Beneath You. 𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗬𝗔𝗠

O22. I SEE YOU, I LOVE YOU ALWAYS

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO. ✧˖*°࿐
❝ I SEE YOU, I LOVE YOU ALWAYS. ❞

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When Emea found out she truly liked Neteyam, was when their eyes made eye-contact for the first time.

She wasn't one to believe in fate or one to believe in the fact she had a mate out there. She was her. She was nowhere near perfect and she had a future, and that was to be the future tsahík of her people. But, she knew eventually that she would have to be wed to someone who would take her father's place sometime in the future.

So, when she saw Neteyam and her chest hammered rapidly against her chest, well, she waved it off.

She wasn't used to that feeling. She had assumed that it was her instincts telling her it was danger since she was used to that and was a reason why she jumped on Neteyam, almost killing him. She didn't know what love felt like. She had no idea on what that concept was other than knowing it made her parents strong warriors.

"What's on your mind, sister?"

Emea glanced up to look at her younger sister, smiling a little before patting the space in front of her. She knew that she needed to at least talk to someone she confided in and that was her sister.

Now, Emea was blunt, and that's why Tsireya looked at her with shock when she heard her sister's next words.

"I'm in love with Neteyam."

She was way too blunt.

Emea was beautiful, smart, strong, independent, but she had her flaws. Yet, her flaws were beautiful. She didn't know how to process her feelings and how to deal with emotions. She couldn't help but blurt out what she felt for the one holding her heart, holding her being and soul, and who made her feel safe.

Emea was the first born. She took care of everyone.

She took care of her mother, her father when her mom couldn't be there, her brother, and her sister. She was there. But, no one understood her. Not like Neteyam. He understood her as he was the first born, too, and he helped her unknowingly. The night talks and the way he checked up on her... Emea knew what she felt.

She didn't know love.

She knew she loved her family and her people but never love like this. She was in love with Neteyam and she hoped to tell him. She had to tell him.

"What?" Tsireya breathed out and Emea stared at her, laying down on the sand. Her eyes made contact with the sky, so pretty, littered with specks, and the wind was perfect, she enjoyed it. "Does he know?"

"No," Emea shook her head. "But, I love him, Tsireya. I do."

Tsireya stared at her sister before smiling, a wide grin forming on her lips as she held in her squeal. "I'll be right back!"

Emea ignored her sister's enthusiasm, watching her figure disappear out of eyesight. She continued to look at the stars, her hands resting on her stomach, feeling herself breathing in and out. She felt a presence next to her and smiled a little, shaking her head.

"You just said you'll be back, Tsireya."

"I'm not Tsireya."

Emea's breath hitched in her throat at hearing that familiar accent. Of course she knew. She loved it. Her head snapped towards the person next to her and saw Neteyam sitting down, his eyesight on her. His eyes looked at her face and moved downward to eye her from head to toe and he couldn't help but smile once he saw her shocked face.

"Did you hear me...?" Emea questioned, breathless as if she hadn't just been thinking about telling him about what she felt. He chuckled and nodded, his gaze on the water. "Oh, no."

She covered her face and her face felt warm under her hands, She heard him continuing to chuckle, but he was simply admiring the way she was embarrassed. Emea was embarrassed. The future tsahík, the one connected to the animals and to Eywa herself, was embarrassed, and he loved knowing it was because of him.

"Emea," she dug her palms further onto her face and she heard him laugh a little. "Emea, look at me."

His hand pried her own away from her face and she saw that he was hovering above her, his braids framing his face as he looked down at her. He smiled and placed the hand that he wasn't using—he was using a hand to hold himself up—on the side of her face.

"Did you really hear it...?" She timidly asked and he could only smile, nodding his head.

"You know I'm in love with you, Emea," he whispered as if they were sharing secrets. "My heart belongs to you and has been yours since I've arrived here. I believe Eywa has brought you to me and I'm more than happy I have you."

"Do you really love me?" She whispered back and he eyed the way her eyes reflected stars. Those eyes he could stare in anytime of the day and any second. He was so entranced by her beauty, by the way she spoke to him, and by the way she just looked overall. "Answer me, please."

"You know I do," he mumbled. "I have been in love with you ever since I saw you when you tried to kill me." They both laughed at the recollection of events. "I am yours, you are the only one to have my heart. I love you."

Emea smiled but the new feeling of love being reciprocated made her feel an intense feeling in her chest. Her eyes teared, tears starting to block her gaze. Neteyam frowned.

"What's wrong?" He asked, concern laced in his voice. Emea could only chuckle tearily, sniffing.

"I've never felt such strong emotions," she admitted and he pressed his forehead on hers, their noses touching and breaths intertwining. "I see you, Neteyam. I see you and I love you with my entire being."

They both closed their eyes, relishing in the new amount of feelings surrounding their bodies. It wasn't long before his lips found hers, kissing under the sky they loved, under Eywa's creations, and under stars that withheld secrets from them both.

As they stayed within one another, Tsireya had already went to tell her mother, knowing that her mother was rooting for Emea and Neteyam to get together.

"They finally confessed," the girl told her mom excitedly and Ronal, who was sitting next to Neytiri, both glanced at one another, their husbands processing what the youngest had said.

"It's time to prepare a ceremony," Ronal smiled and Neytiri and Jake looked at each other, small smiles on their lips.

But their contentment could never compare to what Emea and Neteyam felt, their feelings for one another stronger than ever.

"I love you."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I lowkey wasn't going to end
the book with this but... wattpad
isn't interesting to me anymore so
I'd rather end this book with a
wholesome chapter where they both
finally know what the other is feeling

Thank you for reading and thank
you for the support :) 🤍