She tried not to smirk and raised the blade.
Silvery eyes locked on the target in front, a slow breath and she was in motion again. Each step fluid, keeping to the balls of her feet but not in any one spot for longer than a couple seconds, just long enough to change direction and return in an almost leap back to the now battered training dummy. Sand and splinters covered the ground, not only around the one target used but also the others that were scattered about the open terrace. She was the only one now; the rest of the sentinels had retired earlier but she didn't mind, on the contrary, enjoyed the quiet it provided. Whereas other found peace in meditation, she did in training, which required equal amount of concentration.
Blade swung over and over in a blur, each obliterating strike done with practiced precision and the deathly dance continued. Swing, crouch, turn and charge.
She was well aware of grey and shadow eyes following each movement, a silent observer, but still just loud enough for keen ears and well attuned senses to have felt him.
After some time, during which she wondered when he'd give up or tire of watching. She lowered the sword, point down to the ground. Light shine covered deep pink skin while almost ragged breaths heaved her chest. She could feel his piercing gaze as she walked to her belongings and reached for the cloth to dry herself off. Staying on place with her back turned to him, even after heavy footfalls announced his approach.
Some months have passed since she had awakened once again to his presence. Shocked, angry, but maybe not surprised as she knew sooner or later their paths would cross. Although had hoped for it to be later, a lot later, or so she told herself.
He had made his intentions clear; she had been reluctant to believe a word of it and maybe still was. Experience taught her no one was to be completely trusted from way before they had even met. Still though, deep inside she felt relief, glad to see him again if in an almost twisted had tried to deny it, to once again hide behind barriers, self-imposed shields and lies used the night when she left him.
A firm but gentle hand had tilted her chin, making gazes meet. Moon-touched eyes to storm-like grey, which would perfectly describe their relationship: Calm before the storm or the storm unfolding, even if he could be described as the moon, stern and powerful observer, and she as the storm, reckless sentinel.
"Deny that you want me and you may go, know that you won't be kept against your will." She had looked away that time. The silence accepted as an invitation for lips to trace down her neck. Her eyes closed by they own accord, soft sigh almost torn from slightly parted lips as he continued his way down.
His hands framed her core, thumbs kneading over tense flesh, slowly making her relax with the sensuous caress. He glanced up then; normally stern expression disappeared into a man's smirk. He just knew her that well, had spent night after night learning her body and the reactions that every single touch brought. Feeling him stop, her eyes opened to look at him. Slowly, he placed a kiss above the crimson gem on her navel. "Your keeping this speaks volumes, even if you decide to remain silent, little elf."
Smartass. She narrowed eyes, parting lips and starting to shift to both stand and put him on his place. Darklord or not, she didn't care, never had he intimidated her as much as his sole presence did others. "The reason I kept it is my own…" She almost growled.
His hand pinning her to the bed halted her motion, while the other removed the gem. She stilled, unsure for a second, as his attention focused on her birth scar. He lowered lips to her skin in a slowly, but it was the light tease of tongue followed by the graze of teeth that had her curling fingers on the sheets.
"You have but to say it and I will stop." He muttered while nuzzling her belly. She took a slow breath, trying to keep herself from squirming. "But when you do it, look at me in the eyes and speak with the truth."
She shook her head at the memory as a smirk played on her lips. Since that night so much had changed indeed. She had once again joined the sentinels, the Darnassus Cadre this time.
He stood behind her and reached up to brush her pale hair over a shoulder, exposing the other to a light kiss.
"Isn't it risky for you to be here? The sentinels know of the Shadowlord's presence in kal'dorei land." She leaned back against his chest, tossing the cloth to the ground.
"Your worry is misplaced, but yes I am well aware of that." He wrapped an arm around her waist, fingertips tracing over the gem at her navel, causing her to shift slightly. His other hand reached up to trace the faint puncture scars over her shoulder, stopping on one of the longer ones where its shape betrayed the tearing of the skin. "The one that did this had a merciful demise, much more than he deserved." Power unfolded with his anger, cold, unforgiving but she was used to the feel of the shadow against her skin. Tendrils, invisible to the untrained eye, seemed to form a protective barrier around them.
"She." She interrupted, correcting him. "And is dead now the Order took care of it." She fought the slight tensing of muscles that the memory brought.
The change in posture did not go unnoticed though, and tightened his hold on her. "I will not allow any harm to come to you again." He vowed, but his anger was soon replaced with a smirk of his own. "Unless is that of punishment, at my hand, when you choose to disobey me."
She rolled eyes but did not move from his embrace. "I just bet..." She mocked him.
He gripped her chin, baring her neck to the graze of teeth. "You are mine, little elf." He simply whispered against his skin.