The house was quiet, faint light coming from the kitchen. Elain couldn't sleep and when that happened, she baked.
Flour dusted her hands, a smear of honey on her wrist. The smell of cinnamon and butter made the air warm and comforting under the soft shimmer of faelight. Baking made sense, it always brought her calm.
"The kitchen smells good."
Elain turned, startled but smiling at his deep voice. Azriel stood in the doorway, wings tucked behind him. The dark leathers he wore caught the light, making the lines of his broad shoulders stand out.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked softly.
A small smile tugged at his mouth "You neither it seems."
Elain brushed her hands on her apron. "I was just… trying something new."
Her gaze drifted to the counter, to the bright fruit she'd brought from the market in the morning. "I love these," she said, picking up a pomegranate. "They ripen during autumn. I'm thinking of making something out of them."
Azriel stepped closer, his eyes on the fruit in her hand. "Do you know the story behind it?"
She nodded, turning the fruit over in her hand. "The maiden who became queen of death."
He nodded eyes still on the pomegranate.
Elain placed the fruit on the counter and took a knife slicing it open. The red seeds gleamed in the faelight, bright as rubies against her pale skin. She picked one up carefully turning to face Azriel as she held it between her fingers.
"They say she ate six seeds" she said, "and then she was bound to death forever."
Azriel's voice was low "The lord of death tricked her into eating them"
Elain looked up at him. The faelight caught in his hazel eyes, gold and green hues gleaming and for a heartbeat, she forgot what she was going to say. His expression was relaxed, but his gaze… his gaze felt like it saw right through her.
Slowly she lifted the seed toward him "I don't think he tricked her" she said softly.
He didn't move until the seed was in reach of his lips. Then he leaned in slowly and took it from her fingers. His lips grazed her fingertips as he did warm and soft.
Elain's breath caught, her heart skipped a beat, and before she could stop herself her gaze fell to his mouth. She looked away quickly feeling her cheeks grow warm.
Azriel's eyes lingered on her face. "Don't be naive Elain."
She smiled faintly taking another seed, her stomach fluttering at the way he was looking at her. "You think she didn't know what she was doing?"
"She didn't" he said though his voice wasn't certain this time.
Elain held out the second seed brushing it to his lips . "Then I suppose" she said, watching him savor the taste "that now I"ve tricked you and you're bound to me."
Azriel's eyes darkened. He stepped closer his chest nearly brushing hers.
"Don't say what you don't fully understand"he murmured.
Elain only hummed in response, pretending calm even as her pulse quickened. She took another seed and held it to his lips, her fingers brushing against them again as he took it, his eyes still locked on hers.
"Why would she leave eternal spring" he asked quietly, "leave warmth and life… to go to the underworld, to a place the sunlight doesn't reach… for someone people barely dare speak of?"
Elain's fingers hovered above the opened pomegranate on the counter.
"She saw him not his title" she said. "Maybe she wanted to go back. She understood something most others don't."
Elain swallowed "Seeds bloom under the earth in winter. Life grows in shadow before it reaches for the light."
Azriel's jaw tightened, his wings shifting slightly behind him. He stepped even closer, and the warmth radiating from him brushed against her.
"He was selfish" he said, his breath grazing her cheek. "He made her into something she wasn't."
Elain's gaze flicked to his lips. "Did he?' she whispered, picking another seed to offer him.
This time, he caught her wrist. His fingers were cold and she fought the urge to cover them with her other hand. He then leaned forward and took the seed from her fingertips. The brief pull of his teeth against her skin made heat coil in her belly. His grip tightened just slightly before he released her hand but the ghost of his touch remained.
"Death doesn't consume without giving space for life" she said, her voice barely audible. "Love… maybe it blooms the same way, only when you embrace both."
He didn't answer, but his eyes widened a bit. She fed him another seed. Each time, his lips brushed her fingers. Each time, the distance between them vanished a little more.
Her back touched the counter, the last seed glinting red between her fingers. She hesitated then pressed it to her lips. The faint taste of sweetness bloomed on her tongue.
She lifted her gaze. Azriel tracked every small movement ,the tilt of her chin, the quick rise and fall of her chest. His wings flared more, siphons slightly gleaming.
He reached out, his knuckles brushing the inside of her wrist before sliding slowly up her arm. Her skin tingled beneath his touch. His hand paused at her waist, fingers splaying lightly against her. She swayed slightly toward him before she could stop herself.
Azriel's gaze dropped to her lips. Slowly, he leaned in until she felt his warm breath. His mouth brushed hers ,warm, soft, a rush of heat that made her breath catch. His tongue flicked out, catching the small fruit, rolling it gently against her lower lip before drawing it in.
Elain's eyes fluttered closed, the taste of him mixed with the tart sweetness, making her dizzy.
Then his lips were on hers, fully this time. The kiss was deep and hot, his tongue sliding into her mouth claiming her. One hand moved from her waist to the back of her neck, the other digging into her hip as if he needed her closer, needed to feel her against him.
She gasped into his mouth, her hands fisting in his leathers.
He broke away for a heartbeat, his lips still brushing hers as he said "Bound to you?" Then take what's yours."
And before she could say anything, he kissed her again, harder this time,until her knees went weak, until she forgot what had come before the sweet taste of him, until "mine" was all she could think of. His teeth grazed her lip then his tongue soothed the sting.
As she stood on her tiptoes, her hand slipping into his dark hair… He was gone.
Elain blinked, disoriented. Her hands trembled as they pressed to her chest, heart still racing, lips tingling with the memory of his mouth. She drew a shaky breath, his cedar scent lingered in the air, haunting her senses.
Then she turned and froze. Her eyes fell on the counter. The pomegranate sat there still whole, untouched…
