Blood. She stared at it for a moment, and then sighed. Her period had come, more or less on schedule. She wasn’t pregnant. It was a good thing, although, Cassia thought with mild annoyance, couldn’t it have waited another day? And they could have done without the sheathe after all.
She fixed herself up, then quickly slipped into her bedroom—Ashelle’s, really—to change into sleeping pants and a nightshirt. The hallway was still empty as she returned to Aevrin’s door, knocked once lightly, and slipped inside.
He lay on top of the bed in soft cloth pants, one arm behind his head.
“Hey, beautiful,” he whispered as she came back in, still looking as satisfied as a well-fed cat in a patch of sunlight.
She tiptoed to the bed, shivering a little, and crawled back to the warm patch where she’d been. Aevrin reached for her hand as she sat rather than lying down.
“Aevrin?”
“Yup.”
“Um… I got my bleeding.”
“Now?”
“Yeah,” she admitted. “I don’t know if it started a moment ago, or…”
“I didn’t see blood,” he told her, and rolled up onto one elbow. There was concern in his eyes, but no aversion or awkwardness. “You feel okay? You got cramps or anything?”
“Not yet. Probably in a bit,” she admitted, as Aevrin rested a hand on her thigh.
He nodded solemnly.
“You need anything? Sleeptea? Hot water bottle?”
“No. Just wanted to tell you. Sorry, if that’s weird.”
“Why would that be weird? You’re my girl.”
“Yeah, but some men… nevermind,” Cassia said, and bit back a laugh.
“Guess you’re not pregnant, then?” he asked, more quietly, looking a little ashamed.
“No.”
“Good. Right? That's what you wanted?” He asked. She nodded, and he nodded back. “Alright then. You tired?”
“Exhausted,” she admitted. “It’s been quite a day.”
Rylan. Rylan, in jail. A stab of guilt hit her for having enjoyed herself during that, for having nearly forgotten. She pushed it down. Aevrin had been right: there was nothing she could do to help him tonight.
“Yeah,” he said quietly, and drew his hand back off her thigh. Aevrin slid off the bed. “Let’s go to sleep, then. Be right back.”
He went to wash up as Cassia slipped beneath the blankets, feeling excited despite her tiredness and pangs of guilt. She grinned up at the ceiling like a fool, then drew the blanket over her mouth to hide it even though she was alone. She was in Aevrin’s bed, getting ready to spend the night, her whole body tender from his lovemaking.
He returned soon after and blew out the lantern. As Aevrin slipped back into bed he took her into his arms.
“This is new,” he observed.
“What is?”
“Falling asleep, with you in my arms,” he whispered. “It feels good. Feels right. Better than having you next door. Though we don’t have to sleep. If you wanna go again.”
“This is nice,” she admitted, and curled her leg over his, too tired to entertain his suggestion for more lovemaking. Cassia stifled a yawn. “Sweet dreams, Aevrin.”
“You too, beautiful,” he whispered, and pressed a kiss softly to the tip of her nose.
