Private Tales Have you heard there's a rumour in Alliria?

[Althea]

Thea couldn't help but notice the flicker of excitement in his eyes as she expressed her fear. It intrigued her, but she also recognised the need for caution. As he pulled away, she sensed his internal struggle, a battle between his desire and the responsibility he felt towards her.

His mention of Ilyena and the book she had already chosen brought a smile to Thea's face. If he was trying to make her feel cherished, it was working, and her heart melted slightly at the thought of reading to the child.

Feeling his hand entwine with hers, Thea allowed herself to be gently guided back towards the house. She couldn't resist the allure of another slice of cake and the warmth of the lights in Ilyena's window. Despite her internal doubts, she was drawn to the possibility of happiness, even if it was just for this fleeting moment.

"I'm never going to say no to cake..." she smirked.

 

[Gawyn]

Gawyn chuckled and let his hand slide down her back to rest upon her hip as they walked back towards the house. He wanted so desperately to brush his wings across her back and sweep her in close but wing etiquette was a delicate thing amongst their kind. Even if Thea didn't have wings, she had been raised amongst their people and would know what each slight movement meant. So he kept them from enfolding her entirely like a scandalous youth might but... he let his hand stay where it was possessively on her hip.

"THEA!" Ilyena had been sat at the top of the stairs but bounded down them when the two appeared. Gawyn raised both brows but the small girl ignored entirely her fathers disapproval for her not being in bed. In her arms was a book with a large unicorn on it. "You said she would read to me before bed," she said before Gawyn could open her mouth.

"If, she said yes," Gawyn corrected and he looked up the stairs to catch sight of Aodhan leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, a knowing smirk on his lips.

"Will you Thea? Pleeeeeeeeeeease?"

 

[Althea]

His hand was a pleasantly heavy weight as it slipped down the small of her back to settle on her hip. It felt comfortable there. More than comfortable. It made her blood heat. She could almost feel the restraint, and her spine tingled slightly at the thought of soft feathers sliding over her skin.

She glanced up at Gawyn, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes at the look he gave Ilyena. It was difficult not to find her stubbornness endearing, and she chuckled as she crouched to settle at the child's height. "How could I say no? Of course I will read to you, sweet girl." she smiled warmly and reached to take her hand, unable to resist such an adorable plea. "Come on then." she urged, glancing back to Gawyn with a fond smile as Ilyena lead her excitedly to her room.

Catching sight of Aodhan, she felt her cheeks warm and offered a shy smile to the avariel, but everything she was feeling right now was radiating from her and there was little she could do to stop it.

 

[Gawyn]

"Don't say a word," he muttered to his friend once Thea and Ilyena were already in the girls room. Aodhan did his best to look innocent, which was very good considering his near angelic perfection, but the sly smile ruined it. Gawyn snorted and continued up the stairs.

By the time he got to the threshold of the room Ilyena had tucked herself back into bed with two stuffies which were definitely new - for which he shot his friend a scornful look - and Thea had perched herself next to her so the child could see the pictures as she read. Gawyn's heart squeezed and he wished his hands were built for more than killing. If he could craft like the great artists he would have wanted to paint what was before him to save it forever.

 

[Althea]

As Thea perched on the edge of Ilyena's bed, her eyes glimmered with a magical light, mirroring the enchantment that filled the room. The pages of the storybook unfolded before her, and with each turn, she brought the tale to life with vivid descriptions and animated gestures that had the child giggling and gasping in wonder. Ilyena's gaze remained fixed on Thea, captivated by her storytelling prowess, her imagination whisked away to a world of princesses and unicorns.

Amidst the story, Thea's senses tingled, and she glanced up to find Gawyn standing in the doorway. His presence sent a surge of emotions through her, and a soft blush graced her cheeks as their eyes met. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and Thea felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this precious connection they shared.

Thea's smile widened, carrying the weight of affection and fondness. She cherished the way Gawyn looked at her, the way his presence alone sparked warmth within her heart. She cherished all of this, and in that shared glance, Thea conveyed a silent message—an acknowledgement of this moment, and a promise to hold it dear to her heart. It was a silent reassurance that this was something that she cherished just as deeply as he did.

Her voice continued to weave, her storytelling gaining a newfound sense of wonder as she continued to bring the tale to life. She poured her heart into each soft word, and as Ilyena hung on her every word, Thea's smile remained fixed, her gaze intermittently shifting between the illustrations and Gawyn.

Finally, as Thea finished the last page of the story, she whispered the last few words of the happy ending, and closed the book gently. A hand settled on the child's head, and with a single stroke of her hair, her drowsy eyes closed and she fell instantly to sleep.

 

[Gawyn]

Gawyn was as spellbound as Ilyena. It must have been a book he had read a thousand times to her before, sometimes back to back. But Thea... Thea made the story come alive. It was as though he was hearing it for the first time. He was aware of Aodhan leaving at some point with a pat to his shoulder but Gawyn couldn't take his eyes off of her.

How was this the same woman He had met pilfering his pockets before?

There was a fire in his veins stoke by every gentle stroke down his child's hair or the way she made sure to do different voices for every character that had Ilyena squealing in delight or gasping in fright. She did that for his little girl. They shared a look and Gawyn wished he had the same gifts as her in order to feel what she felt right now.

When she was done and Ilyena fast asleep he blew the candles out as Thea left then closed the door quietly behind him. Then, without warning, he bent and picked her up from the backs of her thighs and tugged her legs up around his waist. His lips crushed hers with the feverishness of a drowning man as he marched them to his rooms.

 

[Althea]

As Gawyn's lips met hers with an intensity that took her breath away, Thea's initial surprise swiftly transformed into a fervent response.

The fire that had been simmering within Gawyn now blazed within her as well, igniting a passionate exchange between them. Thea's arms instinctively wrapped around Gawyn's neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as she reciprocated his ardor.

In that moment, the world around them faded into insignificance, and all that mattered was the electric connection they shared. Thea's heart thudded in her chest, mirroring the rapid beat of Gawyn's, as they embraced each other with an unyielding desire, a culmination of their shared longing, a collision of emotions that had been building between them since the day they first met.

As Gawyn carried her towards his rooms, Thea's mind raced with a mixture of exhilaration and anticipation. She marveled at the intensity of his kiss, the way his touch set her ablaze with a yearning she had never known before. In this passionate embrace, she felt cherished, desired, and wholly consumed.

Thea's lips moved against Gawyn's with urgency, her own passion melding seamlessly with his. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a deep resonance of emotions that transcended mere words. She could sense Gawyn's longing, his unspoken wishes, and she reciprocated with every fibre of her being.

In the privacy of Gawyn's chambers, Thea's touch grew bolder, her hands tearing at clothes, exploring the contours of his body with a fervent hunger. In that moment, Thea's response was one of complete surrender and devotion. Her heart, and soul, and body belonged to him.

 

[Gawyn]

Gawyn had always scoffed at the songs sung in taverns and bars of a passion that made a person believe their very soul was on fire. The tumbles he had had with women over the years had been heated and more than satisfactory, but none of them had ever sparked that feral hunger the bards sung about. He'd always assumed that that was a thing experienced between Mates and that the rest of them would never really understand until then. Now, Gawyn was not so sure. Now he realised all he had needed to experience that fiery heat was love.

Need had driven him to making the bold decision that had led to their night together, but it was not just the desire of a man. It was a desire to know every inch of her skin, a desire to know what she loved so he could do it again and again. It was a desire to please and worship her, for she was everything to him. As the night wore on further Gawyn knew that not only had he fallen, something he had been denying for the last few months, but that he had fallen so hard and deep that only she could give him what he needed to live.

He knew she could feel all of that with her magic but he wanted to show her.

So he did. Several times over.

Only when he could see the tiredness beneath the longing in her eyes did he finally relent to letting her sleep. Even then he held her cradled against his chest, his arms and wings a protective, possessive and warm bind around her.

 

[Althea]

She had fought sleep for as long as she possibly could before she relented and she was dragged into a deep and dreamless rest. It was first light when she slowly stirred from her slumber, feeling a pleasant heaviness in her limbs. As consciousness returned to her, she became aware of the warmth that enveloped her, the strong arms that held her securely against a broad chest. Opening her eyes, she found herself cradled in Gawyn's embrace, their bodies still intertwined as if they were made to fit together.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she gazed up at Gawyn's serene face. His features, illuminated by the soft light filtering through the window, were particularly beautiful in the morning.. She traced her fingers lightly over the contours of his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her touch.

"Good morning," Thea said, her voice barely above a whisper, her sleepy gaze was filled with a mix of affection and admiration as she took in the sight of the man who had captured her heart. Thea's cheeks flushed with thoughts of the night before, and she couldn't help but lean in to press a tender kiss against his lips. Their connection was electric, a merging of hearts and souls that left her breathless with wonder.

Gently, Thea shifted her position, snuggling closer to Gawyn, finding solace in the safety and warmth of his embrace. The scent of his skin, the rhythm of his breathing, all wrapped around her, creating a sense of home and belonging that she had never thought possible.

She had not hidden a single thing. Not one scar or emotion. She shared it all, and she felt safer than she had done in so many years.

 

[Gawyn]

The General's arms tightened around her as she shifted into her new position, tugging her as close to him as he physically could. His lips continued on after their kiss in lazy, delicate kisses along her jaw and down to the hollow of where her neck met her shoulder, in which he buried his face and murmured roughly;

"Mmng."

Gawyn had never been a morning person though this had certainly been one of the best he had had for many years. Ironically, it made him even less inclined to get out of bed. Keeping one arm and wing tucked firmly about her waist he let his other drift down the contours of her side and hip to trace lazy patterns on the outside of her thigh. Last night was still fresh within his mind and his immediate thought was to pick up where he had left off but this... laying like this was just as good.

With a sigh he lifted his face and cracked one eye open as he rested his head back on his pillow.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty? Cold?" his grip tightened ever so at the last query.

 

[Althea]

Thea's lips kicked up at the corner, her cheek dimpling and her head tilting ever-so-slightly in approval of his peppering of morning kisses. She could get used to this..

"Hm.. Cold, yes.. freezing, in fact..." she answered quietly as she curled against him with a fake shiver and a soft laugh against the crook of his neck. Gods, she had missed the soft caress of feathers against her skin. His were particularly beautiful, though, their varying shades of blue that not even the northern skies could rival. The feel of his skin was just as just as wonderful, and he held her as though she were something to protect, and not something to possess. She wanted to stay. More than anything, she wanted to stay.

Her jaw ached from the smile she wore as she studied him, her soft fingertips trailing the slope of his neck and smooth panes of his chest. Everything that had happened the night prior had been so amazingly perfect that she was afraid that if she mentioned it, it would somehow cease to exist..

"I should go, before the others wake up.." she murmured quietly..

 

[Gawyn]

"Why should the others mean you have to leave?" he played a strand of her white hair through his fingers in a lazy, male manner. It was a simple action but one that seemed to ooze a certain masculine arrogance. Like he knew precisely how little she wanted to leave and how easy it would be to keep her here as he wanted. He curled the strand about his index finger then leant down to nip at where her swan like neck met her shoulder. Against her skin he murmured with a deep throated chuckle.

"I'm fairly certain Aodhan at least felt nearly everything we did last night."

 

[Althea]

His question was a loaded one. Why did it matter? She didn't have any room in her mind to think on a responsible answer whilst his fingers played through her hair like that, and that nip to her neck had her eyes rolling to a drowsy close. Her lips curled, but the breathy laugh that spilled free was cut off abruptly at the stark reminder that another empath had just been a few doors away.

Thea's eyes shot open, her pale cheeks suddenly molten hot with embarrassment. Her own senses had been thrown wide open, and so there was no way she'd have been difficult to read last night. It was the equivalent of screaming at the top of her lungs and expecting the person sitting opposite not to hear her. She buried her face against Gawyn with a groan, her words muffling against his warm skin and silken feathers.

"I can't look at him... Ever again.." she huffed.

As embarrassed as she felt about Aodhan knowing exactly what they'd shared, her thoughts returned to Ilyena, and Gawyn would feel her heart squeeze at the thought of her. Thea didn't know exactly what last night had been. Amazing, of course, but she was... difficult, and she didn't want to make the mistake of thinking this was more than what it was. She didn't want Ilyena to think it was more than what it was.

"Ilyena might get her hopes up.." she rumbled quietly and looked up at him. She, might get her hopes up. Her chest tightened again, as his words from last night whispered through her mind.

'At least, for tonight. Though I confess... the longer you stay the harder I will find it to let you go..'

 

[Gawyn]

Gawyn merely laughed into her hair as she groaned her words against his chest. Aodhan he knew would be overjoyed for the pair of them. If anything it would probably make his life easier - he had been complaining for some weeks about 'getting on with it' to lift his moping mood. He pressed a soft kiss to her tresses and stroked a hand firmly down her back to the curve of her hip where his fingers lingered.

"Saying that suggests she might have her hopes crushed," he pulled back a fraction to look into her eyes even as his hand slid lower to the curve of her behind which he used to pull her impossibly closer. There was a possessiveness to both his touch and the look in his eyes which were no longer fogged with sleep.

 

[Althea]

Thea put up absolutely no fight against his roaming hands. The closeness was something she'd have very much liked to get used to, but with such lovely thoughts a came a darker, more terrifying one that consumed it entirely. What if it didn't work?

Gawyn didn't seem to mind that she'd done the things she'd done, nor the punishments she'd endured - even by her own hand. But those punishments had tunneled deep into her mind, and she knew that she was undeserving of those lovely things she'd wanted so badly. Their kind were so fucking high above everything, and Thea had fallen as far as an avariel could fall. Only he'd put out his hand and pulled her from the hell she'd been in for so long.

"That is the last thing that I want.." she whispered, her pale eyes fixed firmly on his as he held her against him. "And if we're not careful.. If you're not certain that this is more than one night then, I need to go before she wakes up." she insisted, watching him hesitantly.

 

[Gawyn]

Gawyn's whole demeanour changed. The soft, almost teasing touch, the laughter in his eyes, and the arrogant smile of a man who had a naked woman in his lap vanished. His hand stopped its wandering and rose to cup the back of her neck and jaw, his thumb pressing beneath her chin to keep her from turning away from him and his words. He needed her to see that he meant his words. He needed her to feel them too, so he lessened that control around his emotions he tended to keep in place so as to not overwhelm her.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life, Thea. You are mine and I have no intentions of hiding it from anyone. If that scares you, I'll give you this chance to leave. But if you stay..." he leant down to rest his forehead against his. "If you stay, then know I will burn this world down if it tries to stop you from waking up here with me every morning."

 

[Althea]

He'd been pulling back his emotions.

And suddenly, there they were, flooding into her and ensnaring her senses with so. much. sweetness. Thea's breath caught in her throat and her eyes glistened with tears as he said what he said, how he said it, ensuring she felt every word of it.

She had never heard words like that. She had never felt what he let her feel before, not when it was for her. So many years of disgust, distrust, hatred, fear, malice and everything in between had her so filled with negative emotion that it had worn so deeply into her bones that living had been hell.

And now there was Gawyn, and Ilyena, and the emotions around her now had been too good to be true, until now. Now she knew they were true, and she tried her very best not to cry, but there was little she could do to hold back the tears that silently rolled down her cheeks as her eyes closed and she leaned her head against his.

He said she was his, but not the way Nikolai had. Even now he proved that by giving her the option to leave. The thought of doing so caused her chest to ache, and she frowned.

"I want to stay.. I really, really, want to stay.." she laughed under her breath, her hand settling over his and squeezing it firmly, ensuring that he felt precisely what she did.

 

[Gawyn]

"Good," Gawyn brushed the tears from her cheeks with the rough pad of his thumb, taking as much care as he could not to scratch her softer skin. Some of the tension left him and his wings seemed to relax once more, curving around her and once more cocooning her in their private bubble of midnight feathers. His nose grazed against hers and then he dipped his chin and pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss.

"Then the only question that matters, Thea, is how do you like your eggs?"

 

[Althea]

A husky laugh tumbled out at his question and both hands cupped his face to draw her lips to his with a soft whisper against them.

“With pancakes.” she grinned and tenderly kissed. ‘His..’ she thought with another swell of pride and joy, as well as the usual flutter of excitement that came with the thought of sweet foods. "I've never had anyone ask me that before," she admitted with a soft smile.

She had tried to keep her vulnerabilities her deepest secret, locked away behind walls of self-imposed punishment and fear, but with him there was no hiding. Her scars were laid bare, all of them.

It was almost overwhelming to feel desired, cherished, and valued for what felt like the first time in her life. It was the sweetest kind of pain, the breaking of those walls she'd built around herself. "I may need some clothes.." she smirked with a glance toward the door.

 

[Gawyn]

"With pancakes it is then," he murmured into her skin as he contemplated how exactly he was going to manage to drag himself from the bed and away from her. The line he had gouged into the dirt months ago when she had laid broken in that hospital bed had been well and truly crossed and there was no hope of return. Not for Gawyn at least. He had not loved, not needed, someone so strongly before. It scared him and excited him all in one. Her concerns regarding clothes dragged him from the dizzying spin and he huffed a laugh.

"I don't think your underwear made it," there had definitely been the distinct feeling of ripping last night. With a deep, arduous sigh he finally pulled back and rolled from the bed, grabbing at a pair of pants and breeches heedlessly. "I can swing by your apartment, get you a few bits and bring them back. I'll help you pack the rest up later," he tugged on a shirt, carefully clipping up the bits between his wings. "Anything side from clothes you want me to bring back this trip?"

 

[Althea]

Thea's fingers unconsciously clutched the sheets against her as Gawyn separated from her, leaving the bed feeling large and empty. The warmth of his wings, the softness of his touch, were already missed against her bare skin. She couldn't help but feel a pang of longing as she watched him dress and she assaulted her lower lip with her teeth as she took in the sight of him, remembering exactly why she was so deliciously sore this morning..

"Aside my coat and boots, everything I own is in the dresser drawer," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability. One drawer contained her entire existence, a stark reminder of the simplicity she had embraced to survive. Thea couldn't shake the feeling that Gawyn's offer to fetch her belongings symbolized something deeper, a commitment to intertwining their lives.

"And Peppermint..." she added, her lips curving into a guilty smile. Since her arrival, Gawyn's home had transformed, the addition of a puppy, an aviary of birds, a stray avariel, and now the potential inclusion of a stubborn cat brought a sense of warmth and completeness she had never known.

Her gaze lingered on Gawyn, admiring the way he effortlessly moved around the room, his wings folding and unfolding with a grace that fascinated her. "Thank you," she said sincerely, her voice holding a mixture of gratitude and affection. "I'll just... wait here.." she laughed under her breath, her fingers running through her mussed, snowy hair.

 

[Gawyn]

Gawyn gave a huge sigh as he pictured the scratches he was about to receive for bringing the fluffy feline to its new home. Maybe he would actually lose his eye this time. Grabbing an empty holdall from off the top of his wardrobe he threw it over his shoulder then leant down to brush his lips across her forehead.

"You're welcome, Thea," he murmured, gently tilting her chin up to that he could see her eyes in their full glory. "The thought of you here will certainly lend my wings some speed," he said with a sly smirk "But, if you do want to leave the bed there is a bathing chamber through there," he nodded to an arched doorway. After one more quick kiss he pulled himself away and made his way over to the dark drapes. Throwing them back revealed the stunning view out over the mountains and ocean beyond. The doors opened out on to a large veranda designed no doubt in mind for several pairs of wings. With one backward glance he shot into the sky.

True to his word, Gawyn flew fast. Very fast. It was little under an hour before he landed, bag full, and screeching cat in the other hand. He all but threw the spitting cat onto the floor with a curse.

"Your cat officially hates me," he proclaimed before dumping the now bulging bag onto the bed.

 

[Althea]

Gawyn's departure left a palpable absence in the room, the lingering touch of his lips on her forehead like a promise, and she closed her eyes, savouring the warmth of the moment.

Once alone, she took the opportunity to explore the room further, and Thea's lips curled into a tender smile as her fingertips trailed over each thing she passed.

The bathing chamber revealed itself as a luxurious haven, and Thea decided to indulge in a soothing bath. The warm water cradled her scarred body, offering solace to both physical and emotional wounds. The notion of having a home, a place where she truly belonged, felt simultaneously foreign and wonderfully comforting.

The sound of Gawyn's return interrupted her thoughts, and she turned her head to greet him with a genuine smile as he entered, a disgruntled Peppermint in tow. His proclamation that the cat officially hated him elicited a suppressed chuckle from Thea, and she bit her lip to contain her laughter. "Sorry, and thank you..." she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Peppermint, however, seemed to sense her presence and approached the edge of the bath with a demanding meow. Thea obliged, reaching to scratch between the cat's ears as it purred contentedly. Gawyn's return infused the room with a sense of completeness, and Thea reveled in the sweet domesticity of the moment. The room, now suffused with the scent of scented salts and a comforting warmth, felt like a sanctuary. Thea couldn't shake the feeling that she was exactly where she belonged, and that thought filled her with a quiet but profound happiness.

"So about those pancakes.." she grinned.

 

[Gawyn]

"Fetch my bags, get mauled by my cat, make me pancakes," Gawyn padded over to the bathtub and leant down, bracing his hands on either side of the rim beside her shoulders. He lowered his mouth to brush along the sweeping curve of her neck and then nipped at her lobe. "So demanding," he made it sound like a promise and a rebuke all in one. He gave a huge sigh and pushed off before she could retaliate then headed for the door.

"Take your time, My Lady. I'll have your breakfast ready for when you join us," he shot her a playful look over his shoulder before sliding out the door. It was not soon after that the thunderous patter of tiny feet barrelling down the hallway followed and then the unmistakable cry of joy from a child who had discovered pancakes instead of cereal.

 

[Althea]

A devilish grin played across Thea's face as she felt the tantalizing touch of Gawyn's lips and teeth on her neck, causing her heart to stumble in response. The water seemed to come alive with the electric charge of the moment, and despite her attempt to maintain composure, her lower lip fell victim to the assault of her own teeth. A quiet groan of approval rumbled in her chest, only to transform into a quiet groan of disappointment sigh as Gawyn pulled away, leaving her alone once more.

"Perhaps I should have amended my demands.." she called after him, her voice carrying a teasing tone that matched the playful look he had given her before his departure.

"Restraint, Althea.." she reminded herself with a sigh, her lips curling into a smug smile as she acknowledged the delightful chaos that had become her life.

Taking a few moments longer in the bath, she eventually emerged, drying off and slipping into leggings and a shirt. A chuckle escaped her as she sensed and heard Ilyena's unmistakable surge of glee over breakfast. Fussing a bit more with her clothes and hair than usual, she paced back and forth to the door of Gawyn's room several times over before mustering the courage to open it. Finally, she descended the hallway and stairs, preparing to join the others for breakfast.

A faint blush had already adorned her cheeks even before she uttered a quiet "Good morning," from the doorway, tucking a strand of damp hair behind her ear as her eyes fell on Gawyn.