“I don't think I could live with myself if you went away and...” Lori trailed off.
“Didn't make it back?”
“So many people have already died because of my family. I think it would break my heart if you joined them.” She fixed him with a haunted expression.
Lephas didn't know how to respond to that. A dull ache spread through his chest as he looked at her sorrowful expression.
Would she really be that concerned if he died? He found that hard to believe.
He supposed her feelings were probably temporary – she was young and vulnerable and he was the first man she had ever really spent any time with. It was natural that she would form a pseudo attachment to whoever her protector was.
It was alarming how empty he felt inside just thinking about it like that.
“...You're burning that rabbit.” Lori gestured to the fire.
“Shit!” Lephas turned his attention back to the meat. She was right, but he had caught it just in time.
“I think it's safe to assume it's done now,” she teased, folding her knees down to sit cross-legged. “I'm so hungry.”
“Me too.” Lephas's stomach growled in response.
He carefully picked the meat from the spit and shared the portions out, just as he had done the evening before.
They ate in silence, both ravenously demolishing the meal. Lephas watched Lori keenly - he enjoyed watching her eating. She was always totally absorbed, like there was nothing else but food in the world for a moment. It made him smile every time.
“Not that I'm complaining, but I really miss fresh fruit and vegetables,” Lori said, finally coming up for air as she finished the last of the rabbit.
“Don't,” Lephas warned. “All I can think about is proper food–”
“And chocolate! I would kill for chocolate right now,” Lori exclaimed with a groan.
“I'm not much of a sweet tooth personally, but you may have to get used to a life without chocolate, Princess. It's very rare and expensive in Banesteppe.” The demon grinned, watching horror unfold on the girl's face.
“That's... not good. Not good at all.” Lori stared blankly into the fire. Typically, she looked more upset about the prospect of no chocolate than she had been about the possibility of him dying at war. Lephas shook his head, fighting to keep from laughing.
Lori sighed. “I need to drown my sorrows. Would you care to join me?” She began digging through the bag once again.
“Sure, I’ll have a drink.” Lephas nodded and took the bottle of miscellaneous alcohol from the faerie's outstretched hand. He popped the stopper out and took a swig before passing it back.
With full stomachs and a warm fire, they chatted easily whilst they passed the bottle back and forth. Lephas wasn't sure how much time had passed, but he savoured the rare moment of relaxation.
It wasn’t long before he began to feel the pleasant heavy sensation in his limbs and inexplicable contentment that tended to follow imbibement. Sat like this, he could almost kid himself that he and Lori were at the hearth of some lonely inn, sharing drink and stories like friends.
Or, dare he say it, lovers.
He had long since given up denying that he enjoyed the faerie's company. She was just as funny, cute and entertaining as she was beautiful and mysterious. It was a truly heart-stopping combination.
Lephas had to keep reminding himself that she was just as interested in him as he was in her. It seemed an impossibility that someone as attractive as she would be drawn to him. Every time she flirted with him or brushed against him, he had to fight the surprise anew.
Lori's fingertips brushed against his hand as she passed the bottle back to him. He took a sip and she sidled closer, ensuring their legs were touching as theysat beside the fire.
“I'm starting to feel a little warm now. I had almost forgotten what 'warm' was,” The fairie said with a slight slur in her voice and began unbuttoning her thick fur jacket.
“Just be careful. You're probably feeling warm because of the drink. People die that way, y'know,” he warned.
“I'll be alright. I've got you to look after me, remember?” Lori shot him a glamorous smile that set his pulse racing.
He watched her curiously as she shrugged out of the jacket. Her beautiful gossamer wings unfolded eagerly, extending and fluttering.
