She woke up warm. Warmer than usual. The magic of the lighthouse always kept her room at the perfect temperature, as it did with the rest of their little island. This was the comfortable warmth one got from being nestled tight into blankets, or being close to someone.
She felt nestled between the back of the sofa and.. Blinking once, twice, she realized the wall in front of her was no wall at all. It was the sleeping form of Lucanis, wrapped around her. And by the sense of smell, which also awoke, she was not in her own room. She was in the pantry, where the smells of different spices hit her.
She blinked a third time. This was not where she had gone to bed last night. Lucanisâ small cot in the pantry seemed small enough for him alone. With her, even with her slight build, it was less than cramped. She was between him and the wall, his arms wrapped around her to protect her from the cold surface. She was scooted down, facing his chest, and his legs wrapped between hers. Her cheeks grew warmer by the second. While they both knew there was something between them, they had not shared a bed yet. Or a proximity as close as this.
Slowly, she turned her head up, catching the rarest of sights: A sleeping Lucanis. Her heart skipped a few beats. He was handsome when awake, but sleeping, he was beautiful. Seconds passed as she kept staring, until she was forced to blink again. When he was in focus again, a jolt went through her as a pair of eyes stared down at her. Purple eyes. Spite.
ROOK. AWAKE! Spite grinned with Lucanisâ face. Seemingly pleased with himself. He didn't move, just looked at her, expectantly.
âHello, Spite. Any idea how I ended up here?â She was almost afraid to move. Not for anything Spite might do, she truly believed the demon didnât mean her any harm. But she didn't want to leave just yet.
YES. I CARRIED ROOK. ROOK IS SAFE HERE. He proclaimed. Still with a proud grin on Lucanisâ face. Safe? In the pantry? Or..
âIs this your way of saying you understand space a bit more? Since Lucanis said he preferred the pantry for its choking point?â
Spite nodded enthusiastically. YES! ROOK IS SAFE IN PANTRY.
After their run-in with the venatori the day prior, she might have made a comment. The team were minding their business in a more secluded part of Dock Town, when they got attacked by a group of venatori. She might have made a comment afterwards that she wouldn't be surprised if venatori popped up in the aquarium in her chambers, as they seemed to appear everywhere they went these days. It hadnât occurred to her at all that Spite was listening. Making her sleep in the pantry, protected by Lucanis and Spite. Perhaps Spite had thought she felt unsafe alone in her chambers. It was sweet in its own way, but she had a sneaking suspicion.
âSpite. Did you plan this with Lucanis, or did you come up with this yourself?â
Ah. Her heart sank for a bit, and started to slowly untangle herself from the still sleeping assassin. Even with their growing affection, she wasnât sure how well received it would be for Lucanis to find her uninvited in his bed. If she could still sneak away before he woke, maybe she could convince him Spite was just messing with him.
âThank you for the sentiment, Spite. But maybe check in with Lucanis next time. I donât think-â
She froze, looking back up. Staring back at her was the familiar pair of dark eyes looking down at her. She had joked they were the color of coffee because of how much of it he drank, but they had almost a golden hue to the dark brown eyes, and she nearly got caught in his look, until the situation came crashing back down. Her cheeks burned hotter.
âHi,â it felt more like a squeak.
âWhy are you in my bed?â He blinked a few times, and she was almost glad of the blush which crept up his neck as he took in the scene of them. In the position they were still in. Still, she felt bad for him and pushed herself as far back into the wall as she could. Which as this point wasnât very far. She had managed to untangle their legs before he woke, but his arms were still around her.
WE PROTECT ROOK. Spite said for both of them, and by the smugness in his voice, he still failed to see any problem with their current situation. He sounded as smug as the cat who had swallowed a pigeon.
By his frown, she could tell Lucanis was given the explanation by Spite, and by the facial expressions that followed, she could tell he was not exactly pleased by the demon's antics. She could feel his fingers flexing at her back as he silently argued with Spite. For once, she didnât mind that she wasnât privy to their conversations.
âIâm sorry, I will get going,â she said as she started to scoot herself down to the foot of the cot.Â
Before she got that far, his hold on her tightened, and his chin rested on the crown of her head.Â
âDonât go,â his voice a whisper against her hair. âI donât mind. Reallyâ
A moment passed as she relaxed into his embrace again, timidly placing a hand against his chest. His heart beat a steady rhythm underneath her palm, slightly racing.
âAre you sure? If youâre uncomfortable..â she left the words hanging in the air, really hoping he wasnât uncomfortable by it. She knew she really wasnât, even if it had been a complete surprise. Although not an unpleasant one. âWith you? Never,â he simply stated. A smile formed on her lips as she let her cheek rest against him as well.
They lay in comfortable silence, even Spite keeping calm. She could almost imagine him sitting by one of the crates by the door, keeping watch for any invading venatori.
âSpite said you were afraid of venatori in your room?â Lucanis asked after a while. She sighted.
âI think Spite needs a course on sarcasm.â
Neither spoke for a moment, and warmth crept up her spine and to her stomach as Lucanis slowly began tracing his fingers up and down her spine. In unrushed, lazy strokes.
âNot sure how I feel about being abducted in the night, but next time-â As soon as she spoke the words, she clapped her mouth shut, but it only earned her a low chuckle from Lucanis.
âNext time, Iâll invite you myself.â Her entire face flushed, and she thanked the maker he couldnât see her face. By being this close to him however, had the added benefit of listening to his heart race for a moment as he spoke the words. She suspected he might enjoy this as she did. Â
âDeal,â she agreed, settling back into his embrace and a dreamless sleep. The world could wait an hour more. Maybe two
areudirty
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stormborns
