Only moments ago, his despair permeated the air around him, and yet all it took was a pebble to brighten his mood.
How is it, that despite his eons of life and heartbreak, this male is so resilient that his appreciation and wonder for even the simplest, most innocent of things has not diminished?
True strength and power lies in one’s willingness to find joy despite all that threatens to break you.
Violette’s voice is soft beside me.
“Why darling, you look like you’ve been struck by Eros’s arrow.”
A tendril of fear pokes and prods at the fluttering organ in my chest.
Dear god. She’s right.
I’m falling in love with Azrael.
My gaze falls to hers. A pile of apple-like fruits rest in the snow beside her.
Jesus. I’d been so enchanted by Azrael, I hadn’t even heard her approach.
A small panic seizes my insides. My heart lies in the hands of not one, buttwopeople that have the power to destroy me. Ifanything happened to either one of them, if either one of them left... My throat closes at the thought.
“I fear I’m ruined.”
Violette steps closer to me and tugs me by my coat to lower my mouth to hers. She murmurs against me, in the scant space of shared, blessed breath.
“Not ruined, my love.Renewed.”
She seals the statement with a kiss that gives me the strength to release my fear.
“Should we set up camp here? I can get a fire going for us.”
Violette gives me an incredulous look. “You mean you don’t want to sleep in the chamber of corpses?”
A soft bark of laughter escapes me, easing the tension in my muscles, and the sound of Violette’s giggle warms something deep in my soul.
Still chuckling, she calls out to Azrael. “I found our dinner, angel. You can stoppretendingto forage.”
Azrael’s head snaps in her direction, eyes dipping briefly to her pile of fruit before flashing with faux-menace. Her lips twitch as she gives him a haughty look. “Don’t think I didn’t see you stealing from the forest, god of death.”
Azrael’s eyes narrow further.
“Such hubris deserves a reward, female. Shall I bend you over my knee?”
Violette cackles as she squats, and begins balling up a handful of snow. “How about I bend you overmyknee, male? I promise I won’t be gentle.”
A feral grin splits Azrael’s lips as she tosses it at him. It hits him in the shoulder, and his responding laughter is contagious. He offers Violette an impish grin, wiggling his butt.“You missed.”
Violette giggles, hurriedly packing another snowball and flinging it at him. He arches his back as if to catch it with his ass.It connects with a soft smack, and he jumps up, arms raised as we all cheer in unison.
Violette beams at me, already packing another snowball.“Your turn.”
I huff an incredulous laugh. “Absolutely not.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be a spoil-sport.”
“What do I get in return, if Iletyou hit me with a snowball?”
She hums as if deliberating. “I’ll lick your asshole.”
