Header: created by the amazing @oh-so-youre-a-nerd
Masterlist
Meet my MC: Autumn Nightbloom
Things left unsaid Mal Volari x f!mc Autumn Nightbloom (Ⓜ️🔥 Angst, Explicit/NSFW)
Reflections on the eve of battle Mal Volari x f!mc Autumn Nightbloom (Teen, angst)
A Thief's Oath Mal Volari x f!mc Autumn Nightbloom (Teen, fluff)
Pancake mornings Mal Volari x f!mc Autumn Nightbloom (Teen, fluff)
A Whitetower Festival Mal Volari x f!mc Autumn Nightbloom (Teen, fluff)
Mal and Autumn Picrew 🎨
Autumn and Mal's happily ever after headcanon
Gifts & commissions
Bumbling adversaries 🐝 A gift for the lovely Dani
Untitled Birthday Lovely gifts by the amazing @thosehallowedhalls 💛
In the arms of night A wonderful gift from Dani @storyofmychoices
Autumn nightbloom portrait 🎨A gift by the incredibly talented @lilyoffandoms
Mal and Autumn waltz 🎨A beautiful art commission by @hydn-jpg.
Pancake mornings 🎨Gorgeous art commission by Artbyainna (IG), gift from the @choicesficwriterscreations January 2024 reading event. Post blades 2.
Autumn Geometric Art 🎨 by the supremely talented Dani 🫶🏼
Autumn sketch 🎨 by the wonderful @aallotarenunelma
Meet my MC: Eva Archer ✒️🎨
Starlit night ✒️🎨Troy Hassan x f!mc Eva Archer (teen, fluff)
Sisterly advice Eva Archer and Brynn Archer (teen)
Close call ✒️🎨Troy Hassan x f!mc Eva Archer (teen)
Kiss me ✒️🎨Troy Hassan x Eva Archer (teen)
Gifts
Happy birthday Eva Troy Hassan x Eva Archer f!mc drabble by the wonderful @inlocusmads 💛
Troy and Eva plushies 🎨 by the wonderful @cadybear420
Heaven's Secret 1 Revisited Dino x f!mc, Lucifer x f!mc, Sammy x Adi, other pairings
Mature / explicit content Ⓜ️🔥
A self-indulgent rewrite of Heaven’s Secret 1. It stays mostly true to the original story, delving into some of the main characters’ motivations and POVs, and a little more world-building. Dino-Lucifer-MC love triangle, and explorations of Vicky's relationship with Malbonte. Other pairings to come up.
Daddy Luci Lucifer x Vicky and Levvy (daughter) (G: domestic fluff)
Your relationship with Lucifer has significantly increased 🎨 (Vicky x Lucifer) commission by Elliott @oh-so-youre-a-nerd
Art of Lucifer and Vicky 🎨commission by the very talented @bayleedraws-sometimesx
Art of Vicky Walker 🎨 gift from the wonderful Dani @storyofmychoices 🥰🥰
Lucifer moodboard
Vicky and Lucifer wedding outfit inspos
Lucifer x Vicky WIP Ⓜ️ Vicky x Lucifer (m: suggestive)
A Mexican Getaway Ⓜ️🔥 Vicky x Dino, Vicky x Lucifer, Sammy x Adi (E: Smut Sammy x Adi, major character death)
Unraveling Ⓜ️🔥 Raina x Xander van Hayes (E: smut)
Aftermath Ⓜ️ Raina x Xander van Hayes (M: swearing, sexual innuendo)
The Falcon, the Bear and the Executioner Ⓜ️ Deviya Sharma x Kamal Rai, Doran Basu
Chibi Deviya Sharma 🎨 art by the wonderfully talented Dani 🥰 @storyofmychoices
Duty born of loss part 1 and part 2 Ⓜ️ Deviya Sharma x Kamal Rai
Meet my MC: Aurélie Bajolière
Dance féerique Cal Lowell x Aurélie Bajolière (f!mc) (general fluff)
Meet my MC: Geneviève of Carmelide
Redemption is a perpetual journey Kamilah Sayeed x Gaius Augustine (m angst)
What if Gaius had his moment of retribution? Gaius Augustine, Rheya Apostolous (t angst)
Will you be my Valentine? 🎨 Jax Matsuo x Buffy (f!mc) A gift from @loreofyore by the talented @weetlebeetle 💛
Elizabeth (Buffy) Matsuo's elopement dress This. This is the style right here.
A Pact with Lucifer Lucifer x f!mc 🔥 (E: NSFW smut)
The cast of BotB season four has touched down in a new state: Ohio! That's right—they're infiltrated G's backyard (and maybe someone else's?) Unfortunately, the rockstar isn't happy about this development considering the people who have decided to show their faces here. Meanwhile certain rumors are tainting the BOTB brand while the home lives of the ROs are starting to creep up on them. Will there even be a tour? Who knows?
As usual, MC remains in the center of it all. Their plans for their future comes into question when they're forced with new faces and possibilities. That is…if they even have a career by the end of this. For some MCs they should probably keep in mind to think with their head and not their…you know!
Hi! It's been a long time coming but I'm excited to share the Chapter 5 alpha demo! Thank you for your patience and enthusiasm :) Please read until the end. Without fail I get questions that are answered in this post almost immediately after publishing it aha
I'm calling it an alpha demo because, and not to get all sad and lame, after the death of my family member I did not feel like adding more to my plate (aka beta testers). Writing took up much of my time already and it just hasn't been the right time to include other people into the process. Of course, that must change, and I will be getting beta testers soon now that the alpha is out. As always, the chapters are subject to change and improve as time goes on.
So with that said if there are errors im all ears! I will try to be as timely as possible.
After 8 years I started my 2nd playthrough of Perfect Match, my 2nd fav book... Took me long. I decided to read PM & maybeee Nightbound before offically deleting my Choices App forever. And in August Pixelberry will celebrate their 10th anniversary (I started first Choices August 2016 with many loooong years of pauses between). But that game/app/company really dropped low.
But I will never forget the good old Choices times with our favorite old books. So sad.
Goodbye Nik Ryder, Hayden Young, Damien Nazario and my other LIs.
Awww I feel a little sad now... i adore Perfect Match, replayed it not too long ago. And Blades of Light and Shadow which brought me over to tumblr in the first place (!), Nightbound, Bloodbound, Endless Summer, Wake the Dead, The Crown and the Flame, The Elementalists, Kindred, Guinevere.... so many good stories 🥺
I'm keeping the app for my old favorites. Haven't tried a new story in months, they no longer draw me in... I may try the Elementalist 3... is it any good?
This is the final part in The Hidden Path mini series. I started planning this moment 4 years ago. I've had this art for over 3 years. I've drafted at least a dozen versions of this and it never felt right, because I realized recently, it was never just about this moment, it was about all that came before and all that will come next. Having the mini series to explore that elevates this moment even more for me. I really hope you enjoy this art and the fic. Thank you for supporting these two for the past 6 years. I am eternally grateful.
Art by ArtbyAinna (instagram)
Read on AO3
Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya
with Rayden (OC), Lydo (OC)
Book: Blades of Light & Shadow (Book 1 AU)
Word Count: < 700
Rating/Warnings: General, no warnings
Synopsis: The map that sent them on their latest adventure has brought them home. This is part two of "The Hidden Path" mini series.
Background: This is the final chapter in The Hidden Path series. It also comes after previous attempts at Mal proposing: A Proposal (of sorts) and To Have and To Lose.
Her pulse quickened as she lifted the key, questions racing through her mind. She carefully traced the dark metal of the lock, the corner of her lip tugging upward at the familiar design.
For a moment, all she could think about was her family—her boys... and Mal.
Her hand shook as she slid the key in place, twisting it until she heard a faint click. She chewed her lower lip, not sure what waited on the other side. The wooden gate eased forward with a comforting soft squeak.
She stepped forward, her breath catching.
Red rose petals were scattered delicately at her feet. Candlelight flickered on either side of her, inviting her to follow their light. She took a slow step forward, the petals shifting softly beneath her feet.
The yard was quiet except for the giggles and excited squeals from the boys trailing just behind her.
"Mal." His name was a wordless whisper on her lips as she approached a floral arch illuminated with lanterns at the center of the space.
He held his hand out, guiding her forward. His other hand rested on her swollen stomach. "I love you both." His voice was quiet, just for her. "I'm sorry things fell apart today."
Rayden and Lydo moved behind him, checking their mark to make sure everything was perfect.
Mal leaned forward, brushing a lingering kiss on her forehead before lowering to one knee in front of her.
"Daenarya—" his voice cracked as he said her name. He opened his mouth, but his words failed. He shook his head. "I practiced this so many times, but with you, I lose what I thought I knew."
"There hasn't been a moment since I met you that I've wanted to be anywhere other than by your side," he continued. "When you paused this morning outside of the city, talking about home, I had to fight against myself to propose on the spot. That moment may have been beautiful, but it wasn't our home. When the rain fell, and you were once again in my arms, I was reminded how far we'd come since that first dance and how I never want that dance to end. I thought about asking you then, but it wasn't where I wanted to grow old together. But then—" his gaze fell, his head shaking. "—Then I hurt you... I never meant to make you feel like I didn't trust you. It took everything in me not to tell you. To know I hurt you today—Daenarya." Tears filled his eyes, slipping down his face. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," she mouthed, her eyes glistening. She offered a gentle nod. "It's okay."
"If I had, I could have spared you so much pain. I'm sorry... but it's not just about us anymore. It's about our children and the home we share. It's not just about where we are now, but where we've been and where we're going. There is no greater treasure in this world or the next that compares with you.
Daenarya, will you marry me?"
Her breath hitched at the question hanging between them, her hands clasping over her mouth. A soft laugh broke through her tears. "Mal..." Her gaze flickered between him and the boys bouncing excitedly behind him. Her heart swelled. She nodded before she could answer. "Yes!" Her voice trembled, but her smile never faltered. "Of course, yes! I'll marry you!"
Mal slipped the golden ring onto her finger, his hands steady and sure.
He rose swiftly, pulling her into a kiss, his arms wrapping around her as he held her close, never wanting to let her go.
The boys' cheer broke their embrace. Their small hands tugged at them, waiting for their time to celebrate. The newly engaged couple fell to their knees, gathering their boys into their arms. Their shared laughter broke through the last of the tears as they held their family close.
This was just the beginning of their greatest adventure.
Thank you again for reading! I hope you enjoyed this and hope that it feels earned and worthy of all they've been through.
Yes!!!! YES!!!! Ok i adore everything about this! The vulnerability, the absolute love they have for each other, the family they are slowly building... 🥺🥹🥰
Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya
Book: Blades of Light & Shadow (Book 1 AU)
Word Count: > 300
Rating/Warnings: General, Angst without a happy ending (for now)
Synopsis: Mal and Daenarya continue on but the distance between them grows. This is part eight of "The Hidden Path" mini series.
The map, once a constant guide since leaving the orphanage, now sat abandoned in her bag. Whatever certainty it once held had slipped away.
Her feet dragged her forward, one step and then the next.
The sound of their footsteps on the forest floor was amplified by their silence. Each leaf that crunched beneath their steps, each twig that snapped, each rustle of the leaves echoed through the stillness between them.
She let the rhythmic sounds of their trek consume her.
Moving forward.
One foot in front of the other.
It was all she could do.
If she stopped. If she let her thoughts even whisper to her, it would thunder into a cacophony, drowning her under the weight of the questions.
This was better. The steady rhythm of the forest around her.
"Daeny—" His step paused.
Hers didn't.
"I'm sorry." His words were soft, his chest tightening as he watched her continue.
She slowed but didn't stop.
"Daenarya."
"I know," her voice cracked.
"Can we talk?" He reached for her hand, but she kept it just out of reach.
She glanced at him for a moment, unable to stay away. But seeing him just reminded her of the secret he was keeping. Her head shook to the sides. "I can't."
"I know, I did this." His head hung low, his hand fidgeted at his side. "I want to tell you."
"What's stopping you?" Her lip quivered.
"I wish you knew..." His jaw tightened. "If you did, you'd understand. I just—" He shook his head, his lips pressed together. "Please, Daenarya. Just a little longer. It wasn't... It wasn't supposed to end like this."
"But that's the thing, it's one more question. One more thing that I don't know. How was ‘what’ supposed to end?"
He sighed heavily. "Our day."
"Really? You planned to deceive me and hoped it'd go well?"
"I never wanted to deceive you, just make the day special."
"Why?" She pleaded. But her question lingered without a response. "Where are we even going?"
"Home."
Keep Reading: Part Nine
I promise the angst is almost over! This section was supposed to be a bit longer, but I feel like this does everything it needs to without stretching it out too much.
Thank you for reading! I hope you like the last sections!
[Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 1 + Beyond] [Mal’s Orphanage][Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 2 + 3 AU]
Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya
Book: Blades of Light & Shadow (Book 1 AU)
Word Count: < 800
Rating/Warnings: General, Angst without a happy ending (for now)
Synopsis: A fork in the path reveals more than either of them expected. This is part seven of "The Hidden Path" mini series.
Background: There’s no single direct callback in this chapter (aside from a brief Contessa reference). It’s more a culmination of the smaller moments that have built up throughout the series, things Daenarya is now starting to question. I considered tying it back to my fic “It’s About Trust,” but the tone felt too different, so this part stands on its own in a way the other parts don't.
The trail ahead divided in two.
Daenarya slowed.
Mal didn't.
"Where are you going?" She called to him.
He glanced over his shoulder, finding her stopped. "Following the path."
"How? You didn't even look at the map?"
"The path goes this way." Mal offered, retreating back to her. "Why, what's the map say?"
She traced the faded ink on the parchment, her finger stopping where she estimated they should be. "This doesn't make sense." Her gaze shifted around her, analyzing the terrain.
"What's wrong?"
"This—" she pointed to a large rock shaped like a heart on the map. "We passed it a while back... We should've just followed this path until we hit the tree bridge."
"Then let's keep moving." He gestured in the direction he had been heading.
"The map doesn't show a trail split here. How do we know that's the way to go?" Daenarya pondered, studying the map. "Did we miss something? Maybe we should backtrack for a bit."
"I don't think that's a good idea," he offered, barely letting her complete her suggestion. Mal glanced down the pair of paths, his fingers tapping at his side. "I'm sure it's this one."
"How? How can you be sure?"
"Uh—" His fingers raked through his hair. "Call it adventurer's intuition. Sometimes you just know."
Her gaze lingered on him, unconvinced. "I don't know. Something's off with this map... Where did you say you got it from?"
"Uhh.. I don't remember."
"Mal, you remember every map and treasure you've ever found." Her eyes narrowed on him.
His hands slid in his pockets as he took a step back. "Does it really matter where I got it?"
"If it's from some Contessa from back in the day, I don't care." She took a step closer, her gaze softening. "Knowing where it came from could help us understand what we're missing."
He licked his lips, nodding in consideration. "You got me... It's just— I know how much you hate hearing those stories."
"And yet you’ve never had a problem telling them before,” she murmured. “Why now?”
"Trying to be more considerate, I guess," he said with a shrug, his words falling flat.
"What aren't you telling me?" Her voice was soft. "Where did you really get this map?"
"I don't think it makes a difference where it's from. It's gotten us this far." He glanced between the openings in the treetops, then to the shadows on the ground. Worry pulled on his features. "Can we please keep going?"
“You keep doing that!" She folded her arms across her chest. “You keep changing the subject, pushing forward. Why? How long have you really had this map?”
"Can't you just trust me?"
"I do trust you, but why won't you tell me what's going on?"
Mal wore a path on the ground beside her. His hand ran over his satchel, his fingers teasing the latch. "Daenarya, please."
"Please, what? What aren't you telling me?"
"I just need you to keep going."
"Why? Why do you need me to keep going? Why can't you tell me what's going on? Did you want me to walk in on you playing with the map? Did you know I'd insist on coming? Do you know where it leads? Why won't you tell me?" Her voice cracked as the questions snowballed in her mind, tumbling out of her lips. The lips that not long ago were warmly against his.
“I need you to know how much—" The words slipped out before he could stop them. His hand reached into his satchel, grasping at something inside. His jaw tightened, his hand falling from the bag. "I can't... not yet. Not here. Not like this."
"Not like what? Mal, please." Her eyes filled with unshed tears.
He reached to cradle her face, but she pulled away.
"I love you, Daenarya. More than I could ever hope to say." He reached down to gather the bouquet of flowers she had set down when she stopped to examine the map. "I just need you to trust me. Just a little longer."
"I know you love me," she breathed, accepting the flowers, trying to shake back the tears threatening to fall. "I only wish you'd trust me enough to let me in."
"Daenarya." Her name was a whisper on his lips, the only word he could mutter.
Her name.
Daenarya.
"Lead the way."
Her voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"It seems like you have been since this all began anyway."
She didn't wait for him; she stepped down the path he'd suggested. For the first time in a long time, the silence that settled between them was anything but comfortable.
Keep Reading: Party Eight
This section definitely gave me the most trouble to write. I took 5 days to get this much written. This was supposed to be split into two sections but I struggled enough with this that I couldn't imagine making it two. Plus, two shorter ones would fragment the growing tension, so I hope this works. I don't usually write angst. This was very unusual and uncomfortable.
Anyway, thanks for reading, if you made it this far! I so appreciate you supporting this adventure. I'm so excited for the last two sections. The angst now will have a happy ending later!
Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya
Book: Blades of Light & Shadow (Book 1 AU)
Word Count: ~ 1,000
Rating/Warnings: Teen
Synopsis: A simple discovery leads to unintended consequences for Daenarya. This is part five of "The Hidden Path" mini series.
Background: References to Blades 1 Chapter 2 (Mal and Daenarya's first diamond scene, getting the Levenfruit), Chapter 7 (escaping the Pythonas Vines) and my fic Into the Woods of the same event. Also, hoping that I captured that playful, teasing vibes of their earlier dynamic.
Sunlight filtered through breaks in the canopy, scattering shifting patterns along the leaves of the surrounding trees... all except one.
Daenarya glanced down at the map, confirming what she already suspected. A rough forest sketch with trees leaning in the same direction, all but one.
"That one." She pointed to the tree whose trunk seemed to bend away from the light, hiding itself in shadow. Daenarya carefully examined the tree, her eyes surveying each crevice, searching for what the map might be pointing to. Her face lit up when she saw it. A hollow in the tree, not far up in the trunk. "Give me a boost?"
His brow rose in challenge, moving closer. "I see how it is. You've seen my hands in action, now you want more."
Daenarya let out an exaggerated sigh, failing to hide the smile tugging on her lips as a memory of their first night together threatened to pull her back. "You're lucky your hands are so good because that line didn't work the first time."
She took a step forward, closing the space between them. "And as I said the first time, you're the one who should be honored to touch me."
His hands rested on her hips, pulling her against his. "Honor's not really my thing."
"You wish!" A low chuckle poured from her lips. "Mal Volari, you wanted so badly to be a scoundrel," her voice softening as she continued, brushing her thumb tenderly over his cheek, "but you've always been nothing less than a gentleman with me."
"I haven't been that gentle," he teased, stealing a hurried kiss as he pressed her back against the tree.
"Well, that's only because I like you a little rough... around the edges." She gestured up above them. "So... how about that boost?"
"For you? Always," he winked, lacing his fingers together for her. "On three? One, two, three..."
Daenarya stepped into his grasp, reaching for a low-lying branch to pull herself up to the hollow.
Mal took a step back, watching her. "Are you okay?"
"Uh-huh," she mumbled, hand already reaching into the dark hole. Her fingertips felt around the damp space searching for something, anything... until her hand latched onto a piece of metal. That'll do it. She thought to herself.
"Got it!" She eased herself from the tree, Mal's steady arms there to guide her back down.
"What'd you find?"
Daenarya brushed away the moss clinging to the object, its surface cool against her fingers. "Looks like a key. Wonder what it's for." She let it rest in her palm, analyzing it. The golden object lacked any distinguishing marks. She shrugged, her focus slipping. "No matter."
"What?" He questioned quickly.
She pushed the key and map into her bag. "It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't?" His brow arched, confusion flashing on his features.
"Mmhmm," she hummed, chewing her lower lip. Her gaze darkened, narrowing on him.
"Uh, Daeny, you okay?"
She didn't respond. Instead, she closed the gap between them, her hands already exploring his chest. "Never better."
"You sure? Because—" His words were silenced by her lips.
"You talk too much, Mal Volari," she breathed between hungry kisses. "Mmm...you taste so good..."
His lips parted, letting her deepen the kiss. He hummed contentedly, his eyes closing as she took control. "Daenarya," her name a whispered wish on his lips.
Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, unwilling to give him even an inch of space. She didn't let up—she couldn't. She needed more. More of him. The scent of the forest in his hair tangled with the scent of his warm, musky skin, spurring her hunger. Her advances grew until he had no choice but to pull back for air.
"Daenarya," he gasped, but she ignored him.
"Kit!" He grabbed her wrists, holding them between them. "What's gotten into you?"
She leaned forward, searching for his mouth. "What's gotten into you? Don't you want to kiss me?"
"You know I do, but—" He dropped her hands, returning to the base of the tree. Traces of blue against the browns and greens of the forest floor caught his attention. "What was on that key?"
She shook her head, trying to focus her thoughts. She knelt beside it, investigating it. "Bryum Caeruleum."
"Are you sure?"
"Haven't we already gone over this? Did you forget the Pythonas Vines? Remember those? I was right then, and I'm right now!"
"Okay... then you mind translating for those of us who don't speak plant?"
"It's just moss."
"Moss doesn't make you forget the plan."
"There was a plan?" She teased, her fingertips dancing up his arm. "I mean, I had a plan, but I'm not sure it's the same as yours."
"Daeny, I'm serious."
Her hand grabbed his face, squishing his cheeks. "I can see. This is your grumpy, serious face. Grumpy, grumpy. But oh, so cute."
He sighed, fighting back her attempts to pick up where she left off. "Is it safe?"
She nipped his ear. "Is what safe?"
"The moss!"
"Oh, yeah," she nuzzled into his neck. "You might know it as 'lover's moss'," she giggled. "I guess that means I love you."
Recognition eased the tension in his body. She would be safe as would their child. Lover's moss lowered inhibition, but it wasn't long-lasting and was relatively safe. His lips pulled into a smile, ready to let her have her way. He didn’t fight it this time, his hand sliding back to her waist as he pulled her in.
"Isn't this nicer?" she breathed against his parted lips, her arms wrapped around his neck, savoring the warmth between them. "Why don't we do this all the time?"
"That's an excellent question."
She kissed him again, slower, letting the moment stretch.
Then, just as unexpectedly as it began, she leaned back, echoing his words from earlier: "We should keep moving."
Her eyes remained locked with his a moment longer before pulling the map back out.
He exhaled his disappointment, watching her walk away. He shook his head, unable to let go of the smile filling his face. His words were soft, just for him, "You're a lot of trouble, Kit. But you'll always be my kind of trouble." Without hesitation, he fell into step beside her.
Keep Reading : Part Six
This is my favorite part in the series so far. It feels so much like early the earlier Mal x Daenarya dynamic that I fell in love with. She loves leaving him wanting! I hope you enjoy reading this!
[Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 1 + Beyond] [Mal’s Orphanage][Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 2 + 3 AU]
Summary: You just died. Those four days you were gone, Adrian went through the stages of grief.
AN: Takes place between the end of book 2 and the beginning of book 3.
Tagging @choicesficwriterscreations
Day One: Denial
Turning you was Adrian’s only option. Everything good in his life had always been ripped away, like a page from a book. And as he watched you slowly be taken away from the waking world, he knew all he could do was to turn you. But they waited, and waited. You never woke up. He turned you just like he would have turned anyone else. Everyone helped perform the ritual to a T. But you still never woke up.
After waiting hours, it was decided to bury you. To bring you to the cemetery and put you to rest. Adrian couldn’t do it. He could not believe that the one precious thing, the one person he could see himself having a future with, was gone. Lost to a war you had no reason to be a part of. Killed by someone who was supposed to be dead.
And so as they shoveled the dirt over your coffin, he hoped and prayed that you would come back to him. You had to come back to him.
Day Two: Bargaining
Adrian woke with a start. The events of the day before hit him like a dagger to the chest. He wanted answers. He jumped out of bed, dressed, and headed to his office. He needed to research a turning not working. He needed to know why. Why did it not work? If he had turned you immediately, as soon as you were struck, would you have lived? Instead of facing his grief, he dove into books upon books.
After hours holed up in his office, Kamilah came barging in. And the sight of her dear friend stopped her in her tracks. He had so many books stacked around him that it was quite ridiculous.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Adrian sat up a little bit, looking up from his book. “Researching, obliviously,” he said as he made a gesture to all the books around him. “I need to see if there was anything we missed, anything that we need to do differently since she’s a Bloodkeeper. In all our history there has to be-“ Adrian was cut off by Kamilah shutting the book he was currently reading.
“Adrian,” she started, “I know this will be hard to hear, but we did everything we could. I’ve already checked multiple resources and could not find anything that we could have done differently. I-“ she continued as her eyes started to water. “I am afraid she is truly gone.”
Adrian felt himself grip the book he held in his hands. He looked up at Kamilah, his eyes shinning as tears flowed freely down his face.
“I can’t give up Kamilah,” he said as he ran his hands through his hair, tired and almost pleading. “I love her. I can’t just not try to fix it. She does not deserve for me not to do anything about it.”
Kamilah watched as he spoke. She’s seen him at his worst, hell she’s known him for more than a century, so she likes to think she knows him pretty well. But this? They’ve witnessed more deaths than she can count together, but she has never seen him grieve like this.
As gutted as she is over your death, she must be Adrian’s voice of reason.
She placed her hand over his that was still gripping the book tightly, and spoke with a heavy heart, “My dear Adrian, I don’t think this is something you can fix.”
Day Three: Anger
Kamilah was right. This was something Adrian could not fix. And all he could feel was anger. He was frustrated that he could not bring you back, and angry that he couldn’t find anything in his hours and hours of research to bring you back. But mostly, he was mad that he had let Gaius near you. If he would have been stronger, he could have protected you. He could have prevented all of this. His rage hit him like a wave hitting a wall and within seconds, his fist made contact with the closest wall.
“Woah, woah, woah what’s going on?” Jax said has he entered Adrian office, hearing the sound of his punch.
“Nothing,” he replied, cradling his hand that punched the wall in the other while looking down at the ground, seething.
Jax gave him a look, not believing him for a second. He could feel his energy, and it felt like a giant ball of fire.
Despite Adrian looking at the ground, Jax could see how bloodshot his eyes were.
“Listen,” he stared, “It’s been three days, I-“
“Don’t you think I know that?!” Adrian snapped back at him.
Jax was taken aback for a second by his tone, and judging by Adrian’s instant look of regret, he was too.
“I’m… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just… I still need time.” He turned towards his window, looking outside at the city.
“Of course,” Jax replied, “We’re all here when you’re ready.”
He quietly stepped out and shut the door, leaving Adrian alone with his thoughts.
Day Four: Depression and Acceptance
He wasn’t really sure how he was supposed to continue without you, but he knew deep down that you would not want him to spend his days wallowing. So today was the day he would leave his office, see how everyone was doing after the fight, after loosing you.
But first, he was going to visit your grave. He needed to be with you one more time.
When he arrived, he was surprised to see Lily leaving.
“Oh!” Lily said once she saw him, “Didn’t think I’d see you out so soon.”
“Well, I wanted to talk to her.”
Lily gave him a sad smile. “Good, I’m not really a religious person but I think she’d be happy to hear your voice.”
Adrian couldn’t muster any words, so he nodded his head, eyes already watering. Lily squeezed his shoulder as she walked by, leaving the cemetery.
He continued forward, remembering exactly where they had buried you four days ago.
He stayed with you for an hour. Sitting next to where you lay as the gentle night breeze swept by. He told you about how you were extremely brave to take on Gaius as you did, and how selfless you were to save them all. He told you multiple times how much he loved you, and how much he missed you until it all became too much for him. That’s when he stood up, and said goodbye.
He walked for the rest of the night, anywhere his feet would carry him. When he ended up in Central Park, he realized that dawn was near. And at that exact moment, he heard a scream, and saw someone who looked just like you chasing a human.
In a state of shock, he stood there for a minute, not believing that you were here. Alive.
Then he watched as you tried to feed off the human, and he was pulled out of his state of shock. You were a vampire now, and very much alive.
I thought of this idea and finally had the ambition to write, which I haven’t had in months. So I’m very surprised I wrote this in one sitting lol. I’m sure there’s a lot of errors and things that are not canonically correct, but I tried 🤷♀️
An exploration of the 5 years between the attack on the Himalayan estate and the events in 1900. Part 2 of 2.
See Part 1
***Kamal***
Two weeks slip by.
He doesn’t look up at the door’s soft creak, too absorbed by the reports spread out across the mahogany desk.
He rubs his eyes, the weariness etched deep.
Between steering the Rai family business, managing his sister’s biye‑kotha, checking in on Devi, and keeping the Sharma accounts steady… the days have begun to feel painfully short for Kamal Rai.
“I’m not hungry, thank you.”
Instead of retreating, the intruder steps in. Light, sure, unhesitating.
“I’m glad for you, seeing as I’m not offering.”
His head snaps up.
“Devi.”
She gives him a small smile, fragile at the edges, never quite reaching those beautiful, sorrow‑shadowed eyes.
“Hello, mister Rai.”
He takes her in while she moves around the desk, fingertips grazing the papers as she reviews them.
She’s grown thinner, enough that it shows in the hollows of her face.
A faint frown creases Kamal’s brow.
She’s close enough now that the faint scent of jasmine oil clings to him, soft and familiar…
That scent takes him back a few weeks. To the thin Himalayan air, cold in his lungs, sharp against his skin. He remembers the quiet intensity of that sparring session. The muted scuff of feet on stone, sharp smiles, banter, clever feints.
Cunning, Devi had tricked Kamal first. But her slyness couldn’t beat his decades of experience. He countered, and her balance faltered. He’d caught her instinctively, felt her warm breath against his cheek, pulse fluttering wildly beneath his hands. A whiff of fragrant Jasmine, enticing, so much so that he couldn’t help but lean in to it. Into her.
That memory—Devi’s eyes turning bright, a faint flush to her cheeks—settles uncomfortably deep. It had been far too long since Kamal Rai had felt so disarmed by a simple sparring match.
He draws a steady breath and shakes the unwelcome thoughts away.
“Reports from the mines?”
He nods, attention deliberately returning to the papers.
“Your family business is doing well.”
Devi picks up a nearby stack, scanning the documents with a concentration that stirs something protective in Kamal’s chest.
“Hm. Seems so.”
Then she lifts her gaze to his, direct, authoritative.
“So, you will teach me to manage the Sharma mines.”
“If that’s what you want. We could also contact one of your uncles.”
“No. This my duty. I owe it to my parents, to Kai… I won’t let some long-lost relative ruin everything they built.”
The certainty in that voice, the weight of duty carried so naturally, belongs to someone far older than Miss Devi Sharma. It pains him to have to place such a burden on her shoulders.
But this is how she’ll regain her freedom.
“Then take a seat,” Kamal says at last. “You were given 5 years to learn and I don’t intend to waste another minute. I will come by each evening to review the day’s reports with you. Tomorrow, you will register at Kolkata University. And when your studies allow, we will visit every one of your mines so that you may learn how to manage them properly.”
She nods, already leaning in, close enough that he feels the warmth of her presence.
“See these? They’re from the superintendents. Updates on production, workers—”
“Miss Deviya! Oh, miss, it’s so good to see you up and about!”
Aishwarya bustles in, beaming upon seeing her young mistress up and about, finally! She glances around and sniffs at the dimly lit study as if it personally offends her.
“Come, leave all this gloominess. Let me prepare your favourite. You must be starving, my dear.”
“I’m fine, Aishwarya. I’d rather keep studying these.”
“Nonsense! You need sustenance. Look at you, nothing but bones! Come. I’m not taking a no for an answer.”
The maid gently ushers Devi toward the door, but she pauses, turning back.
Her gaze finds his—and holds.
“One more thing,” she says quietly, “You will train me to fight. I never again want to be so…”
Defenceless.
The unspoken word hangs heavy between them, the wounds left by that cowardly attack still too raw.
He gives a single nod.
A small smile slips free—brief, almost involuntary—before Devi disappears down the corridor.
By the gods, Kamal vows silently, Devi will never be harmed again. And it begins with teaching her how to defend herself.
***********************************
***Devi***
The weeks blur into months, then a year passes, each day carved into the same relentless rhythm. Dawn meant reports — stacks of them, ink smudging her fingers as she traced numbers, shipments, discrepancies. Then the long ride through crowded streets and markets to Kolkata university, where she sat through lectures on business and accounting, absorbing everything with a hunger that surprised even her professors.
By late afternoon, Kamal would appear at the estate, always with that quiet, assessing gaze. He’d go over her lessons, correct her assumptions, push her critical thinking. Then came the physical training — katar drills until her wrists trembled, saber forms until her shoulders burned, unarmed defense until she could barely lift her arms.
Every night she collapsed into bed, muscles screaming, mind mercifully blank. Exhaustion was a balm. It kept her from drifting back to that night. The gunfire, shouting, the moment Kairas fell. The memory still hit like a blow to her gut. She clenched her jaw every time it surfaced, furious at her own helplessness.
And the worst part? They were no closer to answers.
Kamal, Vidya, Raj and the other leaders had chased every lead, but the trail kept dissolving into smoke.
Meanwhile, the Dozen, once unshakeable, had splintered. Old grudges resurfaced. Suspicion seeped into every conversation.
Yes, the attackers had been British, that much was clear. But how had they known about the secret meeting?
Someone from within had betrayed them.
A cowardly rat.
Until that traitor was dragged into the light, the Dozen’s rule over Bengal would remain fractioned, weakened.
“Deviya.”
She smiles at the familiar voice, shifting her satchel higher before stepping off the curb. Kamal rarely came to meet her anywhere but the estate.
“Devi, who is that?”
“Is that your brother? Tell me he’s single.”
Her classmates all but swoon, batting their lashes at him. Devi doesn’t blame them. Kamal is handsome, unmistakably of noble upbringing, yet he carries the quiet danger of a man who’d survived more battles than he spoke of.
Her cheeks warm as she shoos them away.
“He’s my guardian, and he has no interest in silly girls like you.”
They pout dramatically, then dissolve into giggles as they head for their carriages. A few bold ones call out, “Good day, Mister Rai!”
Kamal returns their greetings with an indulgent smile, clearly accustomed to the attention.
“To what do I owe this visit, Mister Rai?” she dramatically swoons for good measure, earning an amused smile from the man. “Surely you’re not here to choose a bride from among my classmates.”
He laughs.
“Hardly. I already have enough furious mothers among the Dozen. I’ve no desire to add more to the list.”
She shakes her head, grinning.
“How can one man be so dutiful and yet such a menace to women?”
“It’s a rare skill,” he smirks. “Now come. I’ve no urgent duties today. We’re riding to Jangalmahal for a surprise inspection. Arhat has already saddled your beast. It’ll be faster on horseback.”
Her grin widens at the promise of open fields. A small adventure. Kamal takes her bags without a word, fastening them to his saddle with practiced ease. She mounts Deimos in one fluid motion, excitement buzzing through her.
They ride in companionable silence until the city falls away behind them.
Once the plains open up, Devi loosens the reins and lets Deimos fly. Wind tears through her hair, the world blurring into color and speed. She laughs, exhilarated. Kamal keeps pace effortlessly, his own smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
But as they slow near the mining settlement, her mind drifts back to her classmates’ teasing.
“Kamal,” she says lightly, though her heart thuds strangely, “why haven’t you married yet?”
His brows shoot up, but he doesn’t look away. Instead, he studies her with a startled, almost vulnerable intensity that sends heat crawling up her neck.
The silence stretches, taut and electric. Devi’s mind races for an escape —a joke, any change of subject— but every thought dissolves under the weight of his gaze. She draws in a breath to retreat, and that’s when he finally speaks.
“You’ve heard the stories about me,” he says quietly. “Most of them are true. I was… reckless in my youth. More interested in pleasure than responsibility. But war has a way of upending everything. I found a reason to fight, then. For our people, for freedom. But we failed, lost too many loved ones. I had to take over the family business, raise Amrita. Those duties consumed everything.”
“And now?” she asks, softer than she meant to.
Their eyes meet—and hold.
Something unspoken flickers between them.
Kamal looks away first, clearing his throat.
“Now,” he says, “I have even more responsibilities. Including guiding a stubborn, unruly young lady as she takes control of her family’s legacy. I have less time than ever for marriage.”
“Well,” she quips, aiming for playful but hearing the faint tremor in her own voice, “pardon me for being such a burden.”
He stops his horse. The teasing vanishes from his face.
“Devi,” his voice is low and earnest, “you are not a burden. You are a brilliant, determined young woman and it is an honor to be entrusted with your training. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Heat rushes to her cheeks —not embarrassment, but something far more dangerous.
“Thank you.” she murmurs.
His smile returns, gentler this time.
“Nonsense. Now come, your workers are waiting.”
***Devi***
Kamal stands a little behind Devi as she engages with the superintendent and workers, a reassuring presence as she focuses on the questions she needs to ask, the numbers to be verified.
While she works, Devi can’t help an occasional glance his way.
Kamal watches on. Not critically. Not impatiently.
Proudly.
The realization makes her stomach flutter in a way she refuses to examine too closely.
She straightens her shoulders, forcing herself to concentrate. This is her responsibility now. Her family’s legacy. She wants him to see she can handle it —not because she needs his approval, but because… well. Because it matters. More than it should.
When she finishes speaking with the workers, Devi catches him still looking at her, something unreadable, raw, in his eyes. Heat creeps up her neck. She turns away quickly, pretending to check her notes.
Stop it, she scolds herself. He’s only assessing your progress. Nothing more.
But the way he looks at her sometimes, usually when he thinks she’s not paying attention, makes her wonder.
***Kamal***
He watches her move through the settlement with effortless command. The quiet authority in her voice, the way she asks the right questions, sets the tone, earns respect without having to demand it. Leadership comes to her as naturally as breathing.
He doesn’t have that gift.
Kamal had forged his own authority through years of hard work and discipline, forcing himself to master the responsibilities he’d inherited.
But Devi… she was born for this.
Pride swells in his chest. And with it, a thread of worry.
Because every day, he sees her growing more into herself, into her power. Into a woman who would soon outshine every expectation placed upon her.
And because she looked at him sometimes, in ways she shouldn’t.
He’s not blind. Kamal knows she fancies him. He sees the flickers of warmth, curiosity, something softer lingering when she looks at him. And every time, his own heart betrays him. A quickened pulse, a tightening in his chest, a foolish hope he makes sure to crush before it can ever take shape.
He cannot—will not— allow himself to feel this. She is his charge. His late friend’s little sister.
So he folds his hands behind his back, schooling his expression into something neutral. Respectable.
Safe.
She turns toward him then, cheeks faintly flushed, eyes bright with accomplishment. And for a moment, he forgets to breathe.
Kamal forces a smile — steady, encouraging, nothing more.
Bury it, he tells himself. She deserves your guidance, not your weakness.
Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya [Blades of Light & Shadow (Book 2, Chapter 4)]
Word Count: ~ 650
Rating/Warnings: General, angst, hurt/comfort, mentions of (but not in graphic description) canon injuries, bruises, choking, blood
Synopsis: After barely surviving Valax’s attack, Mal and Daenarya cling to a fragile moment of peace.
A/N: Can we just stop and stare and gaze in awe of this incredible masterpiece by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd. It took my breath away! This drabble was not what I planned when I commissioned this art, but the minute I saw the final piece, this idea popped in my head and I had to get it out! No edits. No revisions. Just a raw piece to match how raw and tender this feels.
The river turned pink beneath their hands as they washed their wounds.
They shared a quiet understanding in their weary gaze. His mouth opened to speak, but she shook her head once.
What was there to say?
They were no match for her. They were foolish to think that being a team would save them. The Shadow Court had never left them this... defeated. There was a pause when Nia was taken, but it had only strengthened their resolve. Now?
Now, they were unraveling.
After one fight. One fight. And they were barely breathing.
No. It was more than that.
Physically beaten down, they could come back from. This was something else. Something worse.
Hopelessness.
The river swallowed the evidence of their injuries. The ribbons of pink that surrounded them drifted downstream in the darkness.
His rough hands grazed over her back with restrained tenderness, letting the water drift over her injuries from when her body had cracked against the tree.
Her body trembled beneath him, the memory threatening to rise again.
His touch stilled.
"Daenarya."
Her eyes closed as he whispered her name.
It was softer now.
Safer.
Unlike the last time.
Her eyes squeezed together, a vile taste rising in her throat.
He screamed her name as Valax held her by the throat, dangling above the ground like she was nothing.
Her fingers reached for her neck. Her breathing became ragged.
"I can't—"
Mal shifted in front of her, taking her hands in his own. "It's okay. You're safe. It's okay."
"It's not." She choked to catch a breath. "We can't beat her."
Again, he opened his mouth, but no reassurance came.
No clever remark to make her laugh.
No promise of comfort.
Only silence. A silence that he felt just as she did.
His head dipped a moment. He wasn't used to words failing.
Daenarya tried not to think about fingers crushing against her throat. About how her vision blurred as her breath left her. About the way she heard Mal shouting her name as if from somewhere impossibly far away.
The water shifted softly around them.
Mal reached for her slowly, pushing a strand of hair away from her face.
She flinched, but she didn't pull away.
He rested his forehead on hers, holding her as her breath began to shallow. His lips drifted down, brushing kisses over her eyes, her nose, her lips, down to her throat. His lips paused, hovering over the skin that had yet to bruise from Valax's grasp. Gently, he pressed a kiss to her neck.
Valax could not have any part of her.
She inhaled sharply. The memories threatened to pull her back. She wrapped an arm around him, holding him there with him. Even in the pain. Even with the fear. Even in the hopelessness, he was there. They were together. And even if it could only last a moment, it was a moment she needed to hold on to. Without it, the current would pull her down, extinguishing the last embers of light in her.
She nodded slightly, encouraging him to continue.
His hand cradled the back of her neck as he tilted her head, giving him more room. He kissed her throat again.
Not in hunger.
Not in desperation.
Something softer. Something fragile. Something he was terrified to lose.
His kisses slowed, letting her pulse beat against the warmth of his lips. A reminder that she was still there.
The fear did not disappear, but beneath Mal’s touch, it loosened enough for her to breathe again. It wouldn't replace the nightmares or the bruises that would darken her skin by morning, but in the moment, it was enough. It was her anchor. It would keep her from drifting.
The darkness still waited for her, but tonight, she was not facing it alone. Neither of them was.
A/N #2: I haven't replayed Blades 2 since right before Blades 3 so my memory isn't perfect, but I think this fits the battle with Valax from Chapter 4.
Daenarya is pregnant here but she still doesn't know it. This isn't that long after she returns from the other side and since in my AU time works differently, she was only gone a week (for her) but a year for everyone else. So she's about 6 weeks pregnant maybe.
A/N #3: Again this was written without any rewrites and literly just word vomiting from my head so forgive any typos or things that don't make sense with canon.
A/N#4 that art is so freaking stunning. I am just so so overwhelmed with the emotion in it! I hope this drabble comes even slightly close to matching that love and devotion!
