Bala settled on the porch, arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against the pole by the steps. The sight of Dorian and Nyssa laughing together on the beach and him trying to help her with her fire made her heart swell.
"There you are," came Lex's voice as she approached. "I thought I saw a few Venari walking around here."
Bala only gave her a small smile, too entranced by the sight of Nyssa and Dorian being their usual selves once more.
Lex walked deliberately up the steps, towel behind her neck as she wiped the sweat. "What?"
Bala gave an upwards nod to the pair on the beach, and Lex paused to look over her shoulder.
"This was all you, wasn't it?" Lex asked.
Bala chuckled under her breath. "I don't know what you mean," she lied.
"Yeah, you do," Lex teased as she reached the top step. "Did it work out like you thought it would?"
"Better," Bala admitted.
Lex paused to give her a kiss, lips lingering and making Bala's already aching heart flutter. Holding her chin between her fingers, she nudged her nose, and the pair smiled briskly.
"Does he know you're here?" Lex asked as she then moved towards the door.
Bala shifted off the post. "Not yet," she replied. "They've been so consumed with each other, they didn't notice us coming in. We met Nadir on the way. He's showing Corbin and Reverie around. I wanted a few minutes alone with the twins."
"Who is Reverie?"
Bala's eyes narrowed, but then she remembered Lex had yet to meet the Dreamer, and a grand smile spread on her lips. "Oh, you haven't met her yet," she grinned.
"Who is she?"
"You'll like her," Bala said, arms wrapping around her chest. "She's been keeping our Prince in line. He's named her Commander of the army he's not yet acquired."
"Commander?” Lex balked. “A Blackhand?"
"Dreamer," Bala countered.
Lex's features morphed from surprise to curiosity, and she smiled crookedly. "This I should like to see."
Bala laughed. "They're at the market," she told her. "If you want to meet her or—actually can you grab them and bring them here? I want to speak with these two first, but we all need to meet together. Regroup. I have another company coming in with someone I need in that meeting as well, but I'll find them once I finish with Dorian and Nyssa."
"Yes, my King," Lex winked.
Bala shook her head and turned back to the siblings. She noted the scar on Dorian's face as he and Nyssa threw water at each other at the edge of the surf. Lex came to stand beside her.
"Is it bad that I really like that new scar on him?" Bala asked.
Lex settled beside her, a coy smile on her lips. "I've been thinking the same thing," she admitted. She leaned in and gave Bala's cheek a kiss, to which Bala shook her head and pushed her off.
"I'm surrounded by romantics everywhere," she muttered playfully as she started down the steps. "First Draven. Then Nadir and Nyssa. Now you."
"I'll have the ropes ready for you later then," Lex called down.
"I'd prefer the flogger," she called back.
One glance over her shoulder, and Lex grinned coyly at her. But she wrapped that towel around her neck and sauntered inside the house.
Nyssa was the first to catch sight of Bala when she hit the sand.
"Venari King," she drawled, eyeing Bala sideways.
