One Heart

23. Blood-forged

Sorah stood on the balcony, her curls tickling her neck as they swayed in the warm, ocean breeze. She smiled as she sensed Kensie approach and as expected, fall into the comfortable embrace behind her, her hands on her abdomen and chin on her shoulder.

"You're thinking a lot."

Sorah's smile was weak and didn't reach her eyes. "I am, but having you close helps."

"We're going to find her."

"I hope so." She eased into the embrace with a sigh. "It's been almost two weeks. We have no idea what she's going through." A single tear escaped down her cheek. "She did so much for me. She was all I had for so long, and now because of me she's... " She trailed off as more tears merged with the first.

Kensie turned Sorah in her arms and wiped her cheeks clean of her sorrow, looking down at her with a fierce gaze. "We will get her back, even if I have to go get her myself."

Sorah stared back and nodded in response, not trusting her voice to stay steady. She felt soft lips on her own before she had the chance to anticipate Kensie's actions. She released a sigh and melted into it, enjoying the distraction as she walked them backwards till her lower back connected with the stone railing.

Sorah revelled in the kiss, in the feeling of the soft, slow, and purposeful movements Kensie made with her lips as the sun beamed down on them both. She wondered if the world would let them be, stuck in this moment for the rest of time. Indulgent thoughts flooded her mind wherein she was just a regular girl, with no responsibilities over an entire empire, spending her days entangled with her lover. As Kensie pressed against her and increased the heat in the kiss, Sorah sighed and broke contact.

"As much as I would thoroughly enjoy where that was headed, we're about to get a visitor."

Kensie narrowed her eyes and listened. Her face fell into a scowl. "Your mother has impeccable timing."

***

Sorah looked down at the paper bag Anna handed her in greeting. She smiled up at her before stepping out of the way, leading her to the lounge area of their quarters. "She's learning quickly," she said with a smile. "Food always helps." She tilted the bag to show Kensie the apple-cinnamon muffin inside. "Of course, it's no consolation for what you—" She snapped her mouth shut and stood in the middle of the room, wide-eyed and suddenly aware that her mother was present. "Never mind."

Kensie smiled and shook her head as she sat, while Anna grinned up at Sorah. "You know you don't need to censor yourself, Sorah?" Anna said. "Even in my presence?"

Sorah's nose lifted toward her brow, causing her forehead to crinkle. "I know... and my memories show me that it's alright... but I lived eighteen years as a human, with no contact with our society. Their silly prudish ways are ingrained in my mind."

Anna's face fell. "I suppose things would have been very different if Orla and I could have raised you here." Her gaze drifted for a moment as though she was seeing something other than the coffee table before her.

Sorah internally scolded herself for mentioning the way she was raised. "Maybe..." She shrugged and walked past the empty chair in favour of sitting on Kensie's lap.

Kensie's face lit up as Sorah leant her head against her, then hardened again as she turned her attention to Anna. "Am I safe in assuming you didn't deviate from your busy schedule just to bring Her Majesty a snack?" She glanced sideways at Sorah who was enthusiastically breaking off and eating small portions of the baked treat.

"It's a really good muffin, try some." Sorah broke off a morsel and brought it to Kensie's lips. Her vision blurred, save for the crystal clear image before her. The world melted away and they escaped into a world where only they existed.