Audrey Rose was familiar with the snips and snarls of death.
She felt the cold start to leech the warmth off her skin and the growls of menacing creatures lurking in the shadows.
The interlacing sounds of dark rivers created a soft lullaby as she walked straight ahead, her shoulders thrown back and her head held high.
The spring felt too long. The sun shining and the heat beating down on her neck. In some ways she had enjoyed it. In some ways she hadn’t.
There were days when she walked through a garden and flowers bloomed around her, cocooning her in a soft perfume that brought her back to times when her brother never revealed himself to the helion he was and her mother hadn’t resented her for choosing love over life.
Then there were also days when she would look out her window at a blank sky and remember whispered promises in equally dark atmospheres. She would pass by cemeteries and feel the brush of cold hands against her cheeks. Her heart would pull at the vague sound of his name being passed around like a bad omen people were trying to avoid.
There were always days like these. A series of moments that pushed and pulled at her for all of eternity.
It was worth it to Audrey Rose. Because nothing would ever be as beautiful as the sight of his dark eyes lighting up as he saw her walk into the throne room. Nothing would ever be so thrilling to see him in all his glory—his robes billowing around him as he slowly walks towards her—his steps surgically measured as they rand through the echoing chamber. Nothing would ever feel like her heart galloping in her chest as he stopped inches away and his hands crept up from her forearms and rested on her cheeks. They were cold as death, but his mouth—oh gods his mouth on hers was warmer than any spring day.
She melted into him as he gripped her tighter and her arms wrapped around his neck. She could feel his loneliness and longing through his lips. The way they parted and slid from her jaw to her neck then back up to her mouth. And in turn she tried to convey the same. In the way she tilted her head, opened her mouth and continue to kiss him for all she was worth.
He drew back slightly and rested his forehead against hers, “Welcome back, My Queen.”
“Hope you haven’t been bored for too long, Lord Thomas.”
A wicked grin split his face and Audrey Rose felt her heart skip it’s racing beat.
“How could I have ever been bored when you appear in my dreams, my love?”
She laughed and smacked the back of his head playfully, just as he leaned back down to kiss her again.
The air was damp, the room was cold, the sounds of death almost rattled this underground place but this was home.
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