Nyx | Carpe Noctem ✓

Chapter 22: A Colourful Fight

∙ Madis POV ∙

After apologising for my behaviour the previous day, I had decided to head to the studio again and draw. Draw what Nesta had suggested.

They all had told me that they understood and that I should take some time for myself, that I did not have to join for training if I did not feel like it. Noora had apologised for pushing me too far, which was absolute bullshit. She should not feel guilty. I was actually relieved that she pushed me so far and that I could finally talk about everything. I over and over assured her that it was fine, that she should not feel bad and that she was not to blame. The conversation ended in us both crying lightly while embracing each other.

I sat in the studio, holding the pencil tightly in my hand. I moved a tray of paints out of my way and placed it on the floor next to me. I sat crossed legged on the stool. One pencil I had pushed through my bun, one between my lips and one tightly gripped in my hand. I closed my eyes momentarily before placing the pencil on the canvas. Drawing in a deep breath, I started.

I drew the first lines, furrowing my brows and gritting my teeth, nearly biting through the pencil.

Another line followed and then another. Soon the outlines of the back of male person became visible and obvious. I added a few lines here and there and soon a toned back was finished.

The problem was then that I had no idea how the wings were actually attached to the body. Where did they come out? I looked at my doodling from back then and realised that that drawing had indeed clothes on and that there hadn't been the need to think about how the wings are attached to the body. I flushed. Why did I draw him shirtless? Wait, no not him. A winged male. A random winged male. Could be Nyx. Could be Rhys. Also Azriel or Cassian. Nobody knew.

"I assume you could need a model?" a voice suddenly ripped me out of my thoughts. I was so startled that I dropped both the pencil from my mouth and my hand and nearly fell of the stool while also the piece of paper slipped out of my hands. Good gods!

"Holy gods, Nyx. I nearly had a heart attack!" I shouted, turning and glowering at him over my shoulder. His face displayed nothing but purely male arrogance. He held his hands up in a defensive manner, grinning. We also had talked shortly the previous evening. He had told me that I should take as much time as needed to find my place here, but should always come to him if I needed someone to talk to. I found that incredibly considerate and valued it a lot.

"I just wanted to help. Sorry for scaring you, Starlight. Now what do I need to take off? All my clothes or is my shirt enough?" he asked and wiggled his brows.

My traitorous brain immediately shouted 'everything', but I quickly shut it up and looked up at him again.

"Erm....what...erm, nothing. There is no need to babysit me," I quickly said and internally facepalmed myself. He shook his head, laughing, "I am not here to babysit you. I want to give you company."

"Don't you have training?" I asked when he already started unbuttoning his shirt. Holy Cauldron...

"Nope, uncle Cass is a pain in the neck and my limbs are sore. Enough training for today," he said to me and now I was the one to chuckle.

"Aw, poor baby with his sore limbs," I teased. Nyx only rolled his eyes and before I knew what he was up to he reached forward and flicked my pointed ear. It did not hurt, it was rather soft, but still I gasped at him. He grinned, his teeth shining bright white, his eyes glowing with wicked delight.

And then he took off his shirt, his arms slowly slipping out of it before he tossed it over to me. "Wipe away the drool with it."

I flipped him my middle finger yet my traitorous cheeks started to burn. "I wasn't drooling!"
"No, of course not. Eyes shamelessly running over my body...again," he laughed, throwing his head back, his hair —this time not held back by a leather strap— shifting with the movement.