Warrior's Heart

3

Xandria awoke to the sun peeping through a small gap in the heavy curtains. She sighed before turning over so that her back was facing the window. She snuggled against her pillow, it was so warm and comfortable. She also became aware of a heavily muscled arm that was draped over her waist and it tightened as she tried to ease away slightly. A soft puff of air brushed against her cheek. Glancing up Xandria blushed furiously as she took in the sight before her.

Jasmina Blackblade was laying on her side facing her, her back to the locked doorway. Her heavy unbound black hair was fanned across her pillow with a thick lock draped over her shoulder. Her normally set features were softened and made her look ethereal. Her winged brows were not slashed in a forbidding scowl. Her firm lips were relaxed and slightly parted to show the slightest glimpse of perfectly straight white teeth.

She was also shirtless...and had no pants. She was curled protectively around Xandria but Jasmina was also completely naked.

Xandria blushed so much and so hard she feared that she would be permanently red in the face. Xandria then realized that she too was also naked as the day she was birthed. Following that her mind decided to remind her of her wanton acts of passion and desperate pleading to be taken by Jasmina last night. Mortified and aroused Xandria blushed yet again.

"Good morning my princess," the soft husky voice of Jasmina jarred Xandria out of her memories. "I trust you are rested and do not regret last night. For I do not regret a single moment."

Xandria looked up to find Jasmina peering down at her with a gentle smile. Xandria felt her cheeks warm yet again at the emotion in Jasmina's eyes. It was a soft look that was as possessive as it was protective. As lustful as it was loving.

"I do enjoy your blushes." Jasmina teased as she traced Xandria's jaw with a callused finger. "Do you know I was rarely at that gaudy opulent palace because I knew that you would be there, because I knew that my love for you would only grow. Then I did not know that you might return my feelings. Then you were far beyond my reach and I refused to torment myself with thoughts of what could be."

Xandria didn't know what to say to this sudden revelation. She had no idea that her stoic General had felt this way. That their thoughts were so similar.

"But now," Jasmina continued as she pressed a gentle kiss to Xandria's temple, "I have you here with me in my arms. I hope you know already that I will never let you go now. And I will never let you be hurt by anyone, including myself. I am not a good person Xandria. But I try to be as much as I can and I try because of you. Because I love you my precious princess."

"And I love you my fierce General," Xandria whispered. She knew that Jasmina would hear her. The years spent as the greatest warrior in the kingdom had honed Jasmina's senses far beyond what was normal.

Jasmina smiled as she cradled her princess closer to her. Keeping her in her arms where she would be safe. There was a comfortable silence in the room until there came a knock on the door.

Two knocks and a scratch. A short whistle and a bird coo.

Jasmina tensed.

Xandria fought the urge to whimper as Jasmine got up from the bed. She grabbed a dagger from her pile of discarded armor and held it at the ready as she opened the door. Jasmina did not open the door completely due to her state of undress, for which Xandria was grateful.

There was a whispered conversation between the General and whoever was at the door. It was hard to hear what they were talking about but Xandria did not try very hard to listen. She trusted her General with all her heart and her being. It mattered not what was going on. Xandria knew with utter certainty that Jasmina would make Xandria's safety a priority.