Twin Star-Commencement-Marin and Emmaline

Marin pulled Emmaline’s hand from his cheek, pushed it away, and then winced at the pained expression she gave him at the rebuff.  He was still punishing himself for nearly striking her during the hunt.  She had adamantly expressed her disapproval when he had told her that he did not deserve her affection for the foreseeable future, but it had not swayed his decision.  He made it a point to put as much distance between them, as possible, but she always made an excuse to meander closer, oftentimes placing a hand on his arm or shoulder.

        “Marin, this has gone on long enough!  I understand that you are upset with yourself for what happened, no… for what almost happened, but you have not considered how I feel about this arrangement.”  Her face softened, and the tears filled her eyes, as she pleaded, “I miss you, mon amour!”

        She was in his arms before he could stop himself.  He had not wanted to hurt her, only punish himself.  She cried softly into his shoulder and pulled herself fully into his chest. “Forgive me, Emma, but you know that I love you,” he chided.  “I am not deserving of your affection after what happened.  I have thought often of allowing Granger to delve out a more fitting punishment for my crime, but when I approached him with the idea, he was less than amenable to it.  He told me I was a fool to think that he would incur your wrath just to make me feel better.”

        “There was no crime, Marin!  You did not strike me, and never would have raised your hand to me, had you been in your right mind.”

        He pulled away from her then, shaking his head.  “That is no excuse, nor does it assuage my guilt.  There should be nothing that could make me raise a hand against you.”

        She grasped his forearm and pulled him back toward her, placing her other hand above his heart. “You have not, in almost five hundred years, had any inclination to strike me.  Our relationship has been far from perfect, especially in the beginning, and I have, on more than one occasion, given you cause to do so.  You are not Dmitri and have never been the type of man to settle disputes with your fists, especially when it involved a woman.”  She slid her hand from his chest up to his cheek.  “Whatever hold that human woman had on you was not natural.  She is dead now, and that will never happen again.”

        Marin stiffened, as guilt flashed across his face with the realization that he had not told her about the human.  She let her hand slide from his face, and looked at him incredulously, “What have you not told me?”

        He swallowed, and took a breath, “She is alive.”

        Emmaline stepped away from him.  “No, that is not possible.  I was there when you drained the blood from her body, and we left her for The Guard to dispose of.”

        He raised his hand to reach for her but stopped himself.  They had kept little from one another, and he knew that she would be angry—rightfully so.  She should have been the first person he consulted when he and Granger had returned from the outpost, but at the time he was struggling with keeping the distance between them and had avoided her.  

        “Granger came to me a month ago to tell me that he had seen the human woman with the captain of The Guard, while out scouting.  He led me to the outpost, and I confirmed it was her.  She survived her wounds and is now living within the outpost.  It is unclear whether she is a guest or a well-treated prisoner, but it is clear that she is still human.  Ju-long and Granger have been watching her and the outpost to gather more information before I decide what actions to take.”

         “Humans cannot survive a bite from a vampire, you must be mistaken… it cannot be…”  The shock wore off, then, and she narrowed her eyes at her mate.  “You kept this from me?!”

        “It was not intentional, Emma.  I was struggling with keeping my distance from you…”

        “That was your choice!  I have never asked to be anywhere but by your side.  What are your intentions for this human, Marin?  Do you wish to bring her here?  Is that why you chose to keep this from me?”

          “Emma, how could you believe that?”  He reached for her then, but she batted his arm away and narrowed her eyes.  “Emma, please, I would never hurt you that way.  Let me explain… please.”  When her expression softened, he continued.  “Granger overheard the soldiers talking about the wo…”  Marin considered Emmaline’s mood and decided to put as much distance between himself and this human woman as possible, “human having vampiric abilities.  I have had them watching her to see if this is true.  I want her dead, Emma.  She is a danger to me, and as long as she can influence my actions, our entire coven is vulnerable.  If she has our abilities, and she allies with The Guard, she is a danger to our entire race.”

        Emmaline considered his concerned face.  No, it was more than that, Marin was afraid.  She had never known him to show fear.  She sighed. He needed her now; her anger would have to wait.  She closed the distance between them, wrapped her arms around him, and laid her cheek upon his.  “I am still angry with you for withholding this from me, but enough time and distance has passed between us this last month.”

        Marin buried his face in her shoulder, and pulled her tight against him, mumbling, “I am sorry, Emma.”