Louisa's POV
The melancholy and tenderness in his eyes made him irresistible.
No woman on earth could stay angry at a man for long with that kind of look in his eyes.
"You want to toast me in a moat?" Lucian drew himself closer to her and asked.
"Well, if you don't come closer, you won't get burnt," Gianna whispered while entangling her fingers in Lucian's hair.
"That's not possible," he whispered.
Then, he pressed his lips against Gianna's mouth.
Gianna moaned quietly and knocked her hands softly on Lucian's back. Then, she ran her hand gently into his hair and held his head.
The way they held each other was like a missing piece of a puzzle was finally placed back into its position. Every curve of their faces and bodies was glued seamlessly together.
They became one.
Nothing seemed to be able to penetrate between them.
Then, Lucian looked down at Gianna's stomach.
"He kicked me," Lucian said with surprise. "He has just kicked me."
"If my feet weren't swollen, I would have kicked you," Gianna said with a mildly pouting mouth.
"Well, I guess I am outnumbered." Lucian smiled at her and said.
Ah, the way he smiled.
"Are you crying, Miss?" Mana looked up at me and asked.
I wiped the tears off my face and didn't reply.
"Why are you crying, Miss?" Mata asked. "That lady's safe now."
"Yes, she is," I whispered and turned away to wipe off more tears.
At that moment, I realized, the love I had always wanted indeed exist in the world.
They were right there, so close, yet so far away.
"Miss, please don't cry..." Mana looked up at me and said.
His brother didn't let him finish his sentence by striking his head again.
"You're so stupid! You made her cry! Pouty mouth!" Mata said.
"No, I didn't! You made her cry! Ouch! Don't bash me again!" Mana covered his nose and said.
"Louisa?! Is that you?! Louisa!" I heard Leo's voice.
I turned back and saw him standing right behind me.
He was soaked in blood and I was so surprised to find out that he had grown much taller than he was before.
Teenager boys really do grow fast. I thought to myself.
"Yes, Leo. It's me." I burst into laughter and opened my arms.
Leo jumped into my arms and hugged me with all his arms and legs. He was like a sloth sticking on my body.
"Louisa! I miss you so much! Lucian told me everything about you! I knew your name starts with an 'L'! knew it as soon as I saw you!"
"Leo, I miss you very much!" I felt overwhelmed when I held him in my arms. I could feel his powerful heartbeat right in front of my chest. It made me so happy because it was his heartbeat that saved me when I was first brought to the Fire and Wind Camp.
"Are you all right? Are you hurt?" I looked up and down at him, trying to look for wounds.
Leo knocked on his chest proudly and said, "Don't worry, Louisa. I know I must look bad right now, but this is all their blood! They tried to hypnotize me, so I scratched out their eyes. They can't even touch me! I'm a very tough guy! I can protect Gianna and I'll protect you."
"Oh, Leo. Please be safe. Don't be tough. Next time when people want to catch you, just run away. Those traveling druids are horrible creatures, they will want to get back at you."
"I've killed almost all of them. I left only one alive. I wanted to kill him as well, but Lucian wanted to ask him some questions," Leo said. He kept stroking his face against my arm, like a little kitty cat.
"Leo, what are you bothering that nice lady over there? Come here." I heard Gianna's voice. She's calling Leo by waving her hands.
Leo jumped off me reluctantly and ran towards Gianna. He pressed his ear against Gianna's belly and listened.
"What did you hear?" Gianna asked.
"I can only hear his heartbeat... and he's snoring!" Leo said with excitement.
"He's sleeping now, Leo. And now it's your bedtime as well." Gianna stroked his messy hair and said."But I want to stay with Louisa!" Leo said while pointing at me.
"Glad to meet you, Gianna." I walked towards her and greeted her.
"You must be Louisa. Lucian talked about you all the time." She smiled at me and held my arms.
"Look at you!" She looked at me and said. "You're so pretty, like a porcelain doll! I like the color of your eyes! They're like ambers!"
I was a bit embarrassed.
"You're so kind, Gianna. You are stunningly beautiful," I said sincerely. The last time I complimented a woman on her beauty, I got a slap across my cheek from my stepmother Rosalie.
But I still wanted to tell Gianna that she looked great because I had never seen a more attractive woman than her before.
"Lucian's right. You're such a sweet girl!" Gianna had friendly sparks in her eyes. "Thank you for helping Lucian to pick up such a nice scarf for me. He picked two of them, so I would like to give one to you. Then, when we go out, we'll be sisters wearing the same type of scarves!"
I burst into tears. I had to cover my mouth so that I didn't cry out loud.
A sister! She wanted to be my sister!
I had always wanted to have a sister in my life!
Back in Crimson Pack, the cook had got two daughters. They were always playing with each other, giggling, and chatting. Whenever I wanted to play with them, they would always push me away.
"Go play with your own sister and stay away from us, moron!" they said.
But I didn't have anyone.
I was all alone. All by myself.
I thought Gianna would want to ask me why I was crying, but she didn't.
Instead, she held me in her arms, stroked my hair gently, and said, "It must be very hard for you to live all by yourself all these years. But don't worry, you're no longer alone anymore, Louisa. I am your big sister now."