Sunbeam Lair seorsum

the pointed exhale was not lost on him. 

he thought of the temptation he had experienced in the lair, how the sight of the way that she moved reminded him he was still vitally alive. even now his heartbeat quickened to be near her and to catch the tendril of her scent upon the rain-sweet air.

and still germanicus forbade himself more, binding himself to the memory of the woman who was no longer in mereo. the one who had let go of him before he was ready to let go of her. perhaps that was it. he had not been ready.

"not so many plants as the ones down there. but a profusion of flowers. and in the autumn the reflection of the changing trees turns the water to crimson and orange." as if it were a sunset.

"how many points, lady meadow?" the imperator asked with the same dryness he had given his first jest.