Disclaimer: I don't own Valen or anything related.

A/N: I know it's very short, but I've been trying to ease back into writing. So yeah. Anyway, you should totally leave me a review. Totally.

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She fell back in the bed, her naked skin glowing in the candlelight. Valen collapsed beside her, one arm lazily resting around her belly. He trailed his fingers along her hair, then leaned up over her and whispered quietly, "I love you."

Her eyes dulled, and she gently pushed him away and stood up, strolling to the moonlit window. "I know."

A small smile crossed his face. "Isn't that what you wanted? For me to love you?"

She gazed at him, aware of the tone of bitterness in his voice. He rose from the bed and joined her at the window, his tail absent-mindedly snaking around her leg. His touch still sent shivers through her, though they weren't untainted, as they once had been. Even after the years that had passed, she could perfectly recall the feeling of their first, and last, real kiss. Her whole body had been set alight with desire, their heartbeats perfectly in unison. Then she'd betrayed the Seer to the Valsharess, and turned Valen's love to hate.

Perhaps if she'd fought hard enough, proven that she was truly regretful, she could have redeemed herself to him. Or perhaps he would have simply hated her all the more for her efforts.

She sighed, and leaned back against Valen. He held her silently, placing a kiss on her head. She turned to him, and her stomach lurched at the adoration in his eyes. Even if he had hated her, it would have been better than this mockery she had made of love.

As his kisses drifted to her collarbone, she pulled away, a decision made. She drank in his appearance, her eyes traveling over him. He met her gaze, his brows creasing.

"Is something wrong, my love?"

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes at the endearment. She silently took her dagger off the dresser, and handed it to him.

A frown tugged at his lips. "What is thi-"

She cut him off with a passionate kiss, committing every inch of his body to memory. As Valen deepened the kiss, she broke away, breathless. Before her cowardice could come back and she chose to return to their sick relationship, she said, "Hate me."

Valen instead embraced her, fear in his eyes. She buried her head in his shoulder, lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "Oeskathine the Demonwrestler, I command you to hate me."

Valen's arms tighten around her, and even as she realizes the dagger has penetrated her skin, she has never felt quite as free.

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