Raegar and Drusilla approached the group as Dominique, Selene, and Zahara watched with knowing expressions. When he got close enough, he disard the girl, but suddenly hugged the three of them.
''What is this for, Rae?'' the Demoness asked.
Before answering, he did the sa thing to the other two, which took them by surprise, but they happily accepted the gesture and hugged him back. Once that was done, Raegar stepped back while looking at Vienne and Luna.
''Sorry girls, but I only hug these four,'' he said, smirking. ''There would be a certain boy angry with if I did.''
Everyone turned to Caspian, who went bright red. The black-haired boy quickly composed himself and spoke. ''Let's go get sothing to eat, I'm hungry.''
Raegar watched his friend spin on his heels and led them through the hallways where other students went about their business. While walking, Drusilla returned to her small form and flew into his pocket, yawning.
''I'm going to have a nap, handso,'' she muttered before falling asleep.
The group laughed as Rune comnted. ''She used up a lot of her Aether in healing you, it seems, I can sense her energy all over yo u.''
When Raegar heard this, he rembered their passionate ti the previous night, catching everyone's attention. Zahara's grey eyes narrowed in suspicion, but she didn't say anything to his relief.
Just then, Dominique gazed at him, her erald green eyes glowing thanks to the surrounding Aether lights. ''Can I co south with you, please? I'm going to skip the wedding, they happen all the ti up north.''
The girls giggled at this, causing him to respond. ''Won't your father be angry?''
Dominique shook her head with a giggle as she answered. ''So what? I'll be with you and I'm sure he won't say anything.''
He chuckled at this and nodded in agreent. ''That's fine with .''
Following that, the group made their way to the usual spot near the back of the hall, where they settled onto the polished wooden benches. Raegar slid into his seat, the chatter of his friends blending into a comforting hum around him.
As he reached for a spiced cider, he felt a gentle nudge against his shoulder. Turning, he found himself face-to-face with Rune, the towering boy whose broad fra and easygoing nature made him a favorite among their circle.
Rune's warm brown eyes sparkled with amusent, and his wide smile revealed a hint of curiosity. ''So, Rae,'' he began, his deep voice cutting through the din of the hall. ''When are you finally going to march into the headmistress's office and charm your way out of those extra classes?''
His tone was teasing, but there was genuine interest behind his words, as if he fully expected him to pull off such a feat. Raegar chuckled, leaning back slightly as he considered the question, the lively atmosphere of the dining hall fueling his confidence.
''Soon, my friend,'' he replied with a grin. ''But I'll need to plan my approach carefully, the Headmistress is not one to be swayed by half-baked excuses.''
The table erupted in laughter, and as the conversation flowed on, Raegar couldn't help but feel a spark of determination ignite within him, ready to tackle whatever challenges lay ahead.
Following this, the group started eating while talking about their days. He was enjoying his food in silence as the dining hall buzzed with warmth and chatter. Plates piled with roasted ats, herbed potatoes, and crusty bread passed between hands.
The clink of mugs and laughter filled the air. Raegar ate sparingly, his appetite dulled by lingering aches, but he savored the mont, Selene's animated stories pulling smiles from him despite his fatigue.
As the al wound down, the group began to disperse, exchanging tired but fond goodnights. Dominique squeezed Raegar's hand, her voice low. ''Get so rest, Rae. No heroics tonight.''
She planted a quick kiss on his cheek before heading off with Selene as the Demoness did the sa, their laughter fading down the hall. Raegar lingered, his gaze drifting toward the garden's open door. Instead of following the others to the sleeping quarters.
Not long after that, he slipped outside, the cool night air brushing against his skin. The school's garden was quiet now, bathed in moonlight, the scent of night flowers stronger in the dark.
He settled onto a stone bench, his body still sore but his mind restless, drawn to the peace of the blooming shadows as he let the Aether hum softly within him. Raegar leaned back on the stone bench, his gaze lifted to the vast canvas of stars scattered across the night sky.
Each pinprick of light seed to pulse faintly, echoing the quiet rhythm of the Aether still stirring in his chest. The garden's silence wrapped around him, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze, and for a mont, the weight of his pain and the day's chaos felt distant.
A sudden flutter in his pocket snapped him from his daze. Before he could react, a shimr of light erupted, and Drusilla burst forth, her tiny fairy form spiraling upward in a cascade of sparkling wings.
In a fluid swirl of magic, she transford, her body expanding until she stood. Then promptly sat right on Raegar's lap, her human form radiant under the moonlight. Her golden hair spilled over her shoulders, catching the starlight, and her blue eyes glead with a mix of mischief and affection.
''Stargazing without ?'' she teased, her voice a warm whisper as she looped her arms around his neck. ''You're getting too comfortable out here alone, Rae.''
Raegar's lips curved into a smirk, his hands instinctively settling on her waist. ''Didn't want to wake you again,'' he murmured, his tone low and playful. ''You're trouble when you're cranky.''
Drusilla's laugh was soft but vibrant, filling the quiet garden. She leaned closer, her breath warm against his cheek. ''Lucky for you, I'm wide awake now.''
Without another word, she closed the distance, her lips capturing his in a passionate kiss. The world seed to spark around them, the Aether in Raegar's veins flaring as he pulled her tighter, returning the kiss with equal fervor.
Her warmth lted into him, and for those fleeting monts, the stars above burned brighter, as if mirroring the fire between them. The garden's moonlight bathed Raegar and Drusilla in a silver glow, the stars above seeming to pulse in ti with their quickening breaths.
Her lips pressed against his again, deeper this ti, her kiss a slow, searing dance that sent heat coursing through his veins. His hands tightened on her waist, fingers digging into her hips as she shifted closer on his lap, her body molding perfectly against his.
The Aether in his chest thrumd, a wild current amplifying every sensation: the warmth of her skin, the faint floral scent of her hair, the soft hum of her magic lingering from her transformation.
Drusilla's fingers traced the line of his jaw, then slid down his neck, her touch light but deliberate, igniting sparks wherever she lingered. Raegar's breath hitched as her hands wandered lower, skimming the muscles of his chest through his shirt.
Her lips curved into a mischievous smile against his, sensing his reaction. ''You're too quiet,'' she whispered, her voice a sultry tease, before nipping his lower lip.
The sting sent a jolt through him, and he growled softly, pulling her even closer, his lips claiming hers with renewed hunger. The kiss deepened, a tangle of heat and need, their breaths mingling in ragged bursts.
Drusilla's hands grew bolder, slipping beneath the hem of his shirt, her fingers grazing the warm skin of his abdon. Raegar tensed, the contact sending a shiver up his spine, the Aether flaring brighter in response.
Her touch was a firebrand, each brush stoking the growing inferno within him. She paused, her eyes locking with his, their depths reflecting a shared, unspoken question. Raegar's smirk returned, a silent answer, and she grinned, her hands sliding lower still.
With a quick movent, Drusilla's fingers dipped beneath the waistband of his pants, her touch teasingly light but deliberate. His breath caught, his body tensing as a wave of heat surged through him.
The garden seed to fade, the stars and shadows blurring into insignificance as her fingers explored, slow and purposeful, drawing a low groan from deep in his throat. ''Dru,'' he murmured, his voice rough, laced with both warning and want.
She only laughed, a soft, wicked sound, and leaned in to kiss him again, her lips silencing any protest. The kiss was molten now, all pretense of restraint gone. His hands road her back, one sliding up to tangle in her golden hair, the other pressing her hips closer, erasing any space between them.
Drusilla's Aether humd against his skin, a faint vibration that mingled with the Aether, heightening every touch. Her fingers moved with confidence, coaxing another shudder from him, and he broke the kiss to bury his face in the curve of her neck, his lips grazing her pulse.
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