Herbalists' Cache hoof cache

she speaks to him as one might soothe a wounded beast, with words spun of silk and steel. blackfell—kol— exhales a white breath, and it is warm, ruby eyes slipping shut for the briefest moment as he allows himself this. allows himself to be seen.

it is dangerous, this: the way she speaks his name and it is a prayer. the way her breath ghosts along the edge of his ear, soft, as if she means to brand herself into his very bones. it is dangerous and it is what he has longed for, and he cannot—will not—deny himself that.

and what do you think i am, if not fire?

it is a rasping breath that kisses upon her ear, where his breath ghosts. his tongue parting from his mouth to press against the cup of her ear, tenderly, gently grooming her. selfishly washing away the scent of her husband as he does, wishing only that she be covered in his fragrance. he knew it was dangerous, wrong, and it invited chaos; war. but for this moment? he would risk it all.

and she is right, of course. she is always right. gjalla is not the woman for him. he has always known this—known it in the way she grates against him, in the way she challenges and resists, in the way she does not understand that his loyalty is not meant to be tamed but honored. but still.

i chose her. and he was a man of his word, as all crownores were. he looks upon her, eyes of flame, eyes of fire, and sees burning in her that same desire for him that he feels for her. his jaw tenses, his pride a living, breathing thing coiled tight within his chest.

if she cannot be what i need, then she will have to decide if she can be anything at all. he presses heavily against her, now, seeking to bear his weight into her. he wishes for her to feel him. he sees the way she looks around—nervous, fearing. he thinks that he would cut her husband down now and take her away—he could raise the cubs in her womb as his own, that was how deep his devotion to her burned. but that is an impossible dream, is it not?

still.

what are we doing, my queen? a daring exhale of words.