Everglow

Chapter 5

The secure arm around my waist filled me with warmth as I rolled into a hard chest, resting my head on the familiar muscles as I let out a gentle sigh.  Jumping up with an irritated yelp, I noted just who I had been cuddling into, grabbing a pillow to smash Xand in the face as he grinned up at me. Waking sleepily, I noted that I was in the large water bed, filled with soft pillows and blankets, and almost completely naked as Xandro pulled me back to his chest, running a gentle hand through my hair. 

"C'mon we have another hour yet until we need to get up, lie back down," he laughed gently, flashing me his winning smile as I ran my hand through my hair, tousling the dark strands and furrowing my eyebrows at him. He looked gorgeous in the morning sun, the waves of his teal hair in a mess atop his head and his rosy eyes shining with affection as I pulled the sheets close to my body. I did not know how long we had been there, lying in that bed together, but it had given me a brief moment of reprise from the thoughts of today's mission. 

"How the hell did you even get in here, I double-locked the door?" I grumbled, huffing as I begrudging threw myself down next to him, not wanting to admit that I was glad he was here with me. Smiling, he perked his head toward my open window with a smile, shifting closer to me on the huge bed as I let out a groan of annoyance, impressed in his ability to climb up the side of the twisting castle to get in. I felt something suddenly wash over me, a realisation that hit me almost immediately as I looked down into his pink eyes that swam with a sleepy admiration. 

"Your parents are having us meet with the other members in less than an hour and I'm still covered in blood," I whispered softly, seeing my fingertips still stained with blood and dirt that had not washed off the night before. I needed to soak in a bath of water so hot I thought my skin would peel, it was the only way I could feel clean again. Xandro looked up at me with a gentle smile, pointing to a tub across the room which sat built into the marble floor and was filled already. 

"You tub awaits you, I can join you in there if you'd like Flynnie," he chuckled softly as we both sat up. There was warmth within me and a fluttering of something unfamiliar in my stomach as his eyes roamed my face, searching for something I didn't know of. I leaned toward him slightly, feeling myself drawn to him and his beauty in the morning sun. I had never known anyone look so stunning as if the Gods had crafted him themselves. She knew it was only his genes, a mixture of the fae's innocence and the dark captivating of the vampire blood inside him. 

Shaking my head, I break away, turning to look at the rising sun through the glimmering crystal windows. "I can't put you in danger Xand. I can't put you in harm's way, you know that," I whisper gently into his arms as I sigh. I feel a rumble of laughter in his chest as he holds me close to him, smiling down at me. His eyes were so filled with love that I could not look at them for longer than a second before I felt unease wash over me. 

"You know for a genius assassin you're pretty dumb," He laughs, holding me close to him with a gentle sigh, chest warm and comforting as I frown up at him curiously, wondering just what exactly he was talking about. Sighing, he smiled at me before talking, "If anybody wanted to enter into a hostage situation with you, they'd use me anyway, considering the fact I stick to you like a leech, and I'm going to follow you no matter what so I'm making the choice to throw myself into danger, regardless of what happens, everything I do is my choice, I love you Flynnie and I'm not leaving," he smiles gently, stroking away the strands of hair that have fallen into my eyes as he grins bashfully down at me. 

I feel a warmth stir within me as I look up at him, encased in his warm touch as I let out a gentle sigh, resting my head against his chest as I watched the sun rising over glimmering crystal towers. I regretfully pulled myself away from him, steeling myself to my usual attitude as I thought of the little time we had before we needed to leave for the outer edges on the kingdom to find the old Necromancer fields. 

"You're an idiot Xand, and don't throw around the word love so easily," I whisper harshly, biting my lip as I roll away from the heat of his body, moving toward the bathroom that hid behind a thin glass door. Xandro let out a deep laugh, sitting up in bed as he cracked his back, watching through the glass door as I brushed my teeth. and dropped the thin dressing gown that had covered me. Xand had seen every last bit of me, and I had never felt an ounce of shame or discomfort in being nude around him. Every last wound and scar on her body was cared for by him. Yet at this moment as I climbed into the bath of steaming water, I felt a sense of embarrassment in my body as I dipped my hair into the bath. 

"Things are more traditional here Flynnie, you know that every word I tell you is my truth and even if you aren't willing to share it, I know you well enough that I can feel every emotion," he smiled gently, still in the bed as he watched my face carefully, the only thing visible over the edge of the tub. I did not know how I felt, so he could not possibly understand the trappings of my mind at this moment. 

"If by traditional, you mean medieval, then sure, it's pretty traditional around these parts. If this is the most evolved of realms then why aren't clothes a thing," I muttered, under my breath washing away the grime that had built up over the night with a most beautiful smelling soap that eased the tension in my muscles. After a brief moment of relaxation, I took a linen cloth from the side of the bath and stood quickly, making my way out of the bathroom with skin turned red from the heat of the water. I finally felt clean, even if it was just for a moment. 

Walking out of the room with Xand following close at my tail, his face delighted at my mild disgust in the old ways that Astaria was so keen on upholding. Throwing open the doors to the wardrobe I let out yet another groan, "And literally everything is made of leather. You don't even have cows, so what are you using? Also leather isn't as easy to move in as every adventurer ever makes it out to be, and on top of that the weather is ridiculously hot Xand." I complained, letting out another huff as he laughed at me again, watching as I pulled out a set of underwear that I was entirely sure was mine from home. I grabbed the pair of dark leather pants, and one of the plain white shirts from the side of the wardrobe I assumed to be Xand's. 

He let out a laugh at my behaviour, grinning at me as he pulled me down onto the bed next to him, pushing my body underneath him as he looked down at me with an indescribable affection clouding his stunning eyes, the thin towel acting as the only barrier between my body and his. I looked up at him, stunned, as his hand stroked my cheek gently, eyes swimming with warmth. 

"As soon as this is over we can go to a modern realm together and live out boring lives watching shitty TV and drinking shitty alcohol with indoor plumbing and synthetic materials," he whispered softly, fingertip brushing against the lip I was biting, sighing softly as he pulled me up from the bed with a sigh. I smiled up at him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist in what must have been the first hug I had even initiated with him in over 10 years. I felt his smile as he rested his head against my hair, kissing me on the head softly. 

"Now go get ready, we have a Necromancer to find after all."