>>Hael
The next morning, I walked into the café, the bell above the door chiming as I stepped inside. The atmosphere was quieter than usual, a stillness in the air that felt odd.
Aira and Cory were both at the counter. They exchanged a quick glance when they saw , their expressions tight with sothing I couldn’t quite read.
"Master Hael," Aira greeted first, her voice softer than usual, as if she didn’t want to disturb sothing fragile.
Cory crossed her arms, "You should go upstairs," She said flatly, nodding toward the staircase that led to the third floor. "She’s up there and she hasn’t really co down since last night."
I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral. "She’s... upset?"
Aira gave a sympathetic look, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah. She’s been crying... a lot." Her voice dropped at the last part, as if saying it aloud made it worse.
I stood there for a mont. I knew why she was upset. I knew it was because of what she had found out—about , about the coming winter, and the inevitable fate that waited for us. But knowing it didn’t make it any easier to face.
I nodded again, more to myself this ti, and without another word, headed toward the staircase that led to her living quarters on the third floor.
I didn’t teleport directly there because of this. Talking to her employees was useful.
My boots echoed softly against the wooden steps as I climbed.
The door to her living quarters was slightly ajar when I reached it. I hesitated for a mont, then pushed it open. The small living room was dimly lit by the morning light filtering through the curtains, casting long shadows across the space. It was quiet—too quiet.
I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room. "Orenya?" I called softly.
There was no response, only the silence that hung in the air. I moved further into the room, "Orenya?" I called again, my voice a little louder this ti, but still soft. I didn’t want to startle her, just... find her.
I was about to move deeper into the apartnt when sothing ca barreling into from behind. I barely had ti to react before I felt arms wrap tightly around my waist, pulling into a sudden, desperate embrace.
"Hael..." Her voice was muffled against my back, but I could hear the raw emotion in it
I froze for a second, my breath catching in my throat as the feel of her against hit all at once. Her grip was tight, as if she was afraid to let go, and her whole body trembled with the weight of what she was feeling. I could feel her tears soaking into my shirt, the warmth of them pressing against my skin.
...
I grabbed her wrists and un-tied them for a second, then I turned to face her. As soon as I let her hands go, she wrapped herself around again.
Slowly, I wrapped my arms around her, holding her just as tightly. "Orenya..." I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.
She didn’t say anything, just clung to like I was the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely. Her fingers dug into my back, her face buried in the fabric of my shirt, and I could feel the silent sobs shaking her body.
I closed my eyes, resting my chin lightly on the top of her head, my hand gently rubbing her back. "I’m here," I murmured, the only words I could manage.
She pulled back just enough to look up at , her eyes red and swollen from crying, her cheeks streaked with tears. "I..." she whispered, her voice thick with the remnants of her sobs. "I didn’t an to do this but,." Her voice trembled, "Why did you do such a cruel thing?" The corners of her eyes were red and swollen, "If you are going to leave , why did you do all this? This isn’t like you, to throw everything away in exchange for a re few months!"
Her words hit like a punch to the gut. She has no idea how much she holds over .
I could see the fear in her eyes, the way it mirrored my own. The fear of losing each other, of ti running out too quickly. I reached up, gently wiping a tear from her cheek with my thumb. "I’m not going anywhere," I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm inside , "Not now,"
"What about in winter?" She tried to blink away her tears, "Did you really not think about this?"
"I did," I answered her
"And?"
"I should have said this yesterday but I didn’t want to give you false hope."
She looked back at , "What hope?"
"Like you said, it isn’t like ." My words made her frown, but I also saw the flicker of hope in her eyes, "I told you ’as things stand’ I will die." Her grip on my clothes increased. I’m sure my words hinted sothing in her mind, "But there’s a chance we can do sothing."
I saw her pupils shake
"What?" Her breath hitched.
"I had a deal with Einar before I agreed to beco the perforr." I talked slowly, "Delphi and Einar agreed to try and find a way to help."
"..." She stared at , then pressed her forehead against my chest, her breathing still shaky, but slowing as she cald down in my arms. I held her, feeling the weight of her body against mine, the way she fit so perfectly in my embrace, "But you said the punishnt is inevitable."
"..." I let out a soft breath, "It is,"
"Then?"
"There is no known evidence of the fate of taboo perforrs ever changing. But, I’m choosing to trust them both."
>>Amber
"What if they don’t succeed?" I hugged him with all my might, "Then what?"
"...." His heartbeat was a little erratic, I could hear it clearly as I was pressed against his chest, "Well, we’ll et in another life then." It was like his words opened up the dam I was trying to keep closed.
My tears began to stream out again.
***
I cald down a lot and took a deep breath
"Feeling better, Orenya?" Hael asked and I nodded. We sat on the couch in the living room, next to each other
"Yea," I nodded, sniffled and looked at him, "But now tell ,"
Our eyes t, "Hmm?"
"Orenya? What does it an?"
His lips curled up into a soft subtle smile, "It’s elvish,"
"Elvish?" I should have guessed that, "Okay, then what does it an?"
"My heart," He replied, making my eyes go wide in disbelief.
"Huh?" I was opening and closing my mouth lightly trying to get so words out but I couldn’t. Not imdiately
His gaze was so soft and so filled with tenderness it was making want to cry, "Because my heart is yours. Everything you do influences , it has an effect on like nothing else."
"Hael," My chest trembled and tears were ready to spill out once again.
"There’s no need for you to cry." He wiped my tears, "Not like this." He smiled, "If you really want to cry I’ll give you another reason."
"So you want to cry?" This jerk
"Yes," He smirked, "I want you to cry, but from pleasure."
...
I froze to process what he just said. It took a mont before it registered in my mind.
Then my cheeks flushed red
!!!
"Hael!!" I slapped his arm, "How can you be so non-serious at a ti like this!?"
"I’m serious," He answered with a straight face, making my heart jump.
I wasn’t sure how to answer at first. Then I cald down and pouted, "Then do it," I told him, catching him off guard, "Make cry," Surprise flickered across his features before they darkened with sothing else entirely—sothing that matched the fire roaring inside .
I leaned in towards him and he responded imdiately.
His hand found the back of my neck, fingers sliding into my hair, pulling to him, and I gasped—his touch was firm but gentle, possessive but careful,
Our lips collided with a force that sent a shockwave through . It wasn’t soft or gentle. It was raw, hungry, and desperate. His lips were warm and demanding, and I kissed him back just as fiercely, my hands clutching his shirt, pulling him closer.
I kissed him deeper, harder, like I could pour every unspoken emotion into that kiss. His tongue slid against mine, and I moaned softly into his mouth, the sound vibrating between us. His hands road down my back, grabbing tightly, then pulling into his lap.
!!
I felt a spark run through my body when my hips covered his thighs, my body fitting against his like it was ant to be there.
My fingers tangled in his hair, tugging, making him groan into my mouth, and the sound only fueled the fire inside . His kisses beca rougher, more urgent, and I gave in to the wild, reckless desire
Each brush of his lips, each flick of his tongue, sent sparks skittering across my skin, and I wanted to drown in it, in him.
I knew neither of us had intentions to stop but then sothing in Hael’s pocket began to beep.
???
I opened my eyes as I felt the purple color flash. Hael paid it no attention and I tried to ignore it too. But as if by pure persistence, the beeping stopped, followed by a voice.
"Hael," It was a woman’s voice, one I did not recognize, "You said to tell you when you could visit." We both froze, "You can co et now."
!?
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