“Good.” Lori sighed heavily. Every nerve was on fire, but she felt comforted just knowing her demon was alive and well.
“We'll talk more about it when you're feeling better. Are you thirsty?”
Lori nodded. Lephas cupped the back of her head and she allowed him to tilt her forwards gently. She winced against the movement.
“Here...” Lephas pressed the water skin against her lips.
Lori swallowed it greedily. The cold water soothed her scorched insides.
“Not too much. You can have some more in a little while.” The demon pulled away and gently laid her back down.
Lori groaned in meek protest, but couldn't summon the energy to fight too hard.
“Where are we?” she asked groggily.
“I found a small sheltered over-hang in the cliff. It's not exactly comfortable, but it's out of that snow storm.”
The wind whistled as if to punctuate his words.
“Are we safe?” A horrifying image of bloodied teeth and claws flashed before her eyes.
“Yes, I'll keep guard. Don't worry.” Lori felt him smooth a large hand over her hair.
“I... I thought you were gone,” she sobbed, feeling tears slide out from beneath her closed eyelids.
He took her face in his hands and a soft kiss was pressed against her mouth. Lori’s lips trembled.
“So did I.” His voice sounded thick with emotion. The demon rested his forehead against hers and. she felt him sigh heavily as he wiped her tears away with his thumbs.
The snow storm continued to howl around them but it sounded distant, like they were trapped inside a bubble.
Lori felt her grief subsiding little by little. Though it pained her, she took a deep shaky breath in.
“You need to rest,” Lephas stated simply, sitting up and pulling away from her. She grabbed one of his hands desperately before he could take it from her. He squeezed her reassuringly.
“But–”
“Rest. I'm not going anywhere. I promise.”
Though Lori was loath to lose any time with him, she felt exhaustion wrapping itself around her. She yawned widely and, gripping Lephas's hand tighter still, allowed sleep to take her once more.
∞∞∞
Lori was woken by something cold and wet dripping onto her cheek. She cracked her eyes open, immediately shutting them as she was blinded by bright daylight. The sun was shining and its dazzling rays bounced back off the snow.
She groaned and attempted to wriggle free, fighting the mysterious tight grip her blankets had on her.
“Careful.” Lephas's deep voice broke through her sleepy confusion. “I've got you. Don't struggle.”
As Lori came to and began to make sense of her surroundings, she realised the demon held her in his arms. He had one hand under her knees with the other supporting her back. She was still wrapped tightly in her blanket.
“Wh–?” she mumbled.
“You were comatose this morning, I couldn't wake you,” he explained. “Seeing as the weather has really cleared up, I didn't see much sense in waiting around. I wanted to make the most of it whilst it was easier to travel.”
“Oh. How long have I been asleep?” Lori rubbed her face.
“A day and a half.”
