She could feel the tension surrounding her. She shot to her feet and held out her hands. “Take me,” she begged Frederick’s men.
“Melene, no!” Aiden roared.
The men looked at her as if not sure what she was trying to accomplish. Everyone tightened their grips on their weapons as Aiden crossed the feet separating them and stepped in front of her.
“These men are going to set down their weapons and put their hands on their heads,” Aiden said in a calm voice that didn’t match the fierce look in his blue eyes. “Because they would rather live and hope to be rescued or released rather than die for a lie.” He focused on the men. “There is no Delta weapon. General Phillip brought you here because he wanted the most beautiful woman in the world added to his harem. Don’t take the fall for his selfishness and join him in purgatory tonight.”
A few more beats passed, and Melene prayed the men would listen.
Finally, one by one, the men each held up their free hands and slowly set their weapons down.
“I thought you’d see it that way,” Aiden said.
Sheriff Reed and Papa Delta led the way, charging toward the men and herding them back through the forest.
Aiden turned to her and wrapped her up tight in his arms. “Melene,” he chastised her. “That was insanely brave; don’t you ever do something like that again.”
“Okay,” she agreed, shaking now that it was all over and the adrenaline rush was leaving her body.
He kissed her forehead and held her tight. She felt safe and loved and … home.
She knew this changed nothing about their future, but once again Aiden had been her hero, saved her life, and proven himself incredible.
“You’re all right?” he asked.
“Yes, thanks to you,” she managed. She cupped his face and said, “I know it’s stupid and I know we can’t be together, but you are my hero and my Aquaman and I love you, Aiden Delta.”
Aiden’s eyes widened, but luckily he didn’t push her away. So she arched up and kissed him.
He kissed her back. The kiss was desperate and all-consuming and as amazing as every kiss they’d shared. Sadly, as it slowed down, she could feel it was a kiss of farewell.
Someone whistled and there was some laughter around them, but Melene ignored everyone but Aiden.
He rested his forehead against hers, and even in the dark, she could see the intensity of his blue eyes. “I love you too, Melene,” he said in a deep, wonderful voice.
She licked her lips, so lost in him, wishing they could kiss again. “But it changes nothing about our future, does it?”
He didn’t say anything for a beat, then his voice was gravelly as he managed, “Just makes it more painful.”
Melene closed her eyes. She couldn’t take it anymore. He was her hero, her perfect fit, the love of her life, her home … and he could never commit himself to being hers.
She softly kissed him again, but pulled back before he could return it. “Thank you, Aquaman. Thank you for holding my hair and cleaning up my puke, thank you for clothing the naked and providing a toothbrush, thank you for making me laugh and playing in the water like little kids, thank you for rescuing me and protecting me, thank you for kissing me more wonderfully than I have ever been kissed, thank you for giving me the best five days of my life. I will never stop praying for you. I will never stop loving you.”
He smiled sadly throughout her speech. “I’ll do the same.”
Melene pulled from his embrace and stumbled away from him. He reached out as if to steady her, but she couldn’t handle him touching her again or she’d fall to her knees and beg him to let her follow him around like a Navy SEAL Aquaman groupie.
She pushed his hand away and made her way through the forest toward the wedding. Luckily, someone had brought a light to illuminate the area, and she’d only made it a few steps before the groom himself was at her side. She’d never seen Thor so serious. He took her arm and helped her around a boulder, then over a log.
He glanced back at his twin and Melene couldn’t stop herself from looking as well. Aiden was tall and beautiful and perfect. The light showed his blue eyes, handsome face, and tough figure to their advantage. Sadly, he looked like the tortured hero as he watched her, not her teasing Aquaman at all. She hated it. She hated leaving him. But he’d chosen this.
“Poor simp,” Thor murmured. “This is going to break him, you know?”
Melene kept walking and Thor kept up. “He was the one who insisted we could never be.”
“I know. Stupid, ugly idiot anyway. If it wasn’t my wedding, I’d punch that pathetic look off his face.”
Melene wanted to laugh at that. There was nothing stupid, ugly, or idiotic about Aiden Delta. He was a hero and the best man she knew. She risked one more look and was afraid she’d never be able to get the picture of his blue eyes looking tortured out of her head.