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“Well, I do.”
He takes hold of my hand, guiding the bristles into the primer. He then plants a kiss on my nape before bringing the brush to the canvas, applying the clear liquid across it in clean, horizontal strokes.
He lets go of my hand as I near the top of the canvas. I can’t help but laugh in glee.
“I’m not half bad, am I?”
“Not at all. Now do you see what happens when you let yourself go and throw out fear of failure?”
He takes over, gripping the paintbrush with far more confidence than I displayed. I sit down by the tree, reclining against its trunk as Nexus curls up by my legs. Here, I have a perfect view of the city, the canvas, and, of course, Valkus.
I listen as he explains everything about what goes into creating a painting. Some of it I do not understand but he is patient in answering my every question.
A wave of overwhelming happiness comes over me as I watch passion pour out of this man. He executes each stroke with precision and finesse, his style of painting so mesmerizing.
Every so often, he takes a step back, evaluating how the picture is coming along. Soon, he completes the first layer of the city before him.
I watch in awe not only of the work but of the dark elf himself. As he rambles on about the mixing of colors to create new ones, I’m hit with a stark realization that drones out everything around me.
I’m obsessed with everything about this man. His looks, his talent, his personality, the way he treats me, the way he fucks me.
I recall how he had stood up for me in the face of another dark elf, something unheard of amongst the human race.
Could it be that I am… falling in love with Valkus?
As if hearing it, I swear I hear the voices of my heart and mind agree with a resounding “Yes!”
There’s no rational voice of reason, nothing inside of me that can deny the revelation, but it only begs the following question. Should I tell him? I wonder if he even feels the same way about me.
Just then, someone clears their throat. Both Valkus and I whirl around, greeted by the sight of another dark elf. He bears a striking resemblance to Valkus.
“Ah, hello, brother,” he says to the newcomer.
“Working on another painting?” asks the stranger. His eyes seemingly spot me for the first time as they widen in a manner of surprise. “Oh! Hello there!”
“Taveth, this is my mate-to-be. Her name is Althia.”
“A mate! Look at you, Valkus!” Taveth extends his hand to me as I rise to my feet. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” I reply. “You’re brothers then?”
“Indeed, though I’m not around very often. You see, Althia, I don’t get along very well with my parents.”
“You two have that in common.” I chuckle nervously.
“Well, it’s good to see you’ve found yourself someone special. I’ll leave you two be then. I’m off to the city.”
Taveth bows and takes his leave. I watch as he disappears back into the gardens.
“A member of your family that doesn’t hate me on sight. How refreshing,” I comment.
“Like any siblings, we have our quarrels, but he’s the most tolerable.”
“He’s handsome like you. Does he have a mate?”
Valkus looks up at me, the happiness on his face suddenly replaced by something cold.
“He did. Something happened, though, and I don’t wish to get into it.”
