Shadewood “Til’ Death Do Us Part?”

Formerly, in moons when the empress knew Cry only as Cry, not as Raziel - when he was a soldier who served beside her in the bypass, it had been near impossible to read his emotions. A steel wall of mystery and shadows had masked him in every breath; secrecy, oh, he had been a tightly shut book, sealed further with a lock. However in the present mornings, his luminescent gaze seemed far more readable. As though building the keep had revived his spirit and healed the numb of his heart, golden streaks of light to pool into his chest. Sometimes, she hoped she'd been a part of that revelation, too. The Eruna had learned to pick up on the warmth that had grown in his tone, and when he emerged before the entrance to their den, she noted the unease in his voice.

"Yes?" came the uncertain reply, ivory head peeking out from the darkness to allow a glow of sunlight to illuminate her features. Something was troubling her husband, and she crept closer to bump lightly against him.