“Tomorrow,” Sylas spoke in that non-negotiable tone. “Let him enjoy the party tonight with his loves.”
“I’m sorry, Kai. I know you don’t like these sorts of social events, but pulling you aside to get into all of this—”
“Winter, you’re right, I don’t. So don’t think twice about it.” He grinned at him. “You did me a favor. High-level, complex spellwork talk… that’s both a reprieve from this and a treat for me.”
Sylas chuckled.
As Kai started to head inside, I rushed down the steps with Vax and Evira, accidentally startling Kai in the process.
He just shook it off, though, and bounded up the porch steps and back into the house.
Sylas caught sight of us, kissed the top of Winter’s head, then strode on past, smiling out at us.
And then we were on Win, wrapping him up.
He chuckled as we damn near smothered him.
Too bad, that was what he was getting from us.
What he always would.
What we’d always bring to each other.
For every fucking moment going forward.
23
~Vaxan~
Wistering Waterfalls.
It was pleasant being here without a mission in mind.
Especially with the reason this time being something wondrous.
Date night.
It had been an absolutely delightful evening.
Even with the dark shadow still hanging over us in the form of the maniacal warped True Celestial who was in the process of being tracked. As much as I didn’t particularly do well with inaction in the face of active threats, the fact of the matter was, there was nothing more to be done at this juncture. Once he was located, that would all shift on its axis, but until then, we would continue moving forward without that shadow darkening everything around us.
“Vax?” Zayn murmured from beside me.
He was nestled against my left side, his head half on my chest.
Winter was lying to my right, his head nuzzled in Evira’s neck. She was in a near-horizontal position against him, curled around him, and her legs slung over mine.
We were all relaxing on a silky black blanket on the bank beside the clustered waterfalls spilling into the shared spring after devouring a lavish picnic that Zayn had prepared.
“Hmm?” I responded, continuing to run my fingers through his pink hair.
“I’m chilly,” he said, lifting his head briefly to flash me an adorable pout.
“Is that so? You? Supremely competent Ifrit possessing notably potent power?”
“That’s me. So chilly. Like sooo chilly, Vax”
“And even knowing all that, being all that, you can’t heat yourself? Is that what you’re telling me, smoldering beauty?” I teased.
