* time, 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒛𝒆𝒏.

dep. multimuse for 𝐩𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐦. 𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒔 𝒌𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏 & 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒍 as adored by 𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒂.

[epithvts]

𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒔  𝒌𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏   ─   intro,  pinterest,  wanted  dynamics .

𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒔  𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒍   ─   intro,  pinterest,  wanted  dynamics .

[senshis]

[ivars]

[epithvts]

@ofwrxth

[epithvts]

𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬:   closed , @ofwrxth .

𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭:   adrius   checking   up   on   his   little   brother   <3   who   happens   to   be   training   the   youngest   bear   cubs ,   bringing   along   his   own   cub   (   raelin   )

the   blithering   cold   felt   more   like   a   second   skin   to   the   high   lord ,   even   as   the   snow   scattered   around   them .   he   allows   raelin   to   wobble   amongst   the   trenches   of   fluff ,   if   only   to   wrestle   the   youngest   bear   cub   that   was   under   leander's   supervision .   adrius   feels   a   sense   of   home ,   perhaps   granted   by   the   watchful   gaze   of   his   brother ,   subconscious ,   yet   familiar .   clasps   a   hand   over   his   shoulder   to   deter   leander's   attention   away   from   his   estranged   son ,   offering   him   the   smallest   of   grins .         ❛   do   you   always   look   at   children   with   such   a   wild   fear   in   your   eyes ,   general   ?   it   must   serve   the   ladies   of   prythian   well ,   to   know   how   frightful   you   are   of   them .   surely ,   it   must   be   the   reason   why   you   remain   unattached ,   ❜         words   spoken   with   a   blazing   sense   of   jest   amid   blue   hues .

[dcybrck]

closed starter for @epithvts | day court , a random hallway. a few weeks after the incidents under the mountain. 

the letters were a constant as it seemed to be the only way to soothe the ache in her chest that longed for him. this was not the first time they've been spread across the continent from one another, they'd spent an entire decade with sparse words, yet now it was different. there laid an invisible tether between them as if neve had taken a piece of string and tied one to her ring finger then to his own, always pulled taut as she walked throughout the halls of a home that felt anew again. it'd been a fleeting thought, to return home with adrius, but the notion of leaving tyrian to face his cauldron made demons entirely alone or forcing maxon to take on a recovering court without any aid, was unimaginable. so neve had set her own desires aside, pressed a kiss full of promise to adrius' cheek, and watched him leave from her life for what she swore would be the last time. next time they met, she'd be by his side, if the mother allowed it. 

the servants had been gossiping as neve remained in the library studying, only able to hear fragments of the words they spoke. the fae struggled to piece together their broken conversation - visitor, who? she thought, focusing more on them than the large tome before her. high lord, azrael? no, tyrian had not mentioned any audience with his paramour. winter, just the word has neve reeling as if she gasping for air underwater. tome abandoned as she hastily rose from her seat, neve knew precisely where he would've entered from in their home, and she had an overwhelming urge to cut him off before he may see tyrian first. she wanted adrius to herself first.

soon enough, her feet are bringing around a corner, frozen in place when she spots him at the other end of the hallway. eyes drink him in as if he is the first drop of rain after a too long drought, no shame in the way they roam his body. even clothed, the way he looks at her in enough to cause a flush across her cheeks. before neve can worry about appearances or have a shred of doubt that he'd come here for her, she is running at him as if the tether between them is calling to her. a push off the balls of her feet is enough to propel her into his arms, legs wrap around his waist as if they'd done this a thousand times before. as if it was not the first time. " you came," she whispered, does not wait for a response before she is pressing a desperate, bruising kiss to his lips. hands rising to find purchase in his bone white curls. 

[epithvts]

for   so   many   years ,   adrius   had   known   pain .   he   had   thought   he'd   known   true   anguish ,   in   the   face   of   his   father ,   in   the   face   of   death   in   the   form   of   raena's   delicate   features .   but   no ,   how   wrong   he   was .   the   real   pain   had   been   saying   goodbye   to   neve   beneath   the   mountain   after   finally   having   her   within   his   grasp .   attainable   and   yet ,   not .   the   mother   would   laugh ,   wouldn't   she   ?   to   toy   with   the   heart   of   the   ice   king   once   more .   it   seemed   a   theme   of   sorts ,   for   those   he   loved   to   slip   between   slippery   fingers .   nothing   more   than   a   phantom   in   the   life   that   flashed   by   him ,   all   too   fast .

but   word   of   tyrian ,   of   high   lord   duties ,   of   guidance   from   his   advisors   had   spurred   him   to   the   day   court .   not   with   any   difficulty   or   reluctance   from   him ,   of   course .   though ,   it'd   been   a   tough   sort   to   leave   raelin   after   having   him   for   what   seemed   like   a   feather   of   a   moment .   but   he   remembers   the   bright ,   reassuring   smile   that   his   dear   friend   provided   him   with ,   a   warmth   that   matched   raena's .   with   no   real   romantic   regard ,   but   with   all   the   same   love .

love .   something   he   had   held   for   the   day   court's   lady .   for   so   many   years ,   through   evidence   of   scribbled   letters   on   parchment .   he   thinks   back   to   those   days ,   just   as   he   easily   catches   her   weight   as   she   thrusts   herself   into   his   arms ,   of   how   blind   he'd   been   to   their   fate   together .         ❛   you   called ,   ❜         he   answered   her ,   unable   to   stop   the   way   his   gentle   hand ,   a   tenderness   reserved   for   her ,   cupped   her   jaw ,   angling   her   head   just   enough   to   press   his   lips   against   her's .

[dcybrck]

the letter arrived to deron han's velaris residence a few weeks after his departure, it is written on a piece of parchment that clearly had once been wet and then laid in the sun to dry. there is the slightest smudge of ink at the beginning, where it is is addressed to someone. it is dated as having been written a week previously. there is not discernible pressings to tell where it came from, aside from the large ' c ' it is marked with. it came with nothing attached to it. / letter to @epithvts ( cerys perceval )

𝖙𝖔 𝖈 -,

i fear that i cannot inform you about my whereabouts as you requested in your previous letter, nor will i be able to procur that volume of faerie smut literature you requested from the libraries within the autumn court. for several reasons, the most pressing concern being that it would inform you loosely of where i am traveling and once again. i cannot share that with you. not to mention my contact there looked at me as if i was incredibly foolish for even requesting that novel. please see the attached bags of tea as payment for failing this task.

is the mortal body you possess healing properly? i met recently, through an acquaintance of a friend of sorts, a mortal that was dipped into the cauldron. they say she's fae now. perhaps we ask our high lord to dip you into the cauldron?  she was beautiful in an eerie, near unnatural way. has your research revealed any others like her?

i must leave where i'm currently staying, continue forwarding your letters to the wraith. whichever one is up to you. take care of the house till i return, and do not forget to toss a flank of meat into the river behind our home once a week like i instructed. 

if needed, there is a dagger in the floorboards beneath your bed. it is yours to keep, i purchased it shortly after we returned from under the mountain. do not stab yourself with it. 

𝖉. 𝖍𝖆𝖓

[epithvts]

the   letter   is   roughly   placed   into   deron's   hands   from   the   hands   of   a   ghostly   figure ,   gone   within   the   night .   the   piece   of   parchment   is   somewhat   crumpled ,   a   bit   torn ,   but   whole .   sealed   with   the   sigil   of   han's   crest ,   something   that   cerys   got   overly   fond   of ,   having   stamped   several   other   prints   along   the   empty   spaces .

𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒏 𝒇. 𝒉𝒂𝒏 ,

i   regret   to   inform   you   that   i   know   not   of   your   full   name .   how   shall   i   address   you   formally ,   if   one   does   not   know   your   middle   name   ?   no   matter ,   i   have   settled   on   one   myself :   deron   fish   han.

this   letter   wounds   me ,   deron .   all   i   ask   is   to   be   fed   with   the   abundance   of   books   that   the   seven   courts   have   to   offer   only   to   be   told   no   ?   consider   me   scorned .   though ,   i   know   not   why   you   continue   to   hide   your   whereabouts   from   me .   what   am   i   to   do ,   hobble   over   there   with   my   crippled   leg   ?   surely ,   even   you   are   aware   of   zora's   insistent   need   to   keep   me   contained   to   the   confines   of   the   night   court .   under   your   own   instructions ,   i'm   sure .

my   research   fares   terribly .   sometimes   i   pass   the   days   with   forgoing   the   hefty   textbooks   of   history   in   favor   of   more   romantic   novels .   though   i'm   afraid   our   high   lord   is   bound   to   find   out   about   my   treachery   soon   enough .   perhaps   he'll   dip   me   into   the   cauldron   then ,   as   punishment .

fret   not ,   dear   friend .   i   have   continued   to   feed   the   monsters   that   live   in   the   sidra   behind   our   house .   though   i've   come   to   learn   they   much   prefer   their   meat   with   a   bit   of   thyme .   you   should   take   note .   it   exhausts   me   to   know   that   i   have   once   again   performed   better   at   something   than   you .

𝒂𝒏𝒙𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 ,

𝒄𝒑 .

another   thing   to   note   -   i   seemed   to   have   dropped   the   dagger   into   the   sidra .   and   i   acquired   a   cat   in   your   absence .

[abbeyccowen]

ABIGAIL COWEN via Instagram

[faebanes]

          the  screams  that  fill  his  ears  are  all  too  reminiscent  to  those  of  the  war,  the  ones  that  echoed  no  matter  how  much  he  tried  to  forget  them.  the  seraphim  was  certain  that  no  time  would  erase  those  memories,  and  certainly  not  when  the  fighting  seemed  endless  even  still.  wings  are  kept  tucked  against  his  back,  shielded  as  much  as  possible  from  the  onslaught  of  arrows  and  blades  —  some  of  which  he  can  feel  the  sting  of  along  his  skin  already.  something  draws  him  further  through  the  throng  of  bodies,  cries  of  pain  and  the  scent  of  mortal  fear,  an  urge  to  find  the  source  and  ease  it  still.  maxon  nearly  stumbled  over  the  girl's  cowering  form  in  his  search  for  the  source,  grip  tightening  on  his  blade  of  light  if  only  in  preparation  to  cross  foe  and  not  friend,  though  it  slackened  as  gaze  swept  her  features.  something  protective  settled  over  him,  though  it's  all  too  easy  to  attribute  it  to  his  worry  for  tyrian,  for  neve.  it's  impossible  to  stop  the  dry  laugh,  wings  fanning  out  to  shield  her  fragile  form  from  the  destruction  erupting  around  them.     ❝  the  mother  would  never  send  an  angel  to  kill  another  angel,  ❞     he  hummed  softly,  kneeling  down  in  front  of  her,     ❝  her  humor  is  not  quite  so  cruel.  ❞     though  the  seraphim  had  thought  differently  on  more  than  on  occasion.     ❝  i  would  be  a  poor  male  to  leave  you  injured  and  alone.  ❞

[epithvts]

his   words   hardly   register   on   humanly   deaf   ears ,   far   too   distracted   by   the   cacophony   behind   them .   she'd   never   been   one   to   hold   the   attention   of   a   male   for   long ,   especially   unnaturally   beautiful   ones   like   the   one   before   her   now .   cerys'   mouth   feels   oddly   dry   in   his   presence ;   a   girl   who   once   prided   herself   on   the   speed   with   which   her   mouth   could   supply   a   retort ,   suddenly   gobsmacked   at   the   realization .         was   he   flirting   with   her   ?         perhaps   she'd   hit   her   head   on   the   tumble   down .         ❛   is   this   death   ?   ❜         feels   strangely   comforted   by   his   looming   figure   that   comes   down   to   her   level .   cobalt   hues   searching   his   face   for   any   sign   of   danger .   she   wonders   then ,   if   she   would   even   be   able   to   catch   it ,   far   too   entranced   by   the   tender   gaze   he's   reserved   for   her .         ❛   it's   broken ,   i   can't   walk ,   ❜         her   voice   is   a   slither   in   the   dark ,   cold   and   escaping .   braces   herself   then ,   for   the   words   that   she'd   come   to   terms   with   since   her   move   to   prythian .         ❛   would   you   do   me   the   kindness   in   granting   me   mercy   ?   ❜         ignores   the   way   the   world   stands   still   at   her   inquisition .         ❛   i   hadn't   thought   too   much   of   my   death   but   slain   by   an   angel   seems  far   too   poetic   to   let   the   opportunity   pass         [   ...   ]         i   fret   that   i   may   not   make   it   out   of   this alive ,   anyhow .   ❜

[kaijuno]

I could be ur angel… or ur devil

[imsoofuckingsad-deactivated2018]

if you ever want to love an idiot you know where to find me

[richard-madden]

[thejackalhasarrived]

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY “Fight” — 2.12

[epithvts]

𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬:   closed ,   @faebanes .

𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭:   as   zora   &   deron   lose   her ,   cerys   bumps   into   maxon ,   who   helps   her   find   a   secluded   corner .

her   body   is   rolling   against   the   cavernous   floor ,   bumping   into   other   limp   frames .   the   warm   hands   of   her   friend   no   longer   cradling   her   broken   figure .   each   whimper   seems   to   escape   on   their   own   volition ,   searing   pain   of   her   leg   has   her   body   curling   into   itself .   deron   and   zora   are   nowhere   in   sight ,   far   too   preoccupied   by   the   blades   of   silver   marked   with   blood   of   their   own .   her   stomach   heaves   in   worry   at   the   thought ,   not   at   all   concerned   for   the   imminent   death   that   awaited   her   as   she   lay   amongst   the   corpses   that   welcomed   her   home .   the   human   has   already   resigned   herself   to   a   gentle   surrender ,   accepted   her   fate   graciously .   just   as   a   protagonist ,   a   hero  ─      someone   she'd   hoped   to   be   in   another   life  ─      would've   in   one   of   her   novels .   she   doesn't   flinch   at   the   looming   body   above   her ,   the   expansive   wings   behind   them   only   obscuring   her   view   of   the   battle   she   knows   still   wages   on .         ❛   do   you   think   the   mother   would   laugh   ?   ❜         stifles   the   groan   at   the   throb   in   her   thigh ,   trying   not   to   think   of   how   his   hefty   sword   would   feel   piercing   through   her   skin .         ❛   to   know   that   an   angel   is   delivering   the   killing   blow .   terribly   ironic ,   isn't   it   ?   ❜

[faebanes]

          it  had  been  foolish  to  think  this  gathering  would  have  been  the  peaceful  endeavor  they  had  hoped  it  to  be.  though  zora  had  been  on  edge  since  they'd  arrived,  she  should've  known  something  was  amiss,  and  she'd  kick  herself  for  not  being  more  prepared  later.  but  as  fighting  thrummed  around  them,  steady  in  time  with  the  adrenaline  coursing  through  her  veins,  there  were  far  more  important  things  for  her  to  worry  about,  including  looking  out  for  the  well  -  being  of  the  court  that  was  her  family.  there  is  a  part  of  her  that  is  acutely  aware  of  the  male  fighting  at  her  back  while  sharp  gaze  flitted  across  the  colliding  bodies,  looking  for  the  most  fragile  of  their  family,  blade  digging  into  soft  skin  with  fervor  as  head  of  red  hair  finally  entered  her  view.  relief  is  short  lived,  of  course,  seeing  the  state  that  cerys  was  in,  and  her  heart  ached  with  a  protective  rage,  and  a  guilt  that  she  hadn't  done  her  job  of  looking  after  the  mortal.     ❝  we're  right  here,  cer,  ❞     words  offered  softly  in  stark  contrast  to  the  way  she  usually  was,  the  wraith  bent  down  to  gently  touch  her  face.     ❝  her  leg's  broken,  deron,  she  can't  stay  here.  ❞     neither  could  they,  not  for  long.

[dcybrck]

 the nymph cared little in the moment to dwell on anything but the immediate need of maintaining the safety of those they had brought with them from their court, shoved any fleeting thoughts of the lingering words seren had said out of his mind. there was a precision to the way which he carved a path forward for the pair, slicing through those they charged to attack them with no regard for the their humanity or the morality of it all. a luxury that deron could not afford for himself, not with zora pressed tightly against his back - their bodies synchronized with fluid movements to cover the other's blind spots. few words had been spoke between them when the fighting began, both sets of eyes searching rapidly for that flash of crimson within the mass of bodies and spraying blood. a fleeting touch to his hip, enough of a signal to deron that zora had found cerys, following after the wraith with a blade that shielded her from any stray attacks. the sight of cerys on the ground, the scent of her tears within the air, breaks the distant, cold demeanor he'd worn once more. his teeth grit with rage, flickering gaze around at any place that may offer them sanctuary - a healer. " and where shall we take her, zora?" he snapped, eyes falling to their friend. softening the slightest amount, let's out a tired sigh quietly before he sheathes his blade. " this is going to hurt, cer." the only thing he speaks to her before he slides an around under her knees and under her back. bites back the wince of the pain he knows it must cause. " we can clear a path, establish a vantage point for you both to remain safe." he rose once more, nodding in the opposite direction of where they came from. " i'll find the others after." it goes unsaid that it means he'll have to leave them both, that they cannot waste the resources to hide in a corner till it cleared once more. 

[epithvts]

she'd   always   known   there   was   magic   in   the   life   around   her .   in   the   way   that   shadows   seemed   to   emerge   so   effortlessly   from   zora ,   or   the   way   she'd   heard   rumors   of   azrael's   misting   abilities .   but   she   thinks   ─      as   zora's   fingers   graze   her   battered   skin   ─      perhaps   this   was   the   real   magic .   how   her   family   had   sought   her   out ,   even   through   the   chaos   of   it   all .   oh ,   how   she'd   wished   for   this   same   rescue   so   long   ago ,   as   the   phantom   that   had   once   haunted   her   mortal   estate ,   a   slave   of   a   wife   to   an   unkind   man .   feels   hysterical   at   the   memory ,   at   the   dream   she'd   held   so   tightly   to   her   chest ,   blossoming   into   reality .            ❛   you're   wielding   a   sword ,   der         [   ...   ]         ❜         cerys   muses ,   absently ,   raising   her   arms   to   allow   him   a   better   hold   on   her   frail   form .   her   own   wail   of   pain   reflects   the   cacophony   that   surrounded   them ,   an   orchestra   of   anguish   and   death .   but   she   can   hardly   keep   track ,   not   with   the   way   her   head   sways   with   vertigo .         ❛   how   can   you   wield   a   blade   with ,   ❜         in   her   delirious   stupor ,   she   brings   her   hands   up ,   motioning   to   the   space   between   her   fingers   that   lacked   the   webs   deron   held   between   his .   her   head   lulls   to   the   side ,   growing   heavier   with   each   moment ,   even   as   jaded   cerulean   gaze   stretches   to   zora's   magnificent   physique   who   carved   through   their   enemies   with   skilled   perfection .         ❛   have   you   two   ever   entertained   the   idea   of   mating   with   one   another   ?   ❜         wasn't   sure   how   that   act   worked   here ,   only   aware   of   the   terminology .

[epithvts]

𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬:   closed , @dcybrck .

𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭:   finds   neve ,   keeps   her   at   his   side   the   rest   of   the   night .

their   kiss   the   other   night   had   been   the   only   thing   to   play   in   his   mind   as   of   late .   had   been   the   last   thing   he'd   thought   about   before   sleep   took   him   and   the   first   thought   he   had   when   day   broke .   hadn't   so   much   as   uttered   a   word   to   her   since ,   if   only   to   save   herself   the   grief .   had   promised   himself   far   away   from   neve   since   that   gentle   touch   of   their   lips ,   a   kiss   that   shouldn't   have   happened .   but   when   blood   sheds   as   easily   as   a   whore's   clothes   in   a   brothel ,   as   the   dying   wails   mimic   that   of   the   war ,   he   knows   there's   no   time   to   uphold   ignorant   oaths .   it   doesn't   take   him   long   to   find   her ,   doesn't   know   if   it's   the   familiar   features   of   her   body ,   her   face ,   or   that   inherent   tug   he   felt   towards   her .   perhaps   in   urgency ,   or   earnest .   he   isn't   sure .   just   knows   that   it   calls   him   to   her ,   like   a   moth   to   a   flame ,   or   something   of   the   sort .   feels   veila's   presence   at   his   back ,   just   as   his   fingers   interlock   with   neve's   own ,   tries   not   to   dwell   at   the   touch .         ❛   cauldron's   sake ,   neve ,   ❜         adrius   hissed   in   reprimand .         ❛   have   you   no   self   -   preservation   ?   you   shouldn't   be   here ,   in   the   midst   of   it   all .   you're   no   warrior   !   ❜         but   his   words   are   laced   with   a   tone   of   concern ,   only   punctuated   by   the   worry   reflected   in   his   blue   eyes .

[epithvts]

𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬:   closed ,   @faehymns .

𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭:   another   heroic   rescue   for   the   mortal,   ceridwen,   where she   screams   her   head   off   in   fear   &   he brings   her   where   the   rest   of   the   mortals   run   to   in   safety .

bloodshed   always   welcomed   with   open   arms ,   tries   not   to   relish   in   the   way   it   calls   to   him ,   like   a   siren   to   a   sailor .   tongue   peeks   out   to   lick   across   the   silver   of   his   blade ,   savoring   the   copper   taste .   he   thinks   then   that   perhaps   the   flavor   is   a   much   sweeter   taste   when   they've   wronged   you .   when   they've   spilled   your   own   blood ,   the   blood   of   your   blood .   adrius   sighs ,   almost   bored   -   like ,   despite   the   way   exhaustion   settles   into   his   bones .   doesn't   think   twice   as   he   plunges   that   fateful   sword   into   the   chest   of   another   peregryn .   no   longer   the   tortured   male   of   the   past ,   replaced   by   a   blood   -   thirsty   beast   that'd   been   aching   for   some   time   out   the   cage .   but   tries   to   rein   it   in   at   the   sight   of   the   mortal ,   who'd   just   been   the   victim   of   the   fae   he'd   slaughtered .   the   way   she   screams   makes   his   ears   burn ,   roughly   forcing   her   to   her   feet   as   he   grips   her   upper   arm .         ❛   quiet   your   ghastly   screams ,   mortal ,   ❜         he   hisses ,   throat   hoarse .         ❛   lest   you   want   us   dead   by   the   time   i   get   you   to   safety .   ❜

[epithvts]

𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬:   closed ,   @faebanes & @dcybrck .

𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭:   zora   &   deron   find   a   broken   cerys   amidst   the   crowd ,   attempting   to   bring   her   to   safety .

oh   how   naive   she'd   been .   to   think   she   would   ever   be   safe   in   anyone's   hands   but   her   own .   something   of   a   pipe   dream   that   only   ever   expanded   during   her   residence   in   the   night   court .   but   the   searing   pain   she   feels   in   her   leg ,   feels   oddly   familiar .   a   pain   that   she   finds   herself   sinking   into ,   as   if   a   nostalgic   memory   of   her   life   before   prythian .   the   tears   have   already   begun   their   stream   down   her   cheeks ,   back   digging   into   the   cavernous   wall   behind   her .   hands   attempting   to   stabilize   her   leg ,   in   an   effort   to   pull   herself   to   her   feet   again ,   but   to   no   avail .   in   another   time ,   cerys   had   been   no   stranger   to   violence.    but   this ,   this   was   nothing   short   of   a   massacre .   frightened   hands   raise   when   a   body   approaches   at   an   inhuman   speed ,   but   as   she   awaits   the   final   blow ,   those   sad ,   lost   blue   hues   look   up   in   questioning .   only   seeming   to   water   even   more   at   the   sight   of   zora ,   deron   guarding   her   back   with   blade   she   never   thought   she'd   ever   see   between   his   normally   gentle   hands .         ❛   zo   ?   ❜