Bound

36. Old pain, New wounds!

He put his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to himself. "I am so mad right now", he emphasised clearly. "I am mad at you for participating in the combat.... And I am mad at your continuous attempts at failing to lie to me."

"I di-",Amara began hesitantly.

"I know you Amara",Valerio cut her off sharply. "I know you", he repeated meaningfully. "And I know how much you dislike such combat events. You would never voluntarily participate in them and yet you did, which only leaves me with one question.... Who is it that you are trying to save?"

Amara gasped slightly. "I'm not trying to save anyone", she answered quickly.

Valerio's eyes darkened. "Another lie", he stated. "Didn't I just tell you that I heard you and Damien speaking? He spoke about someone setting you up for the combat. Tell me the entire truth. "

"No", Amara spoke, trying to push herself away from him. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. Let me go."

Valerio's eyes narrowed. "I'm giving you an easy way out of this Amara, believe me. If I want I'll go and interrogate every single person  associated with the organising of the fighting event because of your participation in it. Don't test me."

"It was just a small competition", Amara told him, desperation lacing her words. "I participated and I won. Nothing else happened. Please trust me and let it go Val."

Valerio held her chin gently so he could look at her face. "I've told you this before Amara and I will tell you the same thing again and again. I trust you", he emphasised the last words. 

He stared at her hard, until he was sure that his message had been put across. "It's the other people whom I don't trust with you. I can't take any chances Amara. You are precious to me. I need to hear it from you. Tell me the truth. Who was Damien talking about? Who is it that you are trying to save?"

Amara shook her head. "No one",she whispered softly.

Valerio's eyes darkened. "Very well", he stated, pulling away and taking a step away from her.

"Val?", Amara asked him shakily, a sudden chill passing through her at his sudden change.

Valerio's eyes softened infinitesimally. He leaned down and brushed his lips against her temple. "Always remember Amara, you are the reason behind every action that I take", he spoke against her temple before abruptly pulling away and leaving the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Amara stood there for what seemed like several years but in fact were several minutes, frozen and completely overwhelmed by what had happened.... What was about to happen!

"Amara, what happened?",Damien asked as soon as he stepped inside. "He looked furious when he left."

"He heard us talking", Amara answered, lost. "But even before.... he knew! He didn't believe that I could voluntarily participate in the combat. He somehow knew that I wouldn't."

"He knew and I didn't", Damien muttered, slightly ashamed of himself.

Amara sighed. "It doesn't matter..... "

"Amara!"

The girl in question jumped at the sudden call of her name. She turned around to see Serena running into the room, anxiety and desperation plain on her face.

"Amara", she panted, "You need to do something, please!"

"What's wrong?",Amara asked her friend worriedly. "Did anything else happen? Is it Valerio? Is he fine?!",she fired of anxiously.