FOR MY LOVE | WINGS OF FIRE AU. ✓

02 - Frost Kissed Petals.

✶ CHAPTER 02 - LYNX ✶

Lynx hated the arranged relationship with Winter.

She felt sick each time she pressed a kiss to his cheek and each time she twined her arm around his. But the act had to keep going, or else their secret would be found out.

Tonight, she reminded herself, trying to keep herself from feeling alone. I'll meet her tonight.

It was late afternoon. The sun sank lower in the distance, the snowy landscape swallowing it up. Lynx was in her (Winter's) bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing out the frosted window with a faraway look in her eyes. 

The sunset illuminated the room, casting purple shadows across Lynx's freckled face. She glanced down at her engagement ring, her lips curving into a frown. She hated that thing. Sure, it was pretty, but just like all fake relationships, it was just a pretty lie.

Lynx gazed around the room. How long would she have to live in here, binded to a husband that she would never love? How long would they have to keep up the lies? How long would she have to lay in a separate bed from the one she truly loved?

She heard the muffled sound of footsteps beyond the door. Lynx turned, heart leaping with hope, but as the door opened, her heart sank with a painful ache. 

Winter stepped through the door, all sad and tortured. He looked distracted. The prince slammed the door shut, and jumped at the sight of his fiancée. 

"Lynx?" He said. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for Snowfall," she answered. "What's up with you?"

Winter glanced away from her, fidgeting nervously with his hands. "I-" He was cut off by the door opening, and the two turned. 

Lynx's hopes rose again, but still, she was disappointed when the newcomer was not the princess of her dreams. No, it was Qibli, that odd little visitor from the Sand Kingdom, Winter's friend.

Lynx knew that there was something going on between Winter and Qibli, but she wasn't sure if Winter had even noticed it. Did he see the way Qibli looked at him? Did he notice how Qibli's eyes followed him everywhere?

She couldn't help but find his behaviour strange. It wasn't a normal way to act around someone you were in love with. Qibli acted almost obsessed with Winter. 

Qibli stopped dead at the sight of Lynx, unmoving from the open doorway. His dark eyes were cold and distant. The only emotion on his face was a flash of burning, jealous rage, and then it was gone. Then, the empty expression left, and he turned to Winter. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No," Winter said. He stared at Qibli like he was a lost puppy, and Qibli was the last piece of something familiar. "What do you need?"

Qibli shrugged. "Just wanted to see you."

Obsessive, Lynx thought.

But Winter just smiled and walked over to Qibli. "Let's go." They began to leave, but someone else came through the door yet again. This time, it finally was her.

Princess Snowfall.

She gave Winter and Qibli an indecipherable look, and walked past them to Lynx. She got up from the bed, hurried over, and embraced the princess in a hug. She buried her face in Snowfall's neck, feeling her warm hands on her waist. Lynx beamed uncontrollably in the comfort of her lover, not even noticing as Qibli and Winter left.

"I missed you so much!" Lynx cried, stepping back a little to cup Snowfall's soft cheeks. "It's been too long since we've last seen each other."

Snowfall's lips split into an amused smile. "Our last date was a week ago," she said around Lynx's hands on her cheeks.

"Exactly," Lynx stated matter-of-factly, removing one hand from Snowfall's face to wave a finger at her sassily. "Too long."

The other girl laughed and slipped off the little purse that she had slung around her neck. She pulled out a small bouquet of flowers, handing them to her girlfriend with a comically coy expression. Her cheeks were dusted with a rosy tint. 

Lynx's heart melted on the spot. "Oh my gosh," she took the flowers and brought them up to her nose, taking in the smell. "You are freaking adorable. Thank you." She leaned forward to press a gentle kiss upon Snowfall's lips, tasting the chapstick. Snowfall smiled behind the kiss, clasping her hands around Lynx's torso, pulling them in close.

They pulled away after a moment, faces inches apart. The tips of their noses brushed. "We've been dating for how long, and you still act like we're on our first date," said Lynx fondly. "I mean, don't stop doing it. It's the cutest thing ever."

The princess' smile widened as if she couldn't stop it. "I guess you're just that perfect," she said, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

Lynx's smile quirked into a stupid, shit-eating smirk. "You missed."

"Oh, hush," Snowfall countered, batting her away with a hand. Lynx leaned in close to her face and stuck out her lips. The other girl rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around her, hands sliding down her back and down her spine. They melted into each other as Lynx mirrored Snowfall, draping her arms over her shoulders. Snowfall kissed her with casual laziness, then Lynx deepened the kiss and began to dig her fingers into Snowfall's sides, making her girlfriend dissolve into uncontrollable giggles.

As Lynx tickled Snowfall, they stumbled backward, still embraced in the kiss, and flopped onto the plush bed. They bounced slightly as the mattress sprang underneath them, blankets being tossed around as they broke apart and tackled one another playfully. Snowfall grabbed Lynx by the waist and pinned her underneath her, the two of them hysterically laughing as they both tickled the other. "Surrender?"

"Never!" Lynx exclaimed, gently pushing Snowfall off, rolling off her back to re-orient herself. She sat on the edge of the bed as Snowfall sat up. Lynx held up her hands, holding her fingers like they were claws, threatening to tickle her again. Snowfall collapsed onto her back, waving an imaginary white flag in the air. "I give up," she groaned good humouredly.

The girl layed down next to her, propping herself up with an elbow. "I knew I'd win," she boasted, pointing a finger at Snowfall. "After all, I always won at everything when we were younger."

"Yeah, you also got better grades than me and I loathed you for it," Snowfall added. "I still do. I'll never forgive you for that."

Lynx batted her eyelashes innocently. "Awh, I know you love me."

Snowfall rested a hand on her cheek and slowly traced her hand over her face, counting the freckles . "True. Even though you're an absolute shithead."

Lynx stuck out her tongue. Snowfall dropped her hand and stuck her tongue out back. Then, she pulled Lynx on top of her, grinning wide. Lynx let herself be splayed across Snowfall, burying her head in the nook of her neck. She could smell the expensive perfume on her skin.

She felt Snowfall's hand drape over the back of her head, tracing from her neck to the strands of her hair, gently tousling it between her fingers. Lynx could feel her eyelids drooping heavily as she was lulled into comfort in the girl's embrace. 

Snowfall seemed to realize this, because she murmured, "Are you falling asleep on me?"

"Mmh," Lynx hummed sleepily, letting her eyes close. She settled closer to her. She could feel Snowfall's breath on the back of her neck and the reverberations of her voice through the contact of their skin. "Not at all."

"I think that's a lie," Snowfall observed. She twined and twisted her hair into little criss-cross patterns, slowly forming an intricate braid. It felt like they had all the time in the world, right here in the cozy moment.

"How long are you able to stay tonight?" Lynx asked, her voice heavy and slurred with tiredness. "Y'know, before your mother whisks you away for whatever fancy things you do."

Snowfall huffed a laugh. "I'm free all night."

The girl smiled lazily against the neck of her lover. "So you can stay all night?"

"All night."

Her voice was as soft as the snowflakes falling outside and her words felt like a warm hug. Lynx let the comfort take her to sleep.