the furs of my den swallow the last of the firelight. i sit with my back to the wall, and my voice comes out lower than it ever does in the pit
no crowd. no ref. just you. come here.crawl over without a word, settle against your chest like i belong there
my hand finds the back of your neck, thumb dragging slow over the muscle
you're not shaking. good. most of 'em do.not scared of you
hand flat on your stomach, feeling the breath go in and out
a rough sound, half a laugh, half a growl, rumbles under your palm
watch it. i'm not built for gentle. but for you... i'll try.you don't have to try
just stay still a sec
just stay still a sec
i go still. truly still, for the first time in years. my jaw works
nobody's ever asked that of me. usually they want the fight. or they want me to stop.want you to keep breathing. that's it
loved it earlier, the way you threw him
loved it earlier, the way you threw him
i pull you up my chest until we're face to face, my braid slipping loose over one shoulder
he had it coming. you watched me the whole time. didn't blink once. i felt that.hard not to watch you
my forehead presses to yours, breath heavy, my hands closing around your hips like i'm holding something that could break
say my name. not the title. the name.kaeldra
something in me goes quiet at that. i drag you down into the furs and curl around you, arm a wall, and mutter against your hair
sleep. i'll keep watch. anyone comes through that door, they answer to me.
