“It was awful. All that blood... And I... I couldn't–”
The demon ran a hand down her back soothingly and pressed a kiss against her forehead.
“What would I do without this? Without you?”” she asked, her voice shook as she tried to calm herself.
“Oh, Lori.” Lephas sighed softly.
His dark eyes gazed into hers with such intensity that the faerie swore he would be able to see right through to her soul.
“Can I tell you something?” he asked. Lori simply nodded. “When we first saw that bear, all I could think about was getting you to safety. I knew that fight wouldn't end well, but it didn't matter. I cared more foryour safety than I did for my own life.”
Lori felt yet another tear escape her and she sniffed.
“I'd step in front of that bear again in a heartbeat.”
“Please don't!” Lori laughed and brought her arms up to wrap around the demon's neck.
“I can't promise! I just... Can't believe I've gotten so lucky to have met the most beautiful girl and to have her care so deeply about me. I don't know what I've done to deserve it.”
Emotion overwhelmed her. The princess leant in and kissed him, despite her tears. The demon kissed her back softly. This wasn't a kiss born of passion, Lori realised. It was a kiss that spoke more than words ever could. It was a kiss that promised comfort and commitment.
Lori wasn't sure how long they spent, simply clinging to one another and kissing in that spring, but she knew it would never have been long enough for her.
She reluctantly pulled away and turned her attention to the bar of soap she had left discarded at the edge of the pool.
“Bath time?” she asked him with a grin.
“Now that's an offer that’s hard to refuse.” Lephas laughed. They untangled themselves from one another and whilst Lori paddled to retrieve the soap, the demonducked his head beneath the water to wet his hair.
“I'll wash your back if you wash mine?” she teased, lathering the soap in her palms.
“I'd happily wash more than your back,” Lephas retorted, floating to her side. “But maybe we should leave that for another day, when you're less exhausted.”
The faerie felt her face soften. Her demon's considerate nature knew no bounds. She handed him the soap and quickly began to wash herself.
Lephas's hands lathered the soap bar for himself, only halting when he turned to watch her soaping her bare chest with great interest.
“You done with that soap there, stud?” she asked him, shooting him a knowing smile and holding out her hand.
He grinned at her and passed it over, turning his attention back to washing himself.
Lori lathered up more soap and ran her hands through her hair. It wasn't the best shampoo but she couldn't bring herself to be too concerned. She was just relieved to be clean.
The faerie dunked her head back under the water, holding her nose and using her free hand to rise the soap free.
When she re-emerged, Lephas was also soaping hishair; a significantly easier task for a man. He had his eyes closed to keep the suds from them and Lori, never one to pass up an opportunity, pounced.
She danced her fingers down his torso, delighting when he jolted with surprise.
“Princess...” he warned with a grin, his eyes still closed.
“What?” she answered with mock innocence but removed her hand. Lephas just laughed and continued washing himself.
Whilst Lori floated around happily, the demon ducked himself under the water to rinse. The faerie stared up into the vast, blue sky above them.
There were so many things to think about – how close she had come to losing Lephas, how she had managed to heal him, what that meant for her going forwards... It all seemed so daunting and exhaustion weighed heavily on her once more.
“Come on, I think it's time to get out.” The demon scooped her from the water into his arms.
