Privilege had unlocked all the doors for Maxim over the years, even when he was just the bastard son that no one wanted. None of that changed the fact that the keys of his birthright were waiting for him before he even took his first steps. However, it was the knowledge that guarded the threshold to some doors; knowledge that he did not possess at times at that was always made clear to him. He was arrogant and careless, and some took his relaxed attitude to life as him being clueless about the world. It was far from the truth, yet it was a mask he enjoyed wearing to avoid any responsibilities. Letting people think he was just the duke who strutted around the Winter Court with his expensive clothes, getting drunk and warming his bed with countless men and women was an easier role than having them think he could be more. Even if Maxim was more than that. His ambitions could make him do absolutely anything and when Maxim was angry you did not want to be on the other side of that, he was brute and unforgiving of whoever was on the other side of him. The attack that had happened from the humans was against all fae and as much as Maxim was selfish and cared only for himself, like every other fae in Astrails it was not something that he would look over.
Walking into his room, he could sense that he was not alone. The doors to his balcony were wide open and the cold winter air had filled every inch of the room although the fire had not blown out yet. Whoever it was must have recently arrived. He could already predict who his visitor was, there was only one person who would sneak into his room this way. Yet, he was stunned to silence for a moment at the sight of Noa Kumar on his balcony. Not because this was unusual, no, this was quite normal for Noa and the relationship the two had developed. Yet, for a human with no wings, Noa always managed to appear in his room in the strangest of ways at the strangest of times. And usually, he never questioned it, in fact, he welcomed, especially as her visits benefitted him more than the visits of other people did. But tonight everything felt different. After everything that had happened at the Autumn Court, he did not expect to see her here. He was bothered by her coming here as if nothing had happened, a feeling he rarely experienced let alone knew how to handle.
“So what? Are you here to stab me?” he asked, raising his brows as he walking further out towards the balcony towards her. “Sorry to disappoint but stabbing or killing me won’t have the same effect as your friend had when he stabbed Night Court’s High Lord.” The usual playful tone in his voice had disappeared, he sounded bitter. Bitter and angry. “You know what Noa? Vicky might actually thank you for it!” Maxim laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. “You would be getting rid of a burden for him. This sounds far too perfect.” He tilted his head to the side slightly, letting out a dramatic gasp at his light bulb moment. “Oh shit Noa, did you two plan this together? I know you like plotting with fae to get rid of another fae. Am I your next kill?”
Now he was standing directly in front of her, only a few inches away from her face. Being this close to her physically made his anger feel far more real. Was it her that she was angry with or just the humans in general for the battle. Or was he just angry at Noa because the night before everything unfolded she was in his bed knowing what would happen the next day? “What are you doing here Noa? What do you want? Did you not get everything you wanted a few weeks ago?” As his words left like daggers, he could feel his heart starting to beat faster. Looking at Noa made his hot temper start to fade, it was pathetic that the sight of her long brown hair cascading down her shoulders and big bright eyes managed to get under his skin this way. Usually, the tables were turned, it was Maxim who knew he held power over her. But right now, it was different. There was a pull he felt towards Noa which he could never understand.
“Oh fuck it.” He muttered, a frown creasing onto his features at the realisation that his needs would always take over. Noa had a hold on Maxim, one that was enough to make him forget his anger. He could feel the heat of her breath against his skin, meeting her eyes, it was only a matter of time before they glanced down towards her lips and without any further thinking, Maxim’s leaned down, crashing his lips against hers. Arms wound around her waist, pulling her up into his arms as he picked her up with ease, the action seeming so natural as his fingers tangled through her hair.
@wickedgxmes
