Lily
I woke slowly, my lashes heavy, the room dim and quiet. The smell of fragrant candles lingered faintly in the air, and the weight of sleep still clung to my bones. My eyes adjusted to the muted glow seeping in through the tall window, and then I saw him.
A lone figure stood there, tall with broad shoulder, the moonlight brushing his frame like silver armor. Elis.
My chest tightened, breath catching. He was alive. Standing. Breathing. Free.
For a moment, I just watched him, memorizing every line of his shoulders, the proud slope of his head as he gazed outward, lost in thought.
A smile tugged at my lips despite the ache in my body. What if I had been too late? What if Nakoa and Ita hadn't reached him in time? What if I hadn't broken the curse? The thought of a world without him clawed at my heart.
As though sensing me, he turned. Our eyes collided and held. My heart stopped. His breath stilled too, like the world froze between us.
"You're awake?" His voice was low, rough, filled with disbelief and something deeper.
I only managed a small nod, too overwhelmed to trust my voice.
He crossed the room in slow, measured steps, each one pulling me tighter into his gravity. When he reached me, he sat on the edge of the bed and took my hand. His lips brushed over my palm—soft and reverent. The warmth shot straight into my blood, setting me alight.
"How do you feel now?" he asked, his gaze still locked with mine.
"Not sure," I murmured, before a yawn slipped out.
He smiled faintly, the expression softening his sharp features. "You must be hungry. I'll get Eunice to bring food…"
I grabbed his hand before he could rise, "How long have I been sleeping?"
"Four days."
My eyes flew open. "Four days?" I tried to sit up, panic lacing my voice.
"Easy," he said quickly, his hands firm on my shoulders as he eased me back down. "Don't rush. You've been drained. Your grandmother said the power you wielded against Zal was enormous, it nearly broke you. You needed to rest." His eyes softened as his thumb brushed over my hand. "So I brought you home."
"Home?" The word slipped out, fragile.
"Yes." His voice was steady, absolute. "Your home is with me, Lily."
I looked away, heat prickling behind my eyes. I couldn't answer, not yet. My heart was too full, my thoughts tangled. "How do you feel now? How's Tika?" I asked instead, forcing the question out.
That earned me a smirk, the first trace of mischief since the battlefield. "Tika is restless. He can't wait to kiss you again."
My lips parted, but before I could speak, he leaned in; slow and deliberate, his breath brushing mine, his lips hovering so close it made my heart slam painfully against my ribs.
The moment was about to shatter the world between us when Eunice burst in, her squeal filling the room. "My Lady! You're awake!" she fussed, nearly knocking over the tray she carried as she rushed toward me.
Elis pulled back slowly, his jaw tightening, though his hand refused to leave mine. His eyes never left my face, even as Eunice fluttered around me.
For two days, Elis and Eunice would not let me lift a finger. I was perfectly well, strong enough to move about on my own, yet they fussed over me as if I was a delicate flower that might wither if the wind blew too hard. Meals were served in the chamber instead of the dining hall, trays laden with warm breads, tender meats, and fruits arranged so beautifully they almost looked painted. Elis never once ate elsewhere; he sat with me, every meal, his gaze lingering on me more than on the food.
No one was allowed into the room, not even Maris, my maid. Only Sara, who had been worried sick, was permitted. She came rushing in, relief softening her face as she clasped my hands. Before I could even protest, she had my belongings moved from my old quarters upstairs. Eunice, never to be outdone, filled the chamber with more luxurious clothes and jewelry than I could ever hope to wear. Silks in shades of moonlight, emeralds that glowed like fireflies, gold chains fine enough to catch with a breath. It was dizzying, almost suffocating.
When I finally caught Elis alone, I asked the question that had been pressing against my chest. "Why move me up here? I was perfectly fine in my quarters."
He looked at me, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he reached out, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear with the tenderness of a man holding his whole world in his hand.
"I want you closer," he said simply.
"Closer?" I repeated, my brows lifting. "You had guards outside my old room. Eunice never let me out of her sight. How much closer can I possibly be?"
His lips curved, but it was not amusement, it was resolve. "Not guarded, Lily. Not watched. Closer to me."
The words sank into me, sending heat across my skin, though his tone carried no embellishment. He meant it as plain truth, as necessary as breath.
Eunice breezed in not long after, her sharp eyes darting between us. "The seamstress will arrive tomorrow," she announced. "You'll need to be fitted properly. That wardrobe is only a fraction of what's coming."
I groaned softly and buried my face in my hands. "Eunice, I don't need…"
"You do," she cut me off firmly. "You are no longer to be dressed as a servant. You will look as you ought to look."
Sara smirked from where she perched on the bed. "You might as well surrender now. You won't win against her."
I lifted my gaze to Elis, silently pleading for rescue, but he only leaned back in his chair, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. "She's right," he said. "Let them fuss over you. I like seeing you spoiled."
I sighed, defeated, though my heart gave a treacherous flutter. Spoiled. Me. I had never been spoiled in my life.
That evening, after dinner, we lingered in the quiet of his chamber. The fire snapped softly in the hearth, washing the room in a warm amber glow. He sat close, closer than he needed to, his arm resting on the back of my chair, his nearness stealing every bit of calm I tried to hold.
He didn't rush to speak. Instead, he poured me a drink, handed it to me with a faint smile, then leaned back, watching me. The silence wasn't empty; it was heavy, charged and pulling at something deep inside me. His fingers brushed mine once, twice, as though by accident, but I wasn't convinced it was.
When I finally dared to meet his eyes, he was already looking at me; steady and unblinking, as though he could read every secret I carried. His voice, when it came, was low and husky, curling into the air between us.
"Tell me, Lily… how do you want me to repay you…for saving my life?"
The words landed like a blow and a caress all at once. My breath caught, my lips parted, but no sound escaped. The question stole every word from me, leaving only the racing of my heart.