There is a fear building in her, thunderclouds stacking one on top of the other, the pressure rising. Solace cannot remember a time when Kagerus has shielded herself from her. There were no secrets between them, and her mind springs to fill the gaps with terrible truths. It takes all of her practiced self-control not to adulterate the love she pours over her mate with the sour taste of dread.
But she is strong, for her wife she could conquer gods, and she does not let the worry stifle her as they wrap their arm around each other, shaking, raw, and fitting just right.
"I love you," she replies, wondering if she could ever say it enough.
Between them, the veil fades and Solace rushes to fill the space it vacates. Only briefly does she consider the wound (the softer version of the wound) as reality begins shifting again. The fear that by Kagerus, by her own will or another's, would never set foot in Hyaline again has faded. She had not trusted her queen, not as she should have. And each kiss contradicts her doubts.
Solace feels her eyes flutter open and she realizes they are home,
together.
She presses herself against her lover, absorbing the deluge of affection with a newly lightened heart. Kagerus' first words fall by the wayside, Solace has already judged her mission successful by her return.
"Forget about all that," she murmurs, "You're back now."
But soon there is a pause in the rhythm of their love-making, and Kagerus pulls away ever so slightly. Solace seems to fully recognize the wound now that they stand before each other as flesh and blood and the shock of her return has passed. Her blue eyes trace the jagged lines of the gash, the hot, inflamed skin this it's crusting scabs, and she wishes she could trade her light for healing.
"Who did this to you?" She asks bitterly, looking for a point to place the anger thoughts of Kagerus' pain summons. But after a moment her features soften, (Kagerus was back and that's what truly mattered) and she lifts her gaze to those warm, dark eyes. "If it was a fairy you better not say," she adds with a touch of dark humor, "because whoever it was had me to answer to, and I intend to make them fucking sorry."
we are the ever-living ghost of what once was
