𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 | folk of the air, cardan, jude

༶•⛧┈ 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ┈♛

Jude: I need you.
Cardan: For?
Jude: Ever.
Cardan: *voice cracking* Oh– okay.

THE GRAND DOORS to the High King's bedroom crack open. Raising my head from the book I'd been reading, my eyes meet the jet-black ones of the High King himself. He isn't smiling, so I refrain myself from doing so, even though I am used to more of an easygoing manner from him.

I rise from our bed, reaching out to him. Without protest, he falls into my arms. This time, I can't suppress a grin, remembering the time when, had he tried falling into me, I would've willingly and pleasurably dropped him.

"Is everything alright, Cardan?" I ask, trying not to let concern creep into my tone. If Cardan got even an inkling of a hint that I was worried, he'd 1) probably be annoyed, and 2) never let it go. 

Cardan sighs. I giggle as his tail brushes against my leg, and he frowns down at me, although I can see the corners of his mouth lifting. "Is something amusing you, my queen?" He says, smirking down at me. I catch the way he'd avoided my question, but let it be for now. Besides, I can't really think much of anything as he pulls me in by the waist, touching his mouth to mind in one short, tantalizing kiss before shoving me back on the bed.

I flop onto my back, and Cardan lies down beside me. His crown, already askew, slips from his head.

Neither of us pay it any mind.

I tug on his black curls until he tears his eyes away from the ceiling and meets my curious gaze. I kiss him softly on the forehead, lingering there until he seems ready to speak.

"It's only been a short while since the Battle of the Serpent, and yet the courts have already seemed to have forgotten what I did for Faerie. What we did for Faerie," He begins. "I do not believe they would renounce their pledges of loyalty so soon. Faerieland is at peace. But sometimes, peace can be so boring."

Cardan's eyes flicker across my face, probably taking in my confused expression. "Today, I had to watch three ferociously arguing pixies fighting over who finished their last bottle of wine for hours on end!" He vents frustratedly.

To his great annoyance, I laugh. "Sounds like something you'd be angry about, too," I tease. Cardan fixes me with a look that indicates that he is clearly not impressed by my jab, which only makes me laugh harder.

Finally, my husband gives in and gives me a quick grin. However, it fades just as fast as it came, and Cardan burrows his face into my shoulder. "It's just– I feel like I should be needed for more important things. Things that, not so long ago, I would've been happy to just hand over to you. I've never felt needed for anything important," He confesses.

I sigh. "Cardan, stop being an idiot," I tell him. "You've been needed for things far more important than most, if not all, of Faerie right now. In fact, I need you."

Cardan pulls back, and in a small voice, asks, "For?"

It's hard for me to believe I'm talking to the High King right now, lying so close to Cardan in bed. Shaking my head in exasperation, I reply, "Ever."

I wait for him to put the words together, and when he does, the kiss that comes afterwards is of more worth to me than any of the jewels in the palace.