November 27th

A week later and Leo and I hadn't had another argument. We listened to each other, refrained from shouting and stopped the snide comments and the pointless disagreements.

And it was all traced back to the forest escapade.

Before, our personalities had been incompatible, constantly clashing as we battled one another, both reluctant to give in.

It was never going to work like that. Something had to change.

And that something was me.

I no longer questioned Leo's every move and I fought the urge to snap and push against him and everything just started to run smoothly. Life was so much easier standing by Leo rather than against him and peace returned to the house.

But easier didn't equal right. Something made me feel uneasy. Every command I followed and opinion I withheld, gave me a mixed feeling of both satisfaction and guilt. Guilt that I'd just chosen the easy option. Guilt that I'd sacrificed a part of my self. And guilt that I'd let everybody he made suffer down.

My Mom finally came though.

She arrived on the doorstep, escorted safely through the territory by Leo's men so she wasn't mistaken for a malicious intending rogue.

Her hair was long and knotty and her clothes grubby and torn. She shuffled on her feet nervously as she looked from me to Leo before I threw myself forwards into her arms.

She was taken aback at first but then she hugged me back, tighter than ever as we both wept.

We was thin and withered so we were sure to feed her up before she took a shower and changed into some of my clothes.

She was still cautious of Leo and anxious to get back on the road soon but I convinced her to stay one night and by the time she was heading back out the door, she was giving Leo a warm smile and warning him not to break my heart.

The day she left, Allison texted me telling me it was time for that mall trip with Amber.

I was feeling a little down and it was just what I needed.

I asked Leo.

He said yes.

Well...he said yes to going to the mall with Allison.

I withheld the part about Amber, feeling an immense amount of guilt but I knew he'd never let me go if he knew. So I fought down my conscious as I made lunch.

"So Allison is picking me up in like an hour," I said as I cut some cheese.

"Which mall?" he asked.

"Mansford," I replied. "It's on the territory."

"Yeah, I know where it is. And it's just the two of you?"

"Leo, relax. It's not even a fifteen-minute drive from here. We'll be fine," I reassured him, dodging the question.

"Take that magic swordy thing. Just in case," he said presumably referring to the paralyzing knife I used in the war.

"So is that a yes?" I questioned.

"If you charge your phone. It's on like 2%," he replied.

I smiled and kissed him on the cheek as I he walked to the bin with the peelings of the carrots he was preparing.

"And it's definitely just the two of you?" he asked.

"...Mmhhm," I said, my tongue burning in my mouth.

He turned around to face me, "Sure about that?"

I nodded again and he narrowed his eyes, "Okay, I believe you."

"And you still don't want anyone to go with us?" I asked, "Luca?"

"No, he's still banned," Leo replied. "And I trust you to be safe with Allison. She knows what she's doing."

"I miss Luca," I said.copy right hot novel pub