The vine trails higher along her leg toward her hip, and she slides her eyes closed as his warm lips tease the chilled flesh of her shoulder.
“You’re cold,” he whispers.
Before she can respond, a pillow of warm air cocoons her, and she sighs. “I love your magic.”
“My...my magic is very fond of you, too. Are you certain—”
“Yes.”
Hefinds her lips with his own as his vine slides higher along her body. Stars above.
A knock at the door makes her jump, and Cerian looks at her with wide eyes. His vine lies frozen against her flesh, and neither of them moves.
Perhaps this was poorly thought out.
“Arisanna? Are you in there?” Mother calls through the door.
Cerian’s eyes darken as his vine recedes, and Arisanna’s heart pounds for a different reason than it did moments ago.
“I need to get dressed,” she whispers. “Can you talk to her for a few minutes?”
Horror fills his eyes. That may be asking too much.
“Maybe not talk. Just...don’t glare at her while she talks to you?” Arisanna asks.
Fear and indecision wrestle in his gaze, and she nods. “I’ll ask her to come back in a few minutes. That will work.”
“No. I will...not glare at her. For you.”
“Oh, Cerian, thank you. I’ll be quick. I promise.” She rises on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek, and he catches her fingers as she turns to go.
“Thank you,” he whispers. “For loving all of me.”
“Always. I’ll be right back.”
She hurries into the water closet to finish drying off and put her gown back on. Hopefully, he’ll manage.
Thoughts of his vines and his kiss and the way he looked at her warm her, and a smile steals across her face.
Her elven prince.
Then she frowns.
Alone with her mother.
Hopefully, this isn’t a disaster.
Smells Like Smoke
Episode 76
DreadfillsCerianasArisanna slips away, closing the door to the water closet behind her.
He’d rather be in there with her. Memories of his vine sliding along her body fill his head.
He’d definitely rather be in there with her.
The knocking repeats, and he forces himself not to glance at the window. He told Arisanna he’d do this, so he will. Somehow.
