She had held his hand when she led him into this broken down hovel. Now he held hers as he led her out. The glare of the sun against her face told her they had been in the shadows there for less than an hour. It had felt like a lifetime in there, and in a way it was. Something had died in those shadows while it gave birth to the woman that now stood in public with her fingers entwined with Nyx’s.

Days ago she would have considered gutting anyone who even suggested she could do what she had done, and what she was about to do.

Nyx moved quickly through the streets with her. The gazes they got no longer seemed to concern him, he was focused on one thing only. She marveled at that as she trailed along behind him, wondering how many had seen him like this, and how long it had been.

Lyssa has seen him like this… a voice of doubt whispered silkily in her ear. Quickly she shook her head and tightened her fingers around his.

Shut up… he’s mine now. She’s dead, and even if she weren’t… she could never take him back as he is now… she could never offer him what I can now. Mine! He said he was mine, that I was his.

The promise of an elf? You trust him? How many others, not including Lyssa, has he uttered those words to do you think?

For a moment she stopped in the street, the tug of her fingers in his made him pause and he turned those yellow eyes back at her. Concern at first washed over him and then fear and pain as she could tell he started to wonder if she had changed her mind. His emotions pierced her deeply and she felt her heart begin to bleed.

His heart… she reminded herself. The next moment she found herself once again pressed against him, lips burning against his as hotly as the sun beating down on them. It was quick, the meeting of their souls there, just enough to comfort him and remind her of what they had promised only moments ago. Promises that would soon be branded into flesh. She pulled back and nodded to him as she held his hand and they continued in a hurried pace.

No… not even Lyssa got this. This is mine and mine alone. Whoever Lyssa had no longer existed. I trust him… I love him… she responded finally to the voice of doubt and it fell silent.

The rest of the journey was a blur. Hovels turned into nicer homes and finally gave away to a street lined with well tended business. On the corner a three story home painted white and pale blue rose up, a sign hanging out over the walkway reading ‘The Blue Dove Inn’ told of its conversion into its current business.

With the proper exchange of money anything can be bought, even an elf can get a decent room in Drasnia. And so coins procured a skeleton key, which in turn opened the door of the room.

Women like her did not frequent rooms like this. The wall behind the soft double bed was painted a deep blue, the rest were crisp white. The color scheme worked its way around the rest of the room, from the white wardrobe and matching bureau, to the small writing desk and chair, the high backed chair and the ottoman that rested at its feet, down to the carpet where blue flowers danced under their feet, the curtains were a pale blue lace and china basins filled with fresh water and lavender graced the bureau.

It was all background though. The moment the door closed and locked behind them the only thing she really saw was Nyx. Against the bright blues and stark white of the room his shadows stood out in dark contrast. The corner of her mouth lifted in a smirk as she considered that his lily white skin, once that was all he was wearing, would blend so much better in this room.

They stood only feet from each other, watching how the passion that burned in their eyes moved down their bodies. The desire to simply ravish the body and the soul that had so recently been offered itched at each of them. Biting her lip until it hurt, though, she resisted that temptation and instead closed the distance with slow steps. Her hands reached for the clasp that held his cloak to his shoulders, they trembled as she fussed with it.

Sparks flying across her eyes she looks up at him. “Nyx… my Nyx… I’ve never done this before… I want to though… I want to savor that love you’ve promised… let me savor it… let me savor you…” her voice caresses over him with her request. Her eyes close then and she falls into him; breaks the vow she made to herself under the stars; lets him fill the empty spaces of her soul…