My sisters will never marry, and your sisters would suffer the consequences, too. The rumors, the shame… they would never recover from it. Theo, we are out of options.” His heart dropped with his words, knowing that her heart was going to break with them.
His words were hushed murmurs in that darkened stall. She could feel them on her face; his breath warming her cheek; her nose and lips. ...But they may as well have been shards of glass for how they were constructed. He used them to deflect; to denounce and destroy every plan they’d had; even the most desperate ones. Because she was desperate. She couldn’t live a life without him by her side. She couldn’t go through the motions again; living for everyone else but herself. Her sole focus to further the Leventi name. Ambition was a heady power, but it blinded you to so many other things around you. Love being one of them, and she couldn’t imagine her life without it now, or him.
As each blade of his rejection sunk into her, she shook her head. As if doing so would stop him from saying what needed to be said. They sliced deep; to the core of the hopelessness of their situation. Of how her marrying Achilleas was now the linchpin to the success and well-being of both of their houses and that to deviate would only cause both houses to fail. She’d never been so important as to decide the fate of a kingdom...of a monarchy. She was a second born daughter of Leventi. They’d bonded...grown close and fallen in love with that in common. That they could never be so important as to outshine their older siblings. And now, here they were.
“Theo..we’re out of options.”
Gods alive she wished she could see him. That he could see her. Could he say what he was saying if he could see her? Darkness made people bolder. Allowed them to say and do things they’d never say or do in the light of day. The look on her face was incredulous though, she knew it. She felt it as her whispered words echoed her emotions. “So what… we’re just to.. Give up? This cannot be our fate. Surely the Gods are not so cruel!” She felt sick.. The wine she’d had souring in her stomach as she considered a life without Emilios. A life with Achilleas in a house that wasn’t a home. With a man she didn’t love and in a role she had no desire to play.
She twisted out of his grasp; needing air.. Needing to suck in deep breathes. She turned away from him; leaning her hand against the rail of the stall for support as she wrapped her arm around her waist. She could feel her fingers trembling; her knees. She turned and backed into the wall for support and stared at his shadowy figure. “You’re giving up on us..”
Her proclamation was less of an accusation and more of a realization. For the first time, she felt alone in this fight. And it was hard to fight a battle without anyone on her side. Especially the person she was fighting for. When do you stop and realize the futility in it all? How do you walk away from a life you built for your future and the person you built it with?
Theo had never accounted for heartache. She’d never anticipated it’s effects. Oh, sure she’d been aware of Emilios’s reputation, but they’d pushed past that. He’d given all of that up for her. He’d built a future with her and their need and desire for each other erased all doubts she may have had about him. In all of her carefully laid plans, she’d never considered that he could break her heart.
...and now here he was.
She’d been denying the inevitable outcome for weeks. Beyond her failure in convincing her father. Beyond time marching her closer and closer to Achilleas bed, she wouldn’t let in the idea that it would ever happen. She kept Emilios and their plans together as her end goal to achieve and now there was no goal. In two weeks time she would marry Achilleas and Emilios would stand aside and give the union his blessing. “You’re giving up on me..”
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His words were hushed murmurs in that darkened stall. She could feel them on her face; his breath warming her cheek; her nose and lips. ...But they may as well have been shards of glass for how they were constructed. He used them to deflect; to denounce and destroy every plan they’d had; even the most desperate ones. Because she was desperate. She couldn’t live a life without him by her side. She couldn’t go through the motions again; living for everyone else but herself. Her sole focus to further the Leventi name. Ambition was a heady power, but it blinded you to so many other things around you. Love being one of them, and she couldn’t imagine her life without it now, or him.
As each blade of his rejection sunk into her, she shook her head. As if doing so would stop him from saying what needed to be said. They sliced deep; to the core of the hopelessness of their situation. Of how her marrying Achilleas was now the linchpin to the success and well-being of both of their houses and that to deviate would only cause both houses to fail. She’d never been so important as to decide the fate of a kingdom...of a monarchy. She was a second born daughter of Leventi. They’d bonded...grown close and fallen in love with that in common. That they could never be so important as to outshine their older siblings. And now, here they were.
“Theo..we’re out of options.”
Gods alive she wished she could see him. That he could see her. Could he say what he was saying if he could see her? Darkness made people bolder. Allowed them to say and do things they’d never say or do in the light of day. The look on her face was incredulous though, she knew it. She felt it as her whispered words echoed her emotions. “So what… we’re just to.. Give up? This cannot be our fate. Surely the Gods are not so cruel!” She felt sick.. The wine she’d had souring in her stomach as she considered a life without Emilios. A life with Achilleas in a house that wasn’t a home. With a man she didn’t love and in a role she had no desire to play.
She twisted out of his grasp; needing air.. Needing to suck in deep breathes. She turned away from him; leaning her hand against the rail of the stall for support as she wrapped her arm around her waist. She could feel her fingers trembling; her knees. She turned and backed into the wall for support and stared at his shadowy figure. “You’re giving up on us..”
Her proclamation was less of an accusation and more of a realization. For the first time, she felt alone in this fight. And it was hard to fight a battle without anyone on her side. Especially the person she was fighting for. When do you stop and realize the futility in it all? How do you walk away from a life you built for your future and the person you built it with?
Theo had never accounted for heartache. She’d never anticipated it’s effects. Oh, sure she’d been aware of Emilios’s reputation, but they’d pushed past that. He’d given all of that up for her. He’d built a future with her and their need and desire for each other erased all doubts she may have had about him. In all of her carefully laid plans, she’d never considered that he could break her heart.
...and now here he was.
She’d been denying the inevitable outcome for weeks. Beyond her failure in convincing her father. Beyond time marching her closer and closer to Achilleas bed, she wouldn’t let in the idea that it would ever happen. She kept Emilios and their plans together as her end goal to achieve and now there was no goal. In two weeks time she would marry Achilleas and Emilios would stand aside and give the union his blessing. “You’re giving up on me..”
His words were hushed murmurs in that darkened stall. She could feel them on her face; his breath warming her cheek; her nose and lips. ...But they may as well have been shards of glass for how they were constructed. He used them to deflect; to denounce and destroy every plan they’d had; even the most desperate ones. Because she was desperate. She couldn’t live a life without him by her side. She couldn’t go through the motions again; living for everyone else but herself. Her sole focus to further the Leventi name. Ambition was a heady power, but it blinded you to so many other things around you. Love being one of them, and she couldn’t imagine her life without it now, or him.
As each blade of his rejection sunk into her, she shook her head. As if doing so would stop him from saying what needed to be said. They sliced deep; to the core of the hopelessness of their situation. Of how her marrying Achilleas was now the linchpin to the success and well-being of both of their houses and that to deviate would only cause both houses to fail. She’d never been so important as to decide the fate of a kingdom...of a monarchy. She was a second born daughter of Leventi. They’d bonded...grown close and fallen in love with that in common. That they could never be so important as to outshine their older siblings. And now, here they were.
“Theo..we’re out of options.”
Gods alive she wished she could see him. That he could see her. Could he say what he was saying if he could see her? Darkness made people bolder. Allowed them to say and do things they’d never say or do in the light of day. The look on her face was incredulous though, she knew it. She felt it as her whispered words echoed her emotions. “So what… we’re just to.. Give up? This cannot be our fate. Surely the Gods are not so cruel!” She felt sick.. The wine she’d had souring in her stomach as she considered a life without Emilios. A life with Achilleas in a house that wasn’t a home. With a man she didn’t love and in a role she had no desire to play.
She twisted out of his grasp; needing air.. Needing to suck in deep breathes. She turned away from him; leaning her hand against the rail of the stall for support as she wrapped her arm around her waist. She could feel her fingers trembling; her knees. She turned and backed into the wall for support and stared at his shadowy figure. “You’re giving up on us..”
Her proclamation was less of an accusation and more of a realization. For the first time, she felt alone in this fight. And it was hard to fight a battle without anyone on her side. Especially the person she was fighting for. When do you stop and realize the futility in it all? How do you walk away from a life you built for your future and the person you built it with?
Theo had never accounted for heartache. She’d never anticipated it’s effects. Oh, sure she’d been aware of Emilios’s reputation, but they’d pushed past that. He’d given all of that up for her. He’d built a future with her and their need and desire for each other erased all doubts she may have had about him. In all of her carefully laid plans, she’d never considered that he could break her heart.
...and now here he was.
She’d been denying the inevitable outcome for weeks. Beyond her failure in convincing her father. Beyond time marching her closer and closer to Achilleas bed, she wouldn’t let in the idea that it would ever happen. She kept Emilios and their plans together as her end goal to achieve and now there was no goal. In two weeks time she would marry Achilleas and Emilios would stand aside and give the union his blessing. “You’re giving up on me..”
He wished that he could have told her that he had a plan, that they would be married and happy as they had always wished. But, like most noble families, they couldn’t just so as they wished. He had responsibilities to his family, and as a cousin to the prince, they couldn’t afford to risk the delicate balance of the throne by causing a scandal so openly. Emilios longed to toss her on one of the horses to disappears.
How could he do that to his brother?
His cousin?
Her family?
There was too much on the line to just leave. No one was going to give their blessing, to allow them to marry without any sort repercussions to anyone else. His normally selfish manners were, for the first time in his life, discarded for the greater good. And he knew, the moment the words escaped his mouth, he was breaking her heart. He had no other choice but to let her down, to bring reality crashing back down into her. The darkness blocked her from seeing just how broken he was, too. It wasn’t like he was happy to call it off. He was ripping out his heart and tossing it to the wolves, hoping that it would bring happiness in the long run. But he knew her, had been so consumed by her that he could feel the shift in the room.
He didn’t need to see her face to know that the world was ripping at the seams, and he couldn’t fix it.
Sighing, Emilios gently reached out to her, brushing her cheek. ”The Gods are fickle, Theo. Perhaps there is something greater that will come from this. But you know, as well as I, that we cannot risk further angering the Gods by pressing for more than they can give.” His hand dropped to her waist, unable to deny that he wanted more. More than he couldn’t give. They had been fooling themselves when they thought they could go against their families to try for happiness.
Suddenly, she backed away, and she ripped out his heart with it.
He gave Theo a moment to catch her breath, to come to terms with the fact that she would not be his. But the moment her last question was breathed out, Emilios let his anger grow. ”You think I want to do this? That I want to watch my brother marry the woman I love?” His voice was low, dangerously so. He followed her, predatorily, to where she has retreated. ”That I feel content to just let you go?” Pressing against her, his hands went to her face, holding her, leaving her little room to move. ”That I will happily watch you marry someone else? Bear his children?” His voice was thick with emotions, unable to fully explain just how difficult this was. But he tried.
”Every time I think about it, I stop breathing.” His lips were pressed against her ear as if they were in a crowded room. ”When I think about his hands, touching the temple at which I’ve dedicated my life to praying to, I shatter the nearest pottery.” His hand slowly rolled up her side. ”When I see the way he tries to win over what I’ve already worked so hard to make mine, I ache with jealousy. And when I realize that the only thing I want in the world can’t be mine, I almost weep with the devastation within my soul.” He nuzzled the side of her face with his cheek, ”You are my soul’s match. The God’s made you for me, and they are taking you away. And all of our efforts have gone to deaf ears.”
”I am not giving up on you, Theodora. But we have exhausted our options, save praying for divine intervention. And believe me, I have been to every temple, prayed to every god, offered all could save my own life.” He settled against her, unable to deny just how perfectly they fit together. ”The Gods must want this marriage as much as everyone around us does. Everyone except you and me.”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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He wished that he could have told her that he had a plan, that they would be married and happy as they had always wished. But, like most noble families, they couldn’t just so as they wished. He had responsibilities to his family, and as a cousin to the prince, they couldn’t afford to risk the delicate balance of the throne by causing a scandal so openly. Emilios longed to toss her on one of the horses to disappears.
How could he do that to his brother?
His cousin?
Her family?
There was too much on the line to just leave. No one was going to give their blessing, to allow them to marry without any sort repercussions to anyone else. His normally selfish manners were, for the first time in his life, discarded for the greater good. And he knew, the moment the words escaped his mouth, he was breaking her heart. He had no other choice but to let her down, to bring reality crashing back down into her. The darkness blocked her from seeing just how broken he was, too. It wasn’t like he was happy to call it off. He was ripping out his heart and tossing it to the wolves, hoping that it would bring happiness in the long run. But he knew her, had been so consumed by her that he could feel the shift in the room.
He didn’t need to see her face to know that the world was ripping at the seams, and he couldn’t fix it.
Sighing, Emilios gently reached out to her, brushing her cheek. ”The Gods are fickle, Theo. Perhaps there is something greater that will come from this. But you know, as well as I, that we cannot risk further angering the Gods by pressing for more than they can give.” His hand dropped to her waist, unable to deny that he wanted more. More than he couldn’t give. They had been fooling themselves when they thought they could go against their families to try for happiness.
Suddenly, she backed away, and she ripped out his heart with it.
He gave Theo a moment to catch her breath, to come to terms with the fact that she would not be his. But the moment her last question was breathed out, Emilios let his anger grow. ”You think I want to do this? That I want to watch my brother marry the woman I love?” His voice was low, dangerously so. He followed her, predatorily, to where she has retreated. ”That I feel content to just let you go?” Pressing against her, his hands went to her face, holding her, leaving her little room to move. ”That I will happily watch you marry someone else? Bear his children?” His voice was thick with emotions, unable to fully explain just how difficult this was. But he tried.
”Every time I think about it, I stop breathing.” His lips were pressed against her ear as if they were in a crowded room. ”When I think about his hands, touching the temple at which I’ve dedicated my life to praying to, I shatter the nearest pottery.” His hand slowly rolled up her side. ”When I see the way he tries to win over what I’ve already worked so hard to make mine, I ache with jealousy. And when I realize that the only thing I want in the world can’t be mine, I almost weep with the devastation within my soul.” He nuzzled the side of her face with his cheek, ”You are my soul’s match. The God’s made you for me, and they are taking you away. And all of our efforts have gone to deaf ears.”
”I am not giving up on you, Theodora. But we have exhausted our options, save praying for divine intervention. And believe me, I have been to every temple, prayed to every god, offered all could save my own life.” He settled against her, unable to deny just how perfectly they fit together. ”The Gods must want this marriage as much as everyone around us does. Everyone except you and me.”
He wished that he could have told her that he had a plan, that they would be married and happy as they had always wished. But, like most noble families, they couldn’t just so as they wished. He had responsibilities to his family, and as a cousin to the prince, they couldn’t afford to risk the delicate balance of the throne by causing a scandal so openly. Emilios longed to toss her on one of the horses to disappears.
How could he do that to his brother?
His cousin?
Her family?
There was too much on the line to just leave. No one was going to give their blessing, to allow them to marry without any sort repercussions to anyone else. His normally selfish manners were, for the first time in his life, discarded for the greater good. And he knew, the moment the words escaped his mouth, he was breaking her heart. He had no other choice but to let her down, to bring reality crashing back down into her. The darkness blocked her from seeing just how broken he was, too. It wasn’t like he was happy to call it off. He was ripping out his heart and tossing it to the wolves, hoping that it would bring happiness in the long run. But he knew her, had been so consumed by her that he could feel the shift in the room.
He didn’t need to see her face to know that the world was ripping at the seams, and he couldn’t fix it.
Sighing, Emilios gently reached out to her, brushing her cheek. ”The Gods are fickle, Theo. Perhaps there is something greater that will come from this. But you know, as well as I, that we cannot risk further angering the Gods by pressing for more than they can give.” His hand dropped to her waist, unable to deny that he wanted more. More than he couldn’t give. They had been fooling themselves when they thought they could go against their families to try for happiness.
Suddenly, she backed away, and she ripped out his heart with it.
He gave Theo a moment to catch her breath, to come to terms with the fact that she would not be his. But the moment her last question was breathed out, Emilios let his anger grow. ”You think I want to do this? That I want to watch my brother marry the woman I love?” His voice was low, dangerously so. He followed her, predatorily, to where she has retreated. ”That I feel content to just let you go?” Pressing against her, his hands went to her face, holding her, leaving her little room to move. ”That I will happily watch you marry someone else? Bear his children?” His voice was thick with emotions, unable to fully explain just how difficult this was. But he tried.
”Every time I think about it, I stop breathing.” His lips were pressed against her ear as if they were in a crowded room. ”When I think about his hands, touching the temple at which I’ve dedicated my life to praying to, I shatter the nearest pottery.” His hand slowly rolled up her side. ”When I see the way he tries to win over what I’ve already worked so hard to make mine, I ache with jealousy. And when I realize that the only thing I want in the world can’t be mine, I almost weep with the devastation within my soul.” He nuzzled the side of her face with his cheek, ”You are my soul’s match. The God’s made you for me, and they are taking you away. And all of our efforts have gone to deaf ears.”
”I am not giving up on you, Theodora. But we have exhausted our options, save praying for divine intervention. And believe me, I have been to every temple, prayed to every god, offered all could save my own life.” He settled against her, unable to deny just how perfectly they fit together. ”The Gods must want this marriage as much as everyone around us does. Everyone except you and me.”
She struggled to find her barings; her equilibrium seemed to spin and she could feel herself getting dizzy. The darkness of the room didn’t help orient her and she gripped the gate behind her lest she lose her balance. But just as the realization that he was letting her go crossed her lips he was atop her; anger seething through his teeth as he pressed into her. Her temper flared as it always did when he challenged her. Through hot tears, she pushed his chest away as his body pressed into her; a great sob racking her body as his words meant to draw her attention to Achilleas. To marrying him and leaving Emilios. But she didn’t want that. She let out a gasp that sounded like “stop..” but it was no more than an angered breath. He leaned against her; pinning her back against the gate; his hands taking; possessing in the only way they knew how to with her.
She batted at his hand on her face but he simply moved it down her torso as she pushed on his shoulder; his words of desperation like fire against her ear. But his words could set fire to ice and as much as she wanted to fight him.. To find that wall she’d long since demolished for him, he cut through. Instead of fighting, her hands tangled into his tunic; keeping him close as tears streamed down her face. His words echoed everything she felt about him. How could she live without him? How could she watch him marry another woman.. Give to her everything she’d longed for with him? How could she give herself to another man when the only man who’d ever made her forget to breathe was right here?
His admissions of abject despair and devastation cut like a knife. Great tears fell like rain down her cheeks and she couldn’t breathe for the painful swell in the back of her throat. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as his went around her waist and they molded together; hands entwining in his hair as her nose and mouth buried into his neck. She’d never held him so tightly, nor he, she. And yet it still wasn’t enough. She wanted to be absorbed by him.. To have him carry her everywhere. How could they keep walking in a world separate from each other when they were meant to fit each other so perfectly? It was like losing a limb. Nothing about this felt natural..nothing about this felt right. Every part of them was screaming to stay together while the world was trying to pull them apart. It was like a maelstrom; twisting them in a current they had no control over and driving them to opposite sides of the sea.
Her body relaxed only insomuch that he was holding her so securely and she shook her head as he told her that the Gods must be against their union.. That they’d been made for each other but doomed to not be together and she could feel the bitterness rise up in her core. All of the anger and desperation as she uttered words she didn’t mean but wanted to… about a faith that was so ingrained in her that to say what she did would be like cutting out one’s soul. “Then I defy the Gods.” She choked on the phrase. Like sand in the back of her mouth. “I will refuse them my dedications and supplications. I will never stop loving you, Emilios of Mikaelidas. Until all of Olympus burns and Elysium crumbles beneath the weight of the earth and thereafter, I will love you.”
With a strangled sob, she forced him off her and ducked around his arms to leave; pushing the paddock open so she could escape into the main part of the stables. She shoved her hands over her face to rid them of the tears that continued to fall but it was to no avail. They continued to fall and she hurried out into the gardens. Into the fresh air of the night to try and find a corner in which to recover before she went back into the party. Before she faced family and friends and all those at court; forced to smile and accept platitudes and well wishes on her upcoming wedding. She would find no comfort here.. And for the first time that evening, she considered taking one of the horses as Imma wished to do and riding back to her house if not to avoid the entire affair.
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She struggled to find her barings; her equilibrium seemed to spin and she could feel herself getting dizzy. The darkness of the room didn’t help orient her and she gripped the gate behind her lest she lose her balance. But just as the realization that he was letting her go crossed her lips he was atop her; anger seething through his teeth as he pressed into her. Her temper flared as it always did when he challenged her. Through hot tears, she pushed his chest away as his body pressed into her; a great sob racking her body as his words meant to draw her attention to Achilleas. To marrying him and leaving Emilios. But she didn’t want that. She let out a gasp that sounded like “stop..” but it was no more than an angered breath. He leaned against her; pinning her back against the gate; his hands taking; possessing in the only way they knew how to with her.
She batted at his hand on her face but he simply moved it down her torso as she pushed on his shoulder; his words of desperation like fire against her ear. But his words could set fire to ice and as much as she wanted to fight him.. To find that wall she’d long since demolished for him, he cut through. Instead of fighting, her hands tangled into his tunic; keeping him close as tears streamed down her face. His words echoed everything she felt about him. How could she live without him? How could she watch him marry another woman.. Give to her everything she’d longed for with him? How could she give herself to another man when the only man who’d ever made her forget to breathe was right here?
His admissions of abject despair and devastation cut like a knife. Great tears fell like rain down her cheeks and she couldn’t breathe for the painful swell in the back of her throat. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as his went around her waist and they molded together; hands entwining in his hair as her nose and mouth buried into his neck. She’d never held him so tightly, nor he, she. And yet it still wasn’t enough. She wanted to be absorbed by him.. To have him carry her everywhere. How could they keep walking in a world separate from each other when they were meant to fit each other so perfectly? It was like losing a limb. Nothing about this felt natural..nothing about this felt right. Every part of them was screaming to stay together while the world was trying to pull them apart. It was like a maelstrom; twisting them in a current they had no control over and driving them to opposite sides of the sea.
Her body relaxed only insomuch that he was holding her so securely and she shook her head as he told her that the Gods must be against their union.. That they’d been made for each other but doomed to not be together and she could feel the bitterness rise up in her core. All of the anger and desperation as she uttered words she didn’t mean but wanted to… about a faith that was so ingrained in her that to say what she did would be like cutting out one’s soul. “Then I defy the Gods.” She choked on the phrase. Like sand in the back of her mouth. “I will refuse them my dedications and supplications. I will never stop loving you, Emilios of Mikaelidas. Until all of Olympus burns and Elysium crumbles beneath the weight of the earth and thereafter, I will love you.”
With a strangled sob, she forced him off her and ducked around his arms to leave; pushing the paddock open so she could escape into the main part of the stables. She shoved her hands over her face to rid them of the tears that continued to fall but it was to no avail. They continued to fall and she hurried out into the gardens. Into the fresh air of the night to try and find a corner in which to recover before she went back into the party. Before she faced family and friends and all those at court; forced to smile and accept platitudes and well wishes on her upcoming wedding. She would find no comfort here.. And for the first time that evening, she considered taking one of the horses as Imma wished to do and riding back to her house if not to avoid the entire affair.
She struggled to find her barings; her equilibrium seemed to spin and she could feel herself getting dizzy. The darkness of the room didn’t help orient her and she gripped the gate behind her lest she lose her balance. But just as the realization that he was letting her go crossed her lips he was atop her; anger seething through his teeth as he pressed into her. Her temper flared as it always did when he challenged her. Through hot tears, she pushed his chest away as his body pressed into her; a great sob racking her body as his words meant to draw her attention to Achilleas. To marrying him and leaving Emilios. But she didn’t want that. She let out a gasp that sounded like “stop..” but it was no more than an angered breath. He leaned against her; pinning her back against the gate; his hands taking; possessing in the only way they knew how to with her.
She batted at his hand on her face but he simply moved it down her torso as she pushed on his shoulder; his words of desperation like fire against her ear. But his words could set fire to ice and as much as she wanted to fight him.. To find that wall she’d long since demolished for him, he cut through. Instead of fighting, her hands tangled into his tunic; keeping him close as tears streamed down her face. His words echoed everything she felt about him. How could she live without him? How could she watch him marry another woman.. Give to her everything she’d longed for with him? How could she give herself to another man when the only man who’d ever made her forget to breathe was right here?
His admissions of abject despair and devastation cut like a knife. Great tears fell like rain down her cheeks and she couldn’t breathe for the painful swell in the back of her throat. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as his went around her waist and they molded together; hands entwining in his hair as her nose and mouth buried into his neck. She’d never held him so tightly, nor he, she. And yet it still wasn’t enough. She wanted to be absorbed by him.. To have him carry her everywhere. How could they keep walking in a world separate from each other when they were meant to fit each other so perfectly? It was like losing a limb. Nothing about this felt natural..nothing about this felt right. Every part of them was screaming to stay together while the world was trying to pull them apart. It was like a maelstrom; twisting them in a current they had no control over and driving them to opposite sides of the sea.
Her body relaxed only insomuch that he was holding her so securely and she shook her head as he told her that the Gods must be against their union.. That they’d been made for each other but doomed to not be together and she could feel the bitterness rise up in her core. All of the anger and desperation as she uttered words she didn’t mean but wanted to… about a faith that was so ingrained in her that to say what she did would be like cutting out one’s soul. “Then I defy the Gods.” She choked on the phrase. Like sand in the back of her mouth. “I will refuse them my dedications and supplications. I will never stop loving you, Emilios of Mikaelidas. Until all of Olympus burns and Elysium crumbles beneath the weight of the earth and thereafter, I will love you.”
With a strangled sob, she forced him off her and ducked around his arms to leave; pushing the paddock open so she could escape into the main part of the stables. She shoved her hands over her face to rid them of the tears that continued to fall but it was to no avail. They continued to fall and she hurried out into the gardens. Into the fresh air of the night to try and find a corner in which to recover before she went back into the party. Before she faced family and friends and all those at court; forced to smile and accept platitudes and well wishes on her upcoming wedding. She would find no comfort here.. And for the first time that evening, she considered taking one of the horses as Imma wished to do and riding back to her house if not to avoid the entire affair.
Emilios felt his heart clench as she pressed back into him. All he wanted was her, like this, for the end of his days. And yet, all he got was the memory of her lips on his. It was torture for him, just as much as he was sure it was painful for her. There was so much more he wished to say to her, to convey just what he wished to say to her. But she pressed against him, cursed the Gods, and left the barn.
He was left knowing the truth of the matter. That they were fighting an uphill battle, defying the Gods by pursuing this past what it was. They should have let it go, should have made a better effort to stop it. But even without Fotios’s arrangement, he couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t live his life without her, even if she wasn’t his wife.
As much as he wanted to stay and support his cousin, he wasn’t sure he could do it. Instead of going back to the party, he straightened out his chiton and took a different exit from the one Theo had taken. As the crowd outside grew, it was easier for him to leave the grounds without a thought. And if Stephanos noticed his absence, he would simply blame it on their night prior, needed to recover from festivities it had been a long time since he’d last partaken in.
For now, he’d return home and gather his wits and hope his brother didn’t question him. That was the last thing he needed.
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Emilios felt his heart clench as she pressed back into him. All he wanted was her, like this, for the end of his days. And yet, all he got was the memory of her lips on his. It was torture for him, just as much as he was sure it was painful for her. There was so much more he wished to say to her, to convey just what he wished to say to her. But she pressed against him, cursed the Gods, and left the barn.
He was left knowing the truth of the matter. That they were fighting an uphill battle, defying the Gods by pursuing this past what it was. They should have let it go, should have made a better effort to stop it. But even without Fotios’s arrangement, he couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t live his life without her, even if she wasn’t his wife.
As much as he wanted to stay and support his cousin, he wasn’t sure he could do it. Instead of going back to the party, he straightened out his chiton and took a different exit from the one Theo had taken. As the crowd outside grew, it was easier for him to leave the grounds without a thought. And if Stephanos noticed his absence, he would simply blame it on their night prior, needed to recover from festivities it had been a long time since he’d last partaken in.
For now, he’d return home and gather his wits and hope his brother didn’t question him. That was the last thing he needed.
Emilios felt his heart clench as she pressed back into him. All he wanted was her, like this, for the end of his days. And yet, all he got was the memory of her lips on his. It was torture for him, just as much as he was sure it was painful for her. There was so much more he wished to say to her, to convey just what he wished to say to her. But she pressed against him, cursed the Gods, and left the barn.
He was left knowing the truth of the matter. That they were fighting an uphill battle, defying the Gods by pursuing this past what it was. They should have let it go, should have made a better effort to stop it. But even without Fotios’s arrangement, he couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t live his life without her, even if she wasn’t his wife.
As much as he wanted to stay and support his cousin, he wasn’t sure he could do it. Instead of going back to the party, he straightened out his chiton and took a different exit from the one Theo had taken. As the crowd outside grew, it was easier for him to leave the grounds without a thought. And if Stephanos noticed his absence, he would simply blame it on their night prior, needed to recover from festivities it had been a long time since he’d last partaken in.
For now, he’d return home and gather his wits and hope his brother didn’t question him. That was the last thing he needed.
