Laurent
Thesunhadjustbegun peeking over the horizon as Laurent stared out towards the city of Florra, sipping coffee on the patio at the top of Sparrow’s eclectic home.
He had barely slept. The events from the last few days were culminating quickly, and Laurent worried that Lenna using the Prism would expedite whatever end they were careening towards. Laurent inhaled through his nose, reminding himself there was nothing he could do until Lenna awoke. Shifting his weight on his feet, he bit down on his inner cheek, trying to soothe the nerves fraying under his skin. Taking another deep breath, he turned his attention to the garden below.
A smattering of brightly plumed birds clustered around feeders, eager for seeds before spending their day weaving between the thick forest surrounding the city. Blue fluffy movement caught Laurent’s eye as Sparrow, still in that delectable robe, refilled each feeder, crooning to the birds and the plants surrounding her.
Laurent couldn’t take his eyes off her–the way her golden hair, mussed from sleep, framed her angular face, the curve of her hips, the golden legs that ended in little gem encrusted silk slippers. He knew hewasn’t her only option. That the gargoyle he considered his best friend also showed interest in Sparrow.
At this point, the ball was in Sparrow’s court. He’d respect her decision if she chose Merrick to take to bed over himself.
But…
Last night, over that final glass of wine, she opened up to him about her past. And he had listened, his heart hurting for hers. She told him about her youth–a story filled with death and despair, loneliness and isolation. Sparrow told Laurent of how she came to the Opal Palace with her parents, how she established such a tight-knit friendship with Esmeray, how Esmeray had been her one true friend.
It painted a different version of Esmeray to Laurent, one he knew Merrick must have been privy to at the waterfall as he fought alongside the Queen. A version that the Kingdoms of Irridessen hadn’t smeared with the labelstraitorandmurderer.
And when Sparrow’s words became softer, her voice huskier, when she finally started dozing on her purple couch, Laurent gently scooped her into his arms and carried Sparrow to her bedroom, laying her down gently on pink pastel sheets, before closing the door and walking down the hall to his own room.
He wondered if she knew he carried her to bed.
As if she could hear his brooding down in the garden, Sparrow turned, beamed at him, and waved enthusiastically. Laurent smiled tightly and awkwardly waved back, ripping his mind from how soft her skin felt against his hands. A flash of green light and Sparrow was standing next to him on the patio.
“Good morning.” Her sweet voice sounded like a hundred silver bells as she appeared next to him, taking a sip out of her coffee mug. “I believe I have you to thank for getting me in bed last night.”
Laurent inclined his head towards hers. “Sleeping on that couch didn’t seem right when all of your guests have their own bedrooms.” Around Sparrow, his worries melted away, making him feel lighter than he had in a long time.
Was it only a few days ago he’d been crammed in that tiny house in Spinella, sapping out his energy to build a portal?
Was it that recently that he slept on rocks in the Pyritee Pass–utterly burnt out after pushing through that portal?
She laughed, her aqua-blue eyes twinkling as she squeezed his arm. “You are such a wonderful male.” Sparrow clinked her mug to his as Merrick came into view, cresting the top of the stairs. Laurent felt his jaw clench in annoyance–Merrick wasshirtless. Laurent sliced his eyes at Sparrow, who had raised her mug to her lips, where it was frozen, as she took in Merrick and every single one of his bronzed abs. Laurent softly cleared his throat, snapping her out of whatever trance she’d been in. Sniffing delicately, Sparrow took a long slug of coffee, the tips of her pointed ears burning red.
“Mornin’.” Merrick smirked, before taking in both of their coffee mugs. “Damn, I didn’t grab a cup.” He frowned for a second but then shot Laurent a sneaky look. “Let’s see if this works.” Merrick rubbed his golden ring and Laurent touched his, wondering what Merrick was up to. Merrick sent a thought down the connection.“Esmeray, can you please bring me up a cup of coffee to the patio?”
Laurent grinned. “She’s probably pissed she can’t talk back to tell you to get fucked.”
And Laurent was right. Esmeray appeared a couple moments later, her black hair tousled, strands caught in the curl of her horns like she just pulled herself out of bed. She wore a black silk shirt with matching shorts and atrociously bright pink slippers. But she held two coffee mugsin her hands, passing one to Merrick with a scowl. “Get fucked, and get it yourself next time,” she hissed–making the two males burst out laughing.
“Love the shoes, Meer.” Merrick saluted her with his mug.
“I couldn’t find my black ones,” Esmeray grumbled, “andwhotold you about calling me ‘Meer’?”
Sparrow grinned sheepishly, her golden hair blowing gently in the early morning breeze. “Whoops–that was me.”
“Great,” Esmeray said darkly but her green eyes sparkled with mirth. “Is Lenna awake yet?”
Sparrow shook her head. “Not yet, but let her sleep a little longer. I’m sure these next couple weeks will take a toll on us all. Just…let her rest while she can.”
Esmeray conceded with minimal huffing, slumping dramatically onto one of the patio chairs, stretching her wings behind her to catch the first warmth of the new day. Patience did not seem to be a strong talent of the fearsome Queen, and Laurent’s lips quirked into a smile at the thought. Keerian was the most patient male in the world, so seeing his mate practically buzzing with the need to dosomethingother than sitting still made Laurent miss his friend with a fierceness.
“We need her diving into the Prism right away. I don’t want to wait any longer and allow Adara more time to figure out what we’re up to. And I don’t know whatshealready knows, and that in itself is dangerous.”
Laurent spoke up. “I can help with that. I’ve dealt with magical objects before–maybe some of my past knowledge can be beneficial. If we get started today, hopefully we can gather some answers and figure out a plan.”
“Sounds good to me,” Esmeray yawned. “What are you up to today, Sparrow?”
Sparrow took the seat next to her friend, setting her coffee mug on the table between them. “I’m going into town to grab some groceries. I thought it would be nice to make dinner tonight at the house. And I want to see what the townsfolk are rumbling about. Florra may be a small town, but the beings here are perfectly nosy and always willing to gossip. Maybe it can give us some insight into Adara’s movement. Plus, then we can have a nice meal while we unravel what our next steps should be.”
